MLS 2025 Playoff Schedule: Printable Bracket and TV Lineups Overview

MLS Playoff Picture takes Shape as Wild Card Battles Loom

The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff picture is rapidly solidifying as the regular season heads into its final weeks. Two crucial Wild Card matches are set for October 22nd, determining which teams will advance to the upcoming Round One matchups. Tonight, the Chicago Fire will face off against Orlando City SC, while Portland Timbers will battle Real Salt Lake.

Eastern Conference – Early Frontrunners Emerge

In the Eastern Conference, Inter Miami currently holds a strong position, set to face Nashville SC on October 24th. Philadelphia Union, having secured a Wild Card spot, will battle an unknown opponent on October 26th, with the victor advancing to the Round One games.FC cincinnati and Columbus crew are also vying for a top seed, with a decisive clash scheduled for October 27th. Charlotte FC and New York City FC will square off on October 28th, setting the stage for a potential Eastern conference Semifinal showdown.

Western Conference – Tight Race for Playoff Spots

The Western Conference is proving to be equally competitive. Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas are set to compete on October 26th, followed by San Diego FC against a yet-to-be-determined Wild Card team on the same day. Los Angeles FC and Austin FC will face each other on October 29th, and Minnesota united and Seattle Sounders are scheduled to meet on October 27th. The final West Wild Card spot remains up for grabs, adding intensity to these contests.

Upcoming Wild Card Showdowns

The October 22nd Wild card matches are pivotal. Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC promises a high-stakes encounter, while Portland Timbers vs. Real salt Lake will test the endurance of both teams. The winners of these games will join the other Wild Card teams in Round One, facing off against established contenders.

Conference Semifinals on the Horizon

Following Round one, the MLS Cup playoffs will shift into high gear, with Conference Semifinals scheduled for November 22-23. The matchups are yet to be determined, but the intensity is sure to be palpable. The Conference Finals, set for November 29-30, will crown the MLS champions.

MLS Cup – A December Finale

The culmination of the season will arrive on December 6th,when the Eastern and Western Conference champions face off in the MLS Cup. The specific teams involved are currently unknown, but the game is expected to be broadcast on FOX Sports, with precise broadcast times to be announced.

Match	Date	Location	TV
Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC	October 22, 2025	seatgeek Stadium, Bridgeview, IL	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (8:30 p.m. ET)
Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake	October 22, 2025	Providence Park, Portland, OR	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (10:30 p.m. ET)
inter Miami vs. Nashville SC	October 24, 2025	inter Miami Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL	FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (8 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia Union vs. Wild Card Winner	October 26, 2025	Subaru Park, Chester, PA	FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (5:30 p.m.ET)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Dallas	October 26, 2025	BC Place, Vancouver, BC	MLS Season pass on Apple TV (7:30 p.m. ET)
San Diego FC vs. Wild Card Winner	October 26, 2025	Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (9:30 p.m. ET)
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew	October 27, 2025	TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH	FS1, MLS season Pass on Apple TV (6:45 p.m. ET)
Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders	October 27, 2025	Allianz Field, st. Paul,MN	MLS Season Pass on apple TV (9 p.m. ET)
Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC	October 28, 2025	Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC	FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (6:45 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles FC vs. Austin FC	October 29, 2025	BMO Stadium, los Angeles, CA	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (10:30 p.m. ET)
Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC	November 1, 2025	GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (7:30 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia Union vs. Wild Card Winner	November 1, 2025	TBD (Wild Card Winner’s Home)	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (5:30 p.m. ET)
Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC	November 1, 2025	Yankee Stadium, New York, NY	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (3:30 p.m. ET)
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew	November 1, 2025	Lower.com Field, Columbus, OH	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (6:30 p.m. ET)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Dallas	November 1, 2025	toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (9:30 p.m. ET)
San Diego FC vs. Wild card Winner	November 1, 2025	TBD (Wild Card Winner’s Home)	MLS season Pass on Apple TV (9:30 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles FC vs. Austin FC	November 2, 2025	Q2 Stadium, Austin, TX	FS1, MLS Season pass on Apple TV (8:30 p.m. ET)
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew	November 2, 2025	Lower.com Field, Columbus, OH	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (6:30 p.m. ET)
Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders	November 3, 2025	Lumen Field, Seattle, WA	FS1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (10:30 p.m.ET)
Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC	November 7,2025	Bank of america stadium,charlotte,NC	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Dallas	November 7, 2025	BC Place, Vancouver, BC	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
Inter Miami vs. nashville SC	November 8, 2025	Inter Miami stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
philadelphia Union vs. Wild Card Winner	November 8, 2025	TBD (Wild Card Winner’s Home)	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew	November 8, 2025	TQL Stadium, cincinnati, OH	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
Los Angeles FC vs.Austin FC	November 8, 2025	BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)
San Diego FC vs. Wild Card Winner	November 9, 2025	Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA	MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Time TBD)

