Major League Soccer today announced the match schedule and broadcast details for the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and 2021 MLS Cup, which include the league’s first Thanksgiving Day match on FOX, as well as four consecutive weekends of postseason action on ABC.
In addition to broadcast coverage, MLS has outlined mechanisms for postseason qualification, including a required minimum number of matches played (30) as well as the competition format for the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. For the 2021 MLS competition guidelines, click here.
Following MLS Decision Day on Sunday, Nov. 7, the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs will kick off on Univision on Nov. 20 and will see the 12 single-elimination playoff matches, played across two weeks, aired on national television leading into 2021 MLS Cup on Dec. 11.
2021 MLS Cup, Major League Soccer’s championship match, will be played on Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. CT, aired nationally in the U.S. on ABC and Univision’s UniMás and TUDN networks, in Canada on TSN and TVA Sports, as well as in nearly 190 countries and territories around the world.
FOX Sports coverage of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs will see, for the first time, an MLS postseason match hosted on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, aired nationally on FOX broadcast network and FOX Deportes. FS1 and FOX Deportes will also present coverage of four additional matches across the three rounds of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
ABC and the networks of ESPN will cover all four rounds of postseason action, providing over-the-air network coverage of every round, every weekend. The robust lineup of action will see ABC and ESPN doubleheaders in both Round One and the Conference Semifinals with Spanish-language coverage of all ABC and ESPN matches covered by ESPN Deportes.
Univision’s networks will showcase a Round One doubleheader on Nov. 20 on Univision, and return with exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the 2021 MLS Cup available on UniMás. The broadcast will mark the 10th consecutive year that Univision’s networks will air Major League Soccer’s championship match over the air. Matches will also be simulcast on TUDN.
In Canada, TSN and TVA Sports networks will provide comprehensive coverage of the postseason, airing every match of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs as well as 2021 MLS Cup with specific channel designations to be announced at a later date.
For more information about the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, and up-to-date MLS Standings, please visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
Round One (Six Games)
(The No. 1 Eastern Conference seed and the No. 1 Western Conference seed will have a Round One bye. The No. 2 seed will host the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed)
Saturday, Nov. 20 Doubleheader
- 11 a.m. CT (Univision and TUDN / local English-language broadcast / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 2 p.m. CT (Univision and TUDN / local English-language broadcast / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 21 Doubleheader
- 2 p.m. CT (ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 4:30 p.m. CT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Tuesday, Nov. 23 Doubleheader
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Semifinals (Four Games)
(The No. 1 seed will play the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5. The winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 will play the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6, with the higher-seeded club hosting)
Thursday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Day)
- 3:30 p.m. CT (FOX / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 28 Doubleheader
- 2 p.m. CT (ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
- 4:30 p.m. CT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Tuesday, Nov. 30
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Finals (Two Games)
Saturday, Dec. 4
- TBD (FS1 / FOX Deportes TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Dec. 5
- 2 p.m. CT (ABC, ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
MLS Cup (One Game)
Saturday, Dec. 11
- 2 p.m. CT (ABC / UniMás and TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports)
