The Seattle Sounders have already clinched a playoff berth, and with Major League soccer announcing its playoff schedule Tuesday, we now know when their playoff games could potentially happen.
The playoffs open with the knockout round between the No. 4 and 5 seeds, a game that won’t involve the Sounders barring a stunning collapse over their final six games.
Seattle is currently on top of the west, tied with the Los Angeles Galaxy, but having played one fewer games. Seattle and LA play each other twice to end the season, so the top seed could very well be decided in those games. You can see the full MLS standings here.
The conference semifinals and finals are two-game, aggregate goal series with the better seed hosting the second game.
Conference semifinals
Leg 1, Sat-Sun, Nov. 1-2
Leg 2, Sat-Sun, Nov. 8-9
What it could mean for Seattle: Assuming the Sounders hold on to one of the top two spots (not a lock, but Seattle and LA are both five points clear of Real Salt Lake, meaning there’s a good chance they finish on top) they would host the second leg of this series. Seeing as the Seahawks are home on Nov. 9 against the Giants, the Sounders would almost certainly play on the 8th. And yes, that would mean football lines on the field, something that has happened in the past during the postseason. The Huskies also host UCLA that day, so this has the potential to be a fun and busy sports weekend in Seattle.
Conference championship
Leg 1, Sat-Sun Nov. 22-23
Leg 2, Sat-Sun Nov. 29-30
What it could mean for Seattle: If the Sounders are the top seed and still alive, they would host during thanksgiving weekend. There are conflicts with the stadium that weekend, as the Seahawks are in San Francisco for a Thursday game. A Nov. 29 game would, however, create a conflict for some sports fans, as that is also the day of the Apple Cup in Pullman.
If the Sounders are hosting the first game of the series, it would be on the 22nd because the Seahawks host Arizona on the 23rd.
MLS Cup
Saturday, Dec. 7, Noon PT
What it could mean for Seattle: If the Sounders advance to their first MLS Cup, they’d be all but certain to host it. The MLS Cup is hosted by the team with the better record, and seeing as the top team in the Eastern Conference, currently DC United, has six fewer points than Seattle while having played one more game, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which Seattle (or LA for that matter) could advance to the MLS Cup and not host it.
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