The league announced the 2025 postseason structure on Wednesday, including key dates for each round of the playoffs
MLS announces 2025 playoff structureMLS Cup takes place on Dec. 6Every match to be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?
Major League Soccer announced its playoff structure and format for the 2025 season on Thursday. Every postseason match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+, while select playoff games, including MLS Cup, will be available through FOX Sports in the U.S. and TSN and RDS in Canada.
The key postseason dates are as follows:
ROUNDDATESDecision DaySaturday, October 18Wild CardWednesday, October 22Round One Best-of-3 SeriesFriday, October 24 – Sunday, November 9Conference SemifinalsSaturday, November 22 – Sunday, November 23Conference FinalsSaturday, November 29 – Sunday, November 30MLS CupDecember 6AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Decision Day: All 30 teams will feature in the final regular-season matchday. Eastern Conference matches will start at 6 p.m. ET, while Western Conference games begin at 9 p.m. ET.
Wildcard matches: These matches will feature a single-elimination match in each conference between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds. The higher seed will host. The winners will advance to Round One Best-of-3 Series to face their respective conferences’ No. 1 seeds.
Round One Best-of-3 Series: The top seven teams from each conference automatically qualify for the round. All 16 teams will play at least one home match. Each series will see the higher seed host the opening match, before the lower seed hosts the second game, before, if necessary, returning to the higher seed's venue for the final match. The first team to two wins across the series advances.
Conference Semifinals: These will be single-elimination matches, with the team with a better regular-season record hosting.
Conference Finals: The winner of each respective semifinal match will advance to the Conference Final, and the winner of this round will clinch a berth in MLS Cup.
MLS Cup: Hosting rights will be awarded to the team with a better regular-season record.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Los Angeles Galaxy are the reigning MLS Cup champions. They defeated the New York Red Bulls in 2024, winning by a scoreline of 2-1.
WHAT NEXT FOR MLS?
Regular season play returns on Saturday, with 10 matches on the cards before five games take center-stage Sunday. The Philadelphia Union currently sit atop the MLS Supporters' Shield standings with 50 points.