October 2, 2024 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) News Release
MLS NEXT Pro today announced that its Pick-Your-Opponent selection process will be livestreamed, allowing viewers to watch in real time as Clubs choose who they will face in the opening round of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. On Tuesday, October 8, the Eastern Conference Selection Show will air live at 1:00 p.m. CT, followed by the Western Conference Selection Show at 2:00 p.m. CT. Both will be hosted by one of the most renowned voices in American soccer, MLS Season Pass announcer Max Bretos and will be carried on MLSNEXTPro.com and the League’s X and Instagram channels.
During each Conference Selection Show, the No. 1-3 seeds will choose their opponent from the No. 5-8 seeds, with the No. 4 seed playing the remaining Club. The matchups determined during the Selection Shows will take place in the Conference Quarterfinals the weekend of October 18, with No. 1-4 seeds hosting. The schedule for the Quarterfinals will be announced following the Shows.
MLS NEXT Pro debuted the unique Pick-Your-Opponent Playoff format in 2023 to much fanfare, most notably highlighted by Sporting Kansas City II’s head coach Benny Feilhaber choosing a nontraditional opponent and infamously declaring, “scared money don’t make money.” Sporting KC II is still in the running for the playoffs with just one match to play in the regular season.
DRAMATIC DECISION DAY EXPECTED
Ahead of the Selection Shows, 28 of the 29 Clubs in the League will compete on the final day of the regular season, Sunday, October 6. Fourteen matches will take place to determine final Playoff positioning, with six open spots remaining.
In the Western Conference, only one of the eight Playoff spots remains; five teams separated by just two points are all vying for the final postseason berth in the West: Real Monarchs, Houston Dynamo 2, defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champion Austin FC II, Sporting Kansas City II and Portland Timbers2.
Sporting KC II will host LAFC 2 at Children’s Mercy Victory Field in a highly consequential Decision Day duel at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are on sale at SeatGeek.com for just $10 as the group will need to earn at least two points and get help from around the league in order to secure that eighth and final seed in the 2024 playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference, the five remaining Playoff spots will be contested by seven teams: Inter Miami II, New York City FC II, Crown Legacy FC, Chicago Fire FC II, Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC and 2022…
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