News Summary
The 2025 Major League Soccer playoff field is set following Decision Day, with teams preparing for wild card matches. The Eastern Conference Wild Card will showcase Chicago Fire FC vs. Orlando City SC, while the Western Conference features Portland Timbers against Real Salt Lake. These matches will determine which teams advance to the postseason in the best-of-3 series. Fans can enjoy all playoff games through MLS Season Pass and select broadcasts on FOX Sports and TSN. Stay tuned for more details as the journey to the MLS Cup begins.
New York City, October 19, 2025 — The 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) playoff field has been finalized following Decision Day on October 19, with the complete bracket set and wild card matches scheduled for October 22.
Key Highlights of the 2025 MLS Playoffs
The conclusion of the regular season resulted in the confirmation of all teams advancing to the postseason, with wild card matches giving additional teams the chance to enter the knockout stage. The Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card games are scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, and will determine the final participants in the Round One best-of-3 series.
Wild Card Match Details
- The Eastern Conference Wild Card match will feature Chicago Fire FC against Orlando City SC at 8:30 p.m. ET, hosted at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
- The Western Conference Wild Card match will see Portland Timbers face Real Salt Lake at 10:30 p.m. ET, hosted at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
The winners of these matches will advance to face higher-seeded teams in the Round One series. The Eastern Wild Card survivor will compete against the top-seeded Philadelphia Union, while the Western Wild Card winner will go up against San Diego FC.
Round One Series and Schedule
The Round One matches will be played as a best-of-3 series, with the schedule and match dates to be announced later. These series will determine the teams moving forward in the pursuit of the MLS Cup.
Match Streaming and Viewing Options
All playoff matches will be available for streaming on the MLS Season Pass, accessible across a variety of devices including Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, and via web browsers. Fans interested in signing up can do so for a fee of $9.99 for the remaining season. The MLS Season Pass is available in over 100 countries and regions worldwide.
Additionally, select playoff games will be broadcast through FOX Sports in the United States and on TSN and RDS in Canada.
Special 30-minute pre- and post-game shows will provide analysis, highlights, and expert commentary for the Wild Card matches and Round One games.
Team Highlights and Matchups
Charlotte FC Secures Fourth Seed
On Decision Day, Charlotte FC secured the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference after defeating Philadelphia Union 2-0. This result set up a Round One matchup between Charlotte FC and New York City FC.
Details regarding the dates and times for the Round One matches involving Charlotte FC and New York City FC will be announced on October 19. NYCFC plans to host their playoff games at Yankee Stadium.
NYCFC has made the playoffs nine times in ten seasons. However, they arrive after a modest two-match losing streak following their last regular-season game, a loss to Seattle Sounders at Citi Field.
Other Key Dates and Information
The 2025 MLS Cup final is scheduled for December 6, 2025, marking the culmination of the postseason. As the playoffs progress, fans are encouraged to submit their playoff brackets for a chance to win prizes, including gift cards from the MLS Store.
Stay tuned for further updates on the full schedule and more details about the upcoming matchups and broadcast coverage.
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Additional Resources
- Charlotte FC News
- Wikipedia: 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs
- Hudson River Blue
- Google Search: 2025 MLS Playoffs
- MLS Soccer News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: MLS Playoffs
- NYCFC News
- Google News: Charlotte FC vs New York City FC
- Sporting News
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