Major League Soccer has released the schedule for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs and the MLS Cup presented by Audi, outlining a dramatic path to the league title this December.
Decision Day 2025
On Saturday, October 18, all 30 clubs will be in action on the season’s final day. Eastern Conference games are set to start at 6 p.m. ET, with Western Conference matches following at 9 p.m. ET. The results will determine the final playoff picture and the seeding for the postseason.
Aud 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card Matches
Wednesday, October 22 will feature single-game elimination matches in each conference between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds. The higher seed will host these Wild Card contests, and the winners will move on to the Round One Best-of-3 Series to face the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
Round One Best-of-3 Series
Running from Friday, October 24 to Sunday, November 9, the Round One action will involve the top seven teams from each conference automatically qualifying, joined by the winners of the Wild Card matches. All 16 teams in Round One will be guaranteed at least one home playoff game. In each series, the higher seed will host Game 1, the lower seed will host Game 2, and if necessary, the decisive Game 3 will be hosted by the higher seed.
Conference Semifinals
The Conference Semifinals will be single-elimination, win-or-go-home matchups taking place on Saturday, November 22 and Sunday, November 23. Regular-season performance will determine home-field advantage, with the better regular-season team hosting each game.
Conference Finals
Eastern and Western Conference Finals are scheduled for Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30. A berth in MLS Cup will be on the line as each conference crowns its champion.
MLS Cup presented by Audi
The season culminates on Saturday, December 6 with the MLS Cup final. Hosting rights for the final will be awarded to the finalist with the better regular-season record.
Broadcast and viewing options
Every postseason game will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, making the playoffs accessible to fans in more than 100 countries. English and Spanish commentary will be provided, and U.S. and Canada viewers will have the option to listen to their home team’s radio broadcast via the Apple TV app where available. MLS Season Pass is accessible on Apple and Android devices, smart TVs and streaming devices, set-top boxes, game consoles, DIRECTV, Xfinity, and at tv.apple.com.
Select playoff games, including MLS Cup, will also be carried by FOX Sports in the United States and by TSN and RDS in Canada. A full playoff bracket and broadcast details will be announced once finalized.
What this means for fans
– A highly competitive Decision Day will shape the postseason landscape, with every point from the final weekend carrying extra weight.
– The Wild Card format adds a quick, high-stakes entry point for No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds before a best-of-3 Round One.
– A mix of best-of-3 series and single-elimination rounds promises strategic rotations and potential upsets.
– The Apple TV MLS Season Pass offers broad accessibility, while traditional TV partners ensure wide coverage in key markets.
Summary
The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs introduce an expanded and dynamic structure, culminating in a December final with home-field advantage rewarded to the team with the stronger regular season. The schedule emphasizes drama from Decision Day through MLS Cup, with extensive global streaming options and multiple broadcast partners to reach fans worldwide. The playoff format rewards teams for consistency in the regular season while keeping the door open for surprises in the knockout rounds. A hopeful note for fans is the prospect of a memorable, high-stakes postseason that showcases the best of MLS under the Audi banner.