The thirtieth version of the MLS playoffs initially featured 18 groups hoping to win the MLS cup throughout a match lasting greater than a month.
Inter Miami and MLS golden boot winner Lionel Messi are essentially the most high-profile members, having completed third within the Japanese Convention.
“We have now among the best gamers ever to have performed the sport right here,” Miami defender Ian Fray mentioned after the tip of the common season. “Whoever we play, we’re going to have the identical mindset.”
Listed below are all the small print you must know on the 2025 MLS playoffs, together with the schedule, bracket and the best way to watch.
29 targets within the common season. 💪
Hat trick and an help to safe the dub.
Potential Golden Boot pres. by Audi award for Messi ready. pic.twitter.com/9sUbONDSXT
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2025
2025 playoffs: MLS schedule, dates, fixtures
The post-season competitors began on October 22 and can run till December 6 2025. The common season ended on October 18.
The highest 9 groups from the Japanese Convention and Western Convention contest the matches, beginning with one-off Wild Card matches in every division between the eighth and ninth-placed groups.
The winners of these video games will be a part of the remainder of the groups in best-of-three first spherical matches, adopted by one-off semi-finals and finals in every convention and the one MLS Cup match between the winners of every last.
The groups ending increased play at dwelling or play the primary and, if required, third matches at dwelling within the best-of-three fixtures.
The very best-ranked finalist within the total Supporters’ Protect desk will host the MLS Cup, which is able to happen on December 6 at a time to be confirmed.
Particulars of the dates and instances for video games between the Wild Card fixtures and MLS Cup will likely be confirmed when they’re made out there from the MLS.
The Wild Card matches happen at 20:30 ET / 17:30 PT / 01:30 GMT on October 22 (October 23 GMT).
Japanese Convention: Chicago Fire 3-1 Orlando City
Western Convention: Portland Timbers 3-1 Real Salt Lake
Denis ➡️ Son ➡️ Objective
Thrill of the Match | @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/yPySGXGzuX
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
2025 MLS playoffs bracket
Right here’s how the bracket takes care of these Wild Card matches. This will likely be up to date and you will discover the official MLS bracket here.
Western Convention spherical one
San Diego vs Portland
Recreation 1: San Diego 2-1 Portland
Recreation 2: Portland 2-2 San Diego (3-2 pens)
Recreation 3: November 9
Minnesota United vs Seattle Sounders
Recreation 1: 0-0 (3-2 pens)
Recreation 2: November 4
Los Angeles FC vs Austin
Recreation 1: LAFC 2-1 Austin
Recreation 2: Austin 1-4 LAFC
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Dallas
Recreation 1: Vancouver 3-0 Dallas
Recreation 2: Dallas 1-1 Vancouver (2-4 pens)
Western Convention semifinals
SF1: San Diego/Portland vs Minnesota United/Seattle Sounders
SF2: LAFC vs Vancouver
Western Convention last
Winner SF1 vs LAFC/Vancouver
Japanese Convention spherical one
Philadelphia Union vs Chicago Hearth
Recreation 1: Philadelphia 2-2 Chicago (4-2p)
Recreation 2: Chicago 0-3 Philadelphia
Charlotte vs New York Metropolis
Recreation 1: Charlotte 0-1 New York City
Recreation 2: New York City 0-0 Charlotte (6-7 pens)
Recreation 3: November 7
Inter Miami vs Nashville
Recreation 1: Miami 3-1 Nashville
Recreation 2: Nashville 2-1 Miami
Recreation 3: November 8
Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew
Recreation 1: Cincinnati 1-0 Columbus
Recreation 2: Columbus 4-0 Cincinnati
Recreation 3: November 8
Japanese Convention semifinals
SF1: Philadelphia vs Charlotte/New York Metropolis
SF2: Inter Miami/Nashville vs Cincinnati/Columbus Crew
Japanese Convention last
Winner SF1 vs winner SF2
MLS playoffs 2025 standings
Japanese Convention
- Philadelphia Union
- Cincinnati
- Inter Miami
- Charlotte
- New York Metropolis
- Nashville
- Columbus
- Chicago
- Orlando
Western Convention
- San Diego
- Vancouver
- Los Angeles
- Minnesota
- Seattle
- Austin
- Dallas
- Portland
- Actual Salt Lake
MLS Cup 2025: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami fixtures
Miami will host Nashville, who they accomplished a double over with a 5-2 away win on the ultimate day of the common season, within the first spherical.
They might then face one of many groups who completed above them, Cincinnati, within the semifinals, whereas Charlotte are the highest-ranked workforce they may meet of their convention last.
Their kindest run by rating might pit them in opposition to Columbus within the semifinals and fifth-placed New York Metropolis within the convention last.
Messi and his teammates will hope to keep away from a repeat of their shock exit of their first playoff tie final season, once they had been ranked first because the Supporters’ Protect winners however had been knocked out by ninth-ranked Atlanta United regardless of successful the opening match between the groups.
Find out how to watch the 2025 MLS playoffs: Stay stream, TV channel
Stay protection of the MLS playoffs is on the market by means of the MLS Season Cross on Apple TV+.
Within the US, a subscription prices $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Current Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per 30 days or $59 a season.
MLS Cup winners by 12 months
- 2024: LA Galaxy 2-1 New York Purple Bulls
- 2023: Columbus 2-1 LAFC
- 2022: LAFC 3-3 Philadelphia Union (3-0 pen)
- 2021: Portland 1-1 New York Metropolis (4-2 pen)
- 2020: Columbus 3-0 Seattle
- 2019: Seattle 3-1 Toronto
- 2018: Atlanta 2-0 Portland
- 2017: Toronto 2-0 Seattle
- 2016: Seattle 0-0 Toronto (5-4 pen)
- 2015: Portland 2-1 Columbus
- 2014: LA Galaxy 2-1 New England Revolution (AET)
- 2013: Sporting Kansas Metropolis 1-1 Actual Salt Lake (7-6 pen)
- 2012: LA Galaxy 3-1 Houston Dynamo
- 2011: LA Galaxy 1-0 Houston
- 2010: Colorado Rapids 2-1 Dallas (AET)
- 2009: Actual Salt Lake 1-1 LA Galaxy (5-4 pen)
- 2008: Columbus 3-1 New York Purple Bulls
- 2007: Houston 2-1 New England
- 2006: Houston 1-1 New England (4-3 pen)
- 2005: LA Galaxy 1-0 New England (AET)
- 2004: DC United 3-2 Kansas Metropolis Wizards
- 2003: San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 Chicago
- 2002: LA Galaxy 1-0 New England (AET)
- 2001: San Jose 2-1 LA Galaxy (AET)
- 2000: Kansas Metropolis Wizards 1-0 Chicago
- 1999: DC 2-0 LA Galaxy
- 1998: Chicago 2-0 DC
- 1997: DC 2-1 Colorado
- 1996: DC 3-2 LA Galaxy (AET)
