2025 MLS Cup playoffs

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2025 MLS Cup playoffs
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesOctober 22 – December 6
Teams18
Defending championsLA Galaxy
(did not qualify)
Tournament statistics
Matches played18
Goals scored54 (3 per match)
Attendance398,360 (22,131 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Argentina 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]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

Conference standings

[edit]

Bracket

[edit]

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 3 E8 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 1 0 (6)
 
 
E3 Inter Miami CF 3 1
E6 Nashville SC 1 2
 
 
E2 FC Cincinnati 1 0
E7 Columbus Crew 0 4
 
 
W1 San Diego FC 2 2 (2)
W8 Portland Timbers 3 W8 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 2 4 –
W6 Austin FC 1 1 –
W3 Los Angeles FC
W2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
W2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3 1 (4) –
W7 FC Dallas 0 1 (2) –

Wild card round

[edit]
Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Chicago Fire FC3–1Orlando City SC
Western Conference
Portland Timbers3–1Real Salt Lake

Eastern Conference

[edit]
Chicago Fire FC3–1Orlando City SC
 Report Spicer 89'
Attendance: 13,783
Referee: Drew Fischer

Western Conference

[edit]
Portland Timbers3–1Real Salt Lake
 Report Glad 39'
Attendance: 16,243
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Round one

[edit]
Team 1SeriesTeam 2Game 1Game 2Game 3
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union2–0Chicago Fire FC2–2 (4–2 p)3–0—
FC CincinnatiColumbus Crew1–00–4Nov 8
Inter Miami CFNashville SC3–11–2Nov 8
Charlotte FCNew York City FC0–10–0 (7–6 p)Nov 7
Western Conference
San Diego FCPortland Timbers2–12–2 (2–3 p)Nov 9
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2–0FC Dallas3–02–2 (4–2 p)—
Los Angeles FC2–0Austin FC2–14–1—
Minnesota United FCSeattle Sounders FC0–0 (3–2 p)2–4Nov 8

Eastern Conference

[edit]
Chicago Fire FC0–3Philadelphia Union
Report
Attendance: 17,431
Referee: Jon Freemon

Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.

FC Cincinnati1–0Columbus Crew
Denkey 78' Report
Attendance: 23,371
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Columbus Crew4–0FC Cincinnati
 Report
Attendance: 19,506
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Inter Miami CF3–1Nashville SC
 Report Mukhtar 90+11'
Attendance: 21,398[22]
Referee: Filip Dujic
Nashville SC2–1Inter Miami CF
 Report Messi 90'
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Allen Chapman
Charlotte FC0–1New York City FC
Report Martínez 34'
Attendance: 33,709
Referee: Jon Freemon

Western Conference

[edit]
San Diego FC2–1Portland Timbers
 Report Velde 36'
Attendance: 32,500
Referee: Chris Penso
Vancouver Whitecaps FC3–0FC Dallas
 Report
Attendance: 32,066
Referee: Victor Rivas

Vancouver Whitecaps FC won the series 2–0.

Los Angeles FC2–1Austin FC
 Report Gallagher 63'
Attendance: 22,142
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Austin FC1–4Los Angeles FC
Pereira 45+6' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 20,738
Referee: Joe Dickerson

Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.

Seattle Sounders FC4–2Minnesota United FC
 Report
Attendance: 30,085
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière

Conference semifinals

[edit]

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

Home teamScoreAway team
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia UnionNov 22/23TBD
TBDNov 22/23TBD
Western Conference
TBDNov 22/23TBD
Vancouver Whitecaps FCNov 22Los Angeles FC

Eastern Conference

[edit]
TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Western Conference

[edit]
TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Conference finals

[edit]

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

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

Eastern Conference

[edit]
TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

Western Conference

[edit]
TBDvTBD
TBD, TBD

MLS Cup 2025

[edit]
Main article: 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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "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.