MLS playoff dates announced, more sane international break timing in place

Remember last season's playoff run and how disastrously weird the schedule was? The first and second legs of the conference championships were two weeks apart because of a FIFA international break, and there was another intervening week between the Western Conference Championship and the MLS Cup Final.

Well, MLS has announced the dates for 2014, and they're a bit more sane. There's not much time between the Conference Knockout Round and the Semifinals — two days between, really — so there's additional incentive to finish above fourth place, as usual.

This time around, the international break falls between the semifinals and the conference finals, which is a perfect time for it. Given the trickiness of organizing a playoff schedule around pervasive international breaks is difficult enough, and MLS has navigated it considerably better than last year.

Conference Knockout Round

Oct. 29-30 (Wed., Thurs.)

Conference Semifinals

Leg 1, Sat-Sun, Nov. 1-2

Leg 2, Sat-Sun, Nov. 8-9

Conference Championships

Leg 1, Sat-Sun, Nov. 22-23

Leg 2, Sat-Sun., Nov. 29-30

MLS Cup Final

3pm ET, Sun., Dec. 7