Sports
Schedule, standings, bracket for MLS Cup
Inter Miami and MLS golden boot winner Lionel Messi are the most high-profile participants in the 2025 , MLS playoffs, having finished third in the Eastern Conference.
The 30th edition of the post-season tournament initially featured 18 teams hoping to win the MLS cup across a schedule lasting more than a month.
“We have some of the greatest players ever to have played the game,” Miami defender Ian Fray said after the end of the regular season. “Whoever we play, we’re going to have the same mindset.”
Here are all the details you need to know on the 2025 MLS playoffs, including the schedule, bracket and how to watch.
29 goals in the regular season. 💪
Hat trick and an assist to secure the dub.
Potential Golden Boot pres. by Audi award for Messi waiting. pic.twitter.com/9sUbONDSXT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 19, 2025
2025 playoffs: MLS schedule, dates, fixtures
The post-season competition started on October 22 and will run until December 6 2025. The regular season ended on October 18.
The top nine teams from the Eastern Conference and Western Conference contest the matches, which started with one-off Wild Card matches in each division between the eighth and ninth-placed teams.
The winners of those games joined the rest of the teams in best-of-three first round matches, followed by one-off semi-finals and finals in each conference and the single MLS Cup match between the winners of each final.
The teams finishing higher play at home or play the first and, if required, third matches at home in the best-of-three fixtures.
Denis ➡️ Son ➡️ Goal
Thrill of the Match | @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/yPySGXGzuX
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 19, 2025
2025 MLS playoffs bracket
You can find the official MLS bracket here.
Western Conference final
Western Conference semifinals
SF2: Vancouver 2-2 LAFC (4-3 pens)
Western Conference round one
San Diego vs Portland
Game 1: San Diego 2-1 Portland
Game 2: Portland 2-2 San Diego (3-2 pens)
Game 3: San Diego 4-0 Portland
Minnesota United vs Seattle Sounders
Game 1: Minnesota 0-0 Seattle (3-2 pens)
Game 2: Seattle 4-2 Minnesota
Game 3: Minnesota 3-3 Seattle (7-6 pens)
Los Angeles FC vs Austin
Game 1: LAFC 2-1 Austin
Game 2: Austin 1-4 LAFC
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Dallas
Game 1: Vancouver 3-0 Dallas
Game 2: Dallas 1-1 Vancouver (2-4 pens)
Western Conference Wild Card match: Portland Timbers 3-1 Real Salt Lake
Eastern Conference final
Eastern Conference semifinals
SF1: Philadelphia 0-1 New York City
SF2: Cincinnati 0-4 Inter Miami
Eastern Conference round one
Philadelphia Union vs Chicago Fire
Game 1: Philadelphia 2-2 Chicago (4-2p)
Game 2: Chicago 0-3 Philadelphia
Charlotte vs New York City
Game 1: Charlotte 0-1 New York City
Game 2: New York City 0-0 Charlotte (6-7 pens)
Game 3: Charlotte 1-3 New York City
Inter Miami vs Nashville
Game 1: Miami 3-1 Nashville
Game 2: Nashville 2-1 Miami
Game 3: Miami 4-0 Nashville
Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew
Game 1: Cincinnati 1-0 Columbus
Game 2: Columbus 4-0 Cincinnati
Game 3: Cincinnati 2-1 Columbus
Eastern Conference Wild Card match: Chicago Fire 3-1 Orlando City
MLS playoffs 2025 standings
Eastern Conference
- Philadelphia Union
- Cincinnati
- Inter Miami
- Charlotte
- New York City
- Nashville
- Columbus
- Chicago
- Orlando
Western Conference
- San Diego
- Vancouver
- Los Angeles
- Minnesota
- Seattle
- Austin
- Dallas
- Portland
- Real Salt Lake
MLS Cup 2025: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami fixtures
Miami hosted Nashville, who they completed a double over with a 5-2 away win on the final day of the regular season, in the first round, winning the third and deciding between the teams 4-0 with the help of two Messi goals.
Messi scored again as they beat Cincinnati 4-0 in the semifinals. They then had their kindest fixture by ranking, taking on fifth-placed New York City in the conference final.
Messi and his teammates suffered a shock exit in their first playoff tie last season, when they were ranked first as the Supporters’ Shield winners but were knocked out by ninth-ranked Atlanta United despite winning the opening match between the teams.
How to watch the 2025 MLS playoffs: Live stream, TV channel
Live coverage of the MLS playoffs is available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.
MLS Cup winners by year
- 2024: LA Galaxy 2-1 New York Red Bulls
- 2023: Columbus 2-1 LAFC
- 2022: LAFC 3-3 Philadelphia Union (3-0 pen)
- 2021: Portland 1-1 New York City (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 City 1-1 Real 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: Real Salt Lake 1-1 LA Galaxy (5-4 pen)
- 2008: Columbus 3-1 New York Red 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 City 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 City 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)
