2025 MLS Cup playoffs

Last updated

2025 MLS Cup playoffs
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs logo no-sponsor black.png
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesOctober 22 – December 6
Teams18
Defending champions LA Galaxy
(did not qualify)
Tournament statistics
Matches played18
Goals scored54 (3 per match)
Attendance398,360 (22,131 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Flag of Argentina.svg Lionel Messi
(3 goals)
←  2024
2026 →

All statistics correct as of November 3, 2025.

The 2025 MLS Cup playoffs (branded as the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) is the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is the 30th edition of the MLS Cup playoffs, following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The playoffs began on October 22 and will conclude with MLS Cup 2025 on December 6. [1] [2]

Contents

Both of the previous year's MLS Cup finalists, champions LA Galaxy and runners-up New York Red Bulls, failed to qualify, the latter for the first time since 2009. San Diego FC qualified for the playoffs in their inaugural MLS season.

Format

Since the 2023 edition, the MLS Cup playoffs have been contested by a field of 18 teams—the top nine teams from each conference. [3] The top seven teams in each conference automatically qualified for round one, while the eighth and ninth-placed teams in each conference will play a single wild card match to determine who draws the best-ranked team in their conference, with only a penalty shoot-out occurring if the game is tied.

The first round comprises a best-of-three format, with higher seeds playing against lower seeds. The round does not use an aggregate score, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The remaining three rounds—the conference semifinals, conference finals, and MLS Cup—are single-elimination matches played with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if still tied. [1]

The team with the better regular season record hosts in all rounds except the best-of-three series in round one, where the team with the lower regular season record hosts the second of three possible matches. All matches are broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple. [1]

Qualified teams

The playoffs will be contested by 18 teams. The date listed indicates when each team qualified for the playoffs.

Conference standings

Bracket

The higher seeded teams host single-elimination matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points in the Supporters' Shield table. During the best-of-three round, the team with higher seed will host the first match (and the third match, if required).

Wild card
single match		 Round one
best-of-three series		 Conference semifinals
single match		 Conference finals
single match		 MLS Cup
single match
E1 Philadelphia Union 2 (4)3–
E8 Chicago Fire FC 3E8 Chicago Fire FC 2 (2) 0 –
E9 Orlando City SC 1 E1 Philadelphia Union
 
E4 Charlotte FC 0 0 (7) Eastern Conference
E5 New York City FC 10 (6)
 
 
E3 Inter Miami CF 31
E6 Nashville SC 1 2
 
 
E2 FC Cincinnati 10
E7 Columbus Crew 0 4
 
 
W1 San Diego FC 22 (2)
W8 Portland Timbers 3W8 Portland Timbers 1 2 (3)
W9 Real Salt Lake 1  
 
W4 Minnesota United FC 0 (3)2 Western Conference
W5 Seattle Sounders FC 0 (2) 4
 
 
W3 Los Angeles FC 24–
W6 Austin FC 1 1 –
W3 Los Angeles FC
W2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
W2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 31 (4)–
W7 FC Dallas 0 1 (2) –

Wild card round

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Chicago Fire FC 3–1 Orlando City SC
Western Conference
Portland Timbers 3–1 Real Salt Lake

Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire FC 3–1 Orlando City SC
Report Spicer Soccerball shade.svg89'
SeatGeek Stadium , Bridgeview, Illinois
Attendance: 13,783
Referee: Drew Fischer

Western Conference

Portland Timbers 3–1 Real Salt Lake
Report Glad Soccerball shade.svg39'
Providence Park , Portland, Oregon
Attendance: 16,243
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Round one

Team 1 Series Team 2Game 1Game 2Game 3
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union 2–0 Chicago Fire FC 2–2 (4–2 p) 3–0 —
FC Cincinnati Columbus Crew 1–0 0–4 Nov 8
Inter Miami CF Nashville SC 3–1 1–2 Nov 8
Charlotte FC New York City FC 0–1 0–0 (7–6 p) Nov 7
Western Conference
San Diego FC Portland Timbers 2–1 2–2 (2–3 p) Nov 9
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2–0 FC Dallas 3–0 2–2 (4–2 p)—
Los Angeles FC 2–0 Austin FC 2–1 4–1 —
Minnesota United FC Seattle Sounders FC 0–0 (3–2 p) 2–4 Nov 8

Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire FC 0–3 Philadelphia Union
Report
SeatGeek Stadium , Bridgeview, Illinois
Attendance: 17,431
Referee: Jon Freemon

Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.

FC Cincinnati 1–0 Columbus Crew
Denkey Soccerball shade.svg78' Report
TQL Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 23,371
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Columbus Crew 4–0 FC Cincinnati
Report
Lower.com Field , Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 19,506
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Inter Miami CF 3–1 Nashville SC
Report Mukhtar Soccerball shade.svg90+11'
Chase Stadium , Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Attendance: 21,398 [22]
Referee: Filip Dujic
Nashville SC 2–1 Inter Miami CF
Report Messi Soccerball shade.svg90'
Geodis Park , Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Allen Chapman
Charlotte FC 0–1 New York City FC
Report Martínez Soccerball shade.svg34'
Bank of America Stadium , Charlotte, North Carolina
Attendance: 33,709
Referee: Jon Freemon

Western Conference

San Diego FC 2–1 Portland Timbers
Report Velde Soccerball shade.svg36'
Snapdragon Stadium , San Diego, California
Attendance: 32,500
Referee: Chris Penso
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–0 FC Dallas
Report
BC Place , Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 32,066
Referee: Victor Rivas

Vancouver Whitecaps FC won the series 2–0.

Los Angeles FC 2–1 Austin FC
Report Gallagher Soccerball shade.svg63'
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,142
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Austin FC 1–4 Los Angeles FC
Pereira Soccerball shade.svg45+6' (pen.) Report
Q2 Stadium , Austin, Texas
Attendance: 20,738
Referee: Joe Dickerson

Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.

Seattle Sounders FC 4–2 Minnesota United FC
Report
Lumen Field , Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 30,085
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière

Conference semifinals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking will host the match. [1]

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union Nov 22/23 TBD
TBD Nov 22/23 TBD
Western Conference
TBD Nov 22/23 TBD
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Nov 22 Los Angeles FC

Eastern Conference

TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Western Conference

TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Conference finals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match. [1]

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
TBD Nov 29/30 TBD
Western Conference
TBD Nov 29/30 TBD

Eastern Conference

TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Western Conference

TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

MLS Cup 2025

The highest-ranked finalist in the overall Supporters Shield table will be the host of the match. [1]

TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MLS announces new playoff format for 2023 season". Major League Soccer. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "2025 MLS playoff bracket schedule scores". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ "MLS adds best-of-3 series to expanded playoffs for 2023 season". ESPN. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Charlotte FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 14, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Chicago Fire FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 30, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "FC Cincinnati clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Columbus Crew clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Inter Miami clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 24, 2025. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Nashville SC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  10. ↑ "New York City FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Orlando City clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Philadelphia Union clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Austin FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 5, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  14. ↑ "FC Dallas clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ "LAFC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Minnesota United FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Portland Timbers clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 5, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Real Salt Lake clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ "San Diego FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. August 23, 2025. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Seattle Sounders FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC clinch Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". Major League Soccer. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Miami 3-1 Nashville". ESPN. October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
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