The 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season has concluded, setting the stage for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Eighteen teams, the top nine from each conference, have qualified for the postseason tournament that will determine the league's champion. The playoffs commence on October 22 and culminate with the MLS Cup Final on December 6.

Playoff Format

The playoff format consists of five rounds. The top seven teams from each conference automatically qualify for the first round, while the eighth and ninth-placed teams compete in a single-elimination Wild Card match. The winners of the Wild Card games advance to Round One.

Round One is a best-of-three series, with the first team to win two matches advancing. Game 1 is hosted by the higher seed, Game 2 by the lower seed, and if necessary, Game 3 is hosted by the higher seed. Unlike previous years, there is no aggregate score; tied matches proceed directly to a penalty shootout. The subsequent rounds which include the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals and the MLS Cup Final consist of single-elimination matches. If the score is tied after regulation time, extra time and potentially a penalty shootout will determine the winner.

Qualified Teams

The Eastern Conference playoff teams are:

1. Philadelphia Union
2. FC Cincinnati
3. Inter Miami CF
4. Charlotte FC
5. New York City FC
6. Nashville SC
7. Columbus Crew
8. Chicago Fire
9. Orlando City SC

The Western Conference playoff teams are:

1. San Diego FC
2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
3. Los Angeles FC (LAFC)
4. Minnesota United FC
5. Seattle Sounders FC
6. Austin FC
7. FC Dallas
8. Portland Timbers
9. Real Salt Lake

Notably, both of the previous year's MLS Cup finalists, LA Galaxy (champions) and New York Red Bulls (runners-up), failed to qualify for the 2025 playoffs. Expansion side San Diego FC has qualified for the playoffs in their inaugural MLS season.

Wild Card Round

The Wild Card round, which took place on October 22, featured the following matchups:

• Eastern Conference: No. 8 Chicago Fire vs. No. 9 Orlando City SC
• Western Conference: No. 8 Portland Timbers vs. No. 9 Real Salt Lake

Round One Schedule

The Round One Best-of-3 series is scheduled as follows:

Eastern Conference

• No. 1 Philadelphia Union vs. No. 8 Chicago Fire / No. 9 Orlando City SC - Game 1: October 26, 5:30 p.m. ET
• No. 2 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 7 Columbus Crew - Game 1: October 27, 6:30 p.m. ET
• No. 3 Inter Miami vs. No. 6 Nashville SC – Game 1: October 24, 8:00 p.m. ET
• No. 4 Charlotte FC vs. No. 5 New York City FC - Game 1: October 28, 6:45 p.m ET

Western Conference

• No. 1 San Diego FC vs. No. 8 Portland Timbers / No. 9 Real Salt Lake - Game 1: October 26, 9:30 p.m. ET
• No. 2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. No. 7 FC Dallas - Game 1: October 26, 7:30 p.m. ET
• No. 3 LAFC vs. No. 6 Austin FC – Game 1: October 29, 10:30 p.m. ET
• No. 4 Minnesota United vs. No. 5 Seattle Sounders – Game 1: October 27, 9:00 p.m. ET

Broadcast Information

Every match in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will air on MLS Season Pass and will be available for free for Apple TV subscribers. Select playoff games will also be available through FOX Sports in the U.S. (FS1 and FOX Deportes) and on TSN and RDS in Canada.

The MLS Cup Final is scheduled for December 6.