MLS Sets Union Playoff Schedule Against New England Revolution
The two teams meet in a best-of-three series beginning Nov. 21, with the second leg scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend at Subaru Park.
By Isaac Medina ·
Major League Soccer has released the schedule for the first round of the playoffs, placing the Philadelphia Union in a best-of-three series against the New England Revolution. The first match is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. in Foxborough, Mass. The Union will host the second game at Subaru Park on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 4:30 p.m. Apple TV will broadcast both matches exclusively.
If the teams are tied after regulation, each game will proceed to a penalty kick shootout to determine a winner. Should a third game be required, it will take place at New England on Dec. 2. The specific kickoff time for that potential match has not yet been determined.
This season's postseason calendar differs from previous years due to the World Cup break. The long midseason pause pushed the end of the regular season later in the year. MLS also adjusted its schedule to avoid overlapping with the FIFA international match window from Nov. 9 to 17. The league ended the regular season just before that window opened and will begin the playoffs the day after it closes.
The Union will play during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend for the second time in their history. In 2021, the team played an Eastern Conference semifinal on a Sunday night. In 2022, the postseason was moved earlier to accommodate the World Cup, so the team did not play during the holiday. In other playoff appearances, the Union have been eliminated before Thanksgiving.
The current calendar format is a one-year anomaly. When MLS switches to a fall-to-spring schedule next year, the playoffs will move to May. This change will resolve the conflict with national team match dates and reduce the risk of cold weather during the postseason.
The Union's squad includes Cavan Sullivan and Neil Pierre, who are on the U.S. national team roster. The U.S. will face Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals during the international window. The MLS Cup final is scheduled for Dec. 18, the latest date in the tournament's history. That match will kick off on a Friday night to align with Fox's broadcast network schedule.
The first round of playoffs begins Nov. 21. The Union's game against New England is one of three matches scheduled for that day. The remaining first-leg matches will be played between Nov. 22 and 24. All second-leg matches will occur on Nov. 27 and 28. The conference semifinals are set for Dec. 5 and 6, while the conference finals are scheduled for Dec. 11 and 12.