MLS Playoff History

The MLS Cup Playoffs have become a cornerstone of the league’s success, culminating in a highly anticipated championship game. Over the years, exciting upsets and dominant performances have defined the postseason, showcasing the league’s growing talent and competitive landscape. The format is designed to reward consistent performance throughout the regular season, and the wild Card system adds an extra layer of excitement for teams vying for a coveted spot in the knockout rounds.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the MLS Wild Card? the Wild Card provides a third playoff spot in each conference for the teams with the best regular-season records who don’t automatically qualify as a top seed.
• When are the MLS Cup Playoffs? The MLS Cup Playoffs typically begin in November and conclude with the MLS Cup final in December.
• Where can I watch the MLS Cup Playoffs? Most MLS Cup Playoff games are broadcast on FS1 and MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
• how does the MLS playoff bracket work? The MLS playoffs are divided into two rounds: the Eastern and Western Conferences, each with their own First Round, Conference Semifinals, conference Finals, and the MLS Cup.
• What happens if there’s a tie after regular season? Tiebreakers are used to determine seeding, with goal differential and head-to-head record being primary factors.

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Okay,here’s a breakdown of the 2025 MLS Playoffs based on the provided text,formatted for clarity. I’ll summarize the key stages, dates, and broadcast information.

Round One: Wild Card Series (October 28th – November 2nd, 2025)

The 2025 MLS Playoffs kick off with the Wild Card Series, a best-of-three format featuring teams seeded #7 through #10 in each conference. This exciting addition to the playoff structure guarantees more competitive matches and opportunities for upsets.

* Eastern Conference Wild Card:

* #7 Seed vs. #10 Seed

* #8 Seed vs. #9 Seed

* Western Conference Wild Card:

* #7 Seed vs. #10 Seed

* #8 Seed vs. #9 seed

Key Dates:

* October 28th & 29th: Games 1 & 2

* November 1st & 2nd: Games 3 (if necessary)

TV Broadcasts (Subject to Change): Expect coverage across the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with select matches possibly airing on FOX, FS1, Univision, and Telemundo. Check local listings for specific game times and channels.

Round Two: Conference Quarterfinals (November 5th – 12th, 2025)

The winners of the Wild Card Series advance to face the top six seeds in their respective conferences. This round reverts to a single-elimination format.

* Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:

* #1 Seed vs. Wild Card Winner

* #2 Seed vs. Wild Card Winner

* #3 seed vs.#6 Seed

* #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed

* Western Conference Quarterfinals:

* #1 Seed vs. Wild Card Winner

* #2 Seed vs. Wild Card Winner

* #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed

* #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed

Broadcast Details: Coverage will be heavily focused on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. Expect increased national television coverage on major networks as the playoffs progress.

Conference Semifinals (November 16th – 23rd,2025)

The four remaining teams in each conference battle for a spot in the Conference Finals. This round continues the single-elimination format.

Potential Matchups: Based on seeding, anticipate compelling clashes between top contenders.

TV & Streaming: Expect a mix of Apple TV and national broadcast coverage.

conference Finals (November 27th – December 3rd, 2025)

The stakes are high as the Conference Champions are persistent. The winners advance to the MLS Cup.

Broadcast Information: These matches will be nationally televised,likely on FOX or FS1,and streamed on Apple TV.

MLS Cup 2025 (December 7th, 2025)

The championship game! The Eastern and Western Conference Champions face off to determine the 2025 MLS Cup winner.

Location: the MLS Cup will be hosted by the conference champion with the better regular season record.

TV Coverage: The MLS Cup will be broadcast nationally on FOX and streamed on Apple TV.

Printable MLS Playoff Bracket 2025

(A downloadable, printable bracket will be available for download here on October 26th, 2025.The bracket will be updated after each round.)

[Link to Printable Bracket – Placeholder]

Key Teams to Watch (2025 Playoff Contenders)

Based on 2024 performance and early 2025 season projections:

* Eastern Conference: FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia union, New England Revolution, Columbus Crew.

* Western Conference: LAFC, Seattle Sounders FC, St. Louis City SC, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo FC.

Understanding MLS Playoff Seeding

The MLS playoff seeding is determined by regular season points. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Points Per Win: 3 points
2. Points Per Draw: 1 point
3. Points Per Loss: 0 points

Tiebreakers are used to determine seeding when teams have the same number of points. These include:

* Total wins

* Goal difference

* Goals scored

* Head-to-head record

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV: Your Go-To for Playoff Coverage

The MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is the primary streaming home for the 2025 MLS Playoffs. A subscription provides access to every playoff match, live and on-demand. This includes:

* All Wild Card Series games

* Conference Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals

* MLS Cup

Historical Playoff Trends & Insights

* Dominant Teams: LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC have historically been strong playoff performers, consistently making deep runs.

* Upset Potential: The Wild Card round often produces surprising results, showcasing the parity within MLS.

* Home Field Advantage: Home field advantage is significant, particularly in the later rounds of the playoffs.

MLS playoff Ticket Information

Tickets for MLS Playoff matches are