Major League Soccer’s final four has been determined, and both Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact will be a part of it. The two squads will meet in the Eastern Conference final series, which means that a Canadian team will make the MLS Cup final for the first time in league history, perhaps paving the way for the first champion from north of the border.
But that champion won’t be crowned for more than a month, creating several questions as far as what happens in between and how it’ll go down. Here’s our handy Q&A:
What’s the schedule and format for the conference finals?
The conference finals are two-legged series, with the winner on aggregate score of each advancing to the MLS Cup.
The first leg of the Eastern Conference final will played be in Montreal at Olympic Stadium on Nov. 22 and the second in Toronto on Nov. 30.
In the West, Seattle Sounders FC and the Colorado Rapids will play on Nov. 22 and 27, with the first game in Seattle.
Why is there a two-week break between conference semifinals and finals?
An international FIFA window will stop all MLS play between Nov. 7 and 15.
Will any of the remaining rosters be affected by call-ups?
Yes. All four remaining teams have players traveling for friendlies, World Cup qualifiers or both during the window:
Toronto FC: Michael Bradley (U.S.), Jozy Altidore (U.S.), Armando Copper (Panama)
Montreal Impact: Laurent Ciman (Belgium), Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon), Johan Venegas (Costa Rica)
Seattle Sounders: Nelson Valdez (Paraguay), Joevin Jones (Trididad & Tobago), Nicolas Lodeiro (Uruguay)
Colorado Rapids: Tim Howard (U.S.), Jermaine Jones (U.S.)
Where will the Eastern Conference final game in Toronto be played?
BMO Field.
Has any game ever been played that late at BMO Field?
No. The closest you get is when Toronto hosted the MLS Cup on Nov. 21, 2010, back when the league scheduled the championship at a neutral site. (For those curious, the low temperature that day was -0.5ºC. TFC defender Drew Moor, who played in that game for the Colorado Rapids, recently told Sportsnet’s John Molinaro he remembers the day as “very cold and windy coming off the lake.”)
What’s the date of the MLS Cup? Where is it being hosted this year?
It will be played on Dec. 10 at the home field of the team in the game with the best record. The four remaining teams are ranked like this: Colorado (58 points), Toronto (53), Seattle (48), Montreal (45).
Therefore, if Colorado emerges from the West, they will host the MLS Cup. If they don’t, the game will be hosted in either Toronto or Seattle.
Just for the record: The average Toronto high temperature for Dec. 10 is 1ºC; the average low is -4ºC. (The historical low is –11ºC, set back in 2008.)
If Toronto hosts, where will that game take place?
Again, BMO Field. According to a team spokesperson, “The stadium has a field heating system that would ensure the pitch is ready for play… [and] state-of-the-art grow lights in place to help the pitch recover and grow.”
A contingency plan could be considered in the event of severe weather or anything “that would jeopardize the safety of players and fans,” but work is being done to ensure that BMO is the venue.
The team spokesperson also points out that there was a snowfall before the home opener in March 2011, but that the field was ready on game day in minus-degree weather. (The low for that date was -8.8ºC, and the high was -0.4ºC.)