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2020 MLS End-of-Year Waivers: Rules & Procedure

2020 MLS End-of-Year Waivers: Rules & Procedure

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2020 MLS End-of-Year Waivers: Rules & Procedure
The 2020 MLS End-of-Year Waivers takes place four days after the 2020 MLS Cup, occurring after the MLS Expansion Draft and before Stage 1 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Key dates:

  • MLS End-of-Year Waivers: Wednesday. Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. ET
  • A list of players eligible for MLS End-of-Year Waivers is officially released on Monday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. ET
  • MLS clubs must notify the League Office in writing of the players whose options they are exercising.


Option Exercise Deadlines:
Non-Postseason Teams:
Nov. 30
Teams Eliminated in Round One:
Nov. 30
Teams in Conference Semifinals and beyond:
One day after elimination
Teams in MLS Cup:
Dec. 13
Key parameters:
The MLS End-of-Year Waivers process consists of players whose options are not exercised, who are not subject to first right of refusal, and who don’t meet the minimum age and years of service requirement for the Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency – mostly young players .
Players under contract for 2021 who are selected in MLS End-of-Year Waivers will be automatically added to the drafting club’s roster. Clubs that claim players out of contract at the end of 2020 must issue a genuine offer to the selected player.
MLS End-of-Year Waivers process:
The selection process is determined by the 
reverse order of the final standings in the 2020 MLS season
, taking into account postseason performance. FC Cincinnati will get the first pick and the MLS Cup champion will get the 26th pick. Expansion side Austin FC will get the 27th pick, the final selection in each round.
Once the MLS End-of-Year Waivers process is complete, those players who have not been selected may be signed by any MLS team on a first-come, first-served basis.
2020 End-of-Year Waivers Selection Order

1
FC Cincinnati
2
Houston Dynamo
3
D.C. United
4
Atlanta United
5
Chicago Fire FC
6
Real Salt Lake
7
LA Galaxy
8
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
9
Inter Miami CF
10
Montreal Impact
11
San Jose Earthquakes
12
New York Red Bulls
13
Los Angeles Football Club
14
Colorado Rapids
15
Portland Timbers
16
New York City FC
17
Toronto FC
18
Philadelphia Union
19
Nashville SC
20
FC Dallas
21
Orlando City SC
22
Sporting Kansas City
23
New England Revolution
24
Minnesota United FC
25
Seattle Sounders FC
26
Columbus Crew SC
27
Austin FC