MLS Playoff Teams Face Two Week Break Before Postseason Kickoff

Managing the Long Postseason Break

The MLS regular season finished on Saturday, but playoff teams now face nearly two weeks without a match. A FIFA international window has created a long gap right before the postseason starts.

Former player Dax McCarty knows how unpredictable the postseason can be. He noted that regular season form can disappear quickly due to a single red card, a fluky goal, or an unexpected play. McCarty experienced this in 2013 with Red Bull New York, who were knocked out early after winning the Supporters' Shield. He was also part of the 2024 Atlanta United team that entered through the wild card and shocked Inter Miami in Round 1 with help from goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Confidence and Form

Coaches still place high value on team form. Houston Dynamo manager Ben Olsen explained that momentum matters because coaches want their teams peaking around playoff time. Houston ended the regular season with two wins, seven draws, and four losses.

San Jose Earthquakes manager Bruce Arena views momentum as a state of mind. Arena said getting inside the team and building confidence to get a result is often more important than tactics. Arena has reached seven MLS Cup finals and won five, using a different approach every time. San Jose finished their regular season with four wins, seven draws, and two losses. They will face Houston in the first round.

Internal Scrimmages and Roster Challenges

The break leaves managers with a choice on how to prepare. They can schedule a scrimmage against another MLS side or host an internal match. McCarty suggested keeping scrimmages internal to protect players from injuries. He noted that coaches should tell younger players in internal matches not to make reckless tackles on stars like Lionel Messi, Carles Gil, or Hany Mukhtar.

Arena plans to hold an internal match, but he faces another hurdle. Four of his players are away on international duty. He pointed out the difficulty of not knowing what condition those starters will be in when they return, criticizing the league for scheduling the international window right before the playoffs.

Olsen is relying on sports science and past experience with bye weeks to get his squad ready. Still, he admitted that coming straight out of the break into the most important game of the year is a new test.