MLS Teams Face Two Week Wait Before Playoffs Start

The Long Wait Before the Postseason

The Major League Soccer regular season ended on Saturday, but teams must now wait nearly two weeks before the playoffs start. This delay is caused by the FIFA international window. It breaks the regular rhythm of matches and leaves head coaches searching for ways to keep their squads sharp.

Form and momentum are hard to hold during a long gap. Some coaches worry that their players will lose match fitness or cool down after a strong run of results.

Confidence Over Tactics

Former player Dax McCarty knows how wild the postseason can be. He won the Supporters' Shield with Red Bull New York in 2013, only to get knocked out in the semifinals by Houston Dynamo after Jamison Olave received a red card. In 2024, McCarty was with Atlanta United when they snuck into the postseason, beat CF Montréal, and upset Inter Miami behind key saves from goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

McCarty noted that a single red card or fluky goal can destroy form. Still, managers consider momentum valuable. Houston Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said momentum matters because teams want to peak right when the postseason begins. San Jose Earthquakes manager Bruce Arena added that psychological confidence is more important than tactical work right now.

Scrimmages and Squad Issues

To prepare, managers must choose between playing a scrimmage against another MLS team or running an internal match. Playing another club carries a risk of physical contact and injuries to key players like Lionel Messi, Carles Gil, or Hany Mukhtar. McCarty suggested that internal matches allow coaches to set rules against reckless tackles.

Arena confirmed he will use an internal scrimmage for San Jose. However, he faces another issue because four of his players are away on international duty. Arena criticized Major League Soccer for poor planning around the international break. He has been in seven MLS Cup finals and won five, but he noted that every postseason run requires a different approach.

San Jose finished their season with 4W-7D-2L in their last thirteen games. Houston comes into their first round meeting with San Jose following 2W-7D-4L.