NEW YORK – Major League Soccer Thursday confirmed that multiple clubs will finish the season without playing the full 23 scheduled matches due to disruptions from COVID-19.

As a result, qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs will be determined by points earned on a per match basis or points per game.

Prior to resuming the season after the MLS is Back Tournament, MLS stated in early August the league would use points per game as opposed to total points to determine playoff qualifiers in the case clubs played an uneven number of games. Points per game also will be used to determine the overall MLS standings, with the top U.S.-based team earning a berth in the Concacaf Champions League. For Canada, the champions of the Canadian Championship, qualify for the Champions League.

In a press release, the league also confirmed that the regular season would conclude on Decision Day Nov. 8 and that matches will not be scheduled during the FIFA international window. Due to the limited number of remaining match dates, not all clubs will be able to play all of their originally scheduled games this season. While the 14 Eastern Conference teams are on track to complete all 23 regular season matches, the 12 Western Conference teams will not finish the regular season with the same number of matches played.

In addition to the postponed Minnesota United vs. FC Dallas match that was scheduled for Oct.14, the following postponed Colorado matches will not be rescheduled:

* Vs. Sporting Kansas City (scheduled for Sept. 27 and the rescheduled date of Oct. 21)

* Vs. Los Angeles Football Club (scheduled for Oct. 7)

* Vs. LA Galaxy (scheduled for Oct. 10) at Seattle Sounders FC (scheduled for Oct. 14)

* And vs. Real Salt Lake (scheduled for Oct. 18)

The Rapids vs. Portland Timbers match originally scheduled for Oct. 3 will be played on Nov. 4 at 10 p.m. ET as previously announced.

In addition, the tiebreaking procedures will be calculated on a per match basis:

1. Total number of wins per match

2. Goal differential (GD) per match (Goals For per match minus Goals Against per match)

3. Goals For (GF) per match

4. Fewestd disciplinary points per match

5. Away goals differential per Away match (Away goals for per away match minus away goals against per away match)

6. Away goals for per away match

7. Home goals differential per home match (Home goals for per home match minus home goals against per home match)

8. Home goals for per home match

9. Coin toss (tie of two clubs) or drawing of ots (tie of three or more clubs)

As the MLS is Back Tournament matches in Florida — including the three rescheduled matches between Dallas and Nashville — are considered played at a neutral site, they are not factored in determining tiebreakers 5-8 that feature away and home goals.

In an expansion of the postseason this campaign, the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference and top eight teams in the Western Conference will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Eight Eastern Conference teams have already qualified for the playoffs (Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC, Columbus Crew SC, Orlando City SC, New York City FC, Red Bulls, New England Revolution and Nashville SC) while five Western Conference teams have now qualified (Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Los Angeles Football Club, and Minnesota United FC, which clinches a berth in the playoffs with the update in standings calculation).

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.