News Summary
The field for the MLS Cup Playoffs has been set following Decision Day. Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card matches will determine which teams move forward. Chicago Fire FC will face Orlando City SC, while Portland Timbers will take on Real Salt Lake. The winners advance to a Best-of-3 series against top seeds. All matches will be available for streaming, with additional pre- and post-game coverage planned. The playoffs promise thrilling action ahead of the 2025 MLS Cup.
Chicago – The field for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs has been officially confirmed following the conclusion of Decision Day 2025. The playoffs will kick off with Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card matches scheduled for Wednesday, October 22. These preliminary matches will determine which teams advance to the next round of the playoffs.
The Eastern Conference Wild Card Game features the Chicago Fire FC facing off against Orlando City SC at 8:30 p.m. ET, with the match taking place at SeatGeek Stadium. Concurrently, the Western Conference Wild Card Game will see the Portland Timbers take on Real Salt Lake at 10:30 p.m. ET, hosted at Providence Park. The winners of these Wild Card matches will advance to the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
The victorious team from the Eastern Conference Wild Card will go on to challenge the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union, while the winner of the Western Conference Wild Card will face San Diego FC in the same Best-of-3 format. Details regarding the full schedule for these Round One matches are expected to be announced later.
All playoff matches will be available for streaming on the MLS Season Pass, which can be accessed through a variety of devices, including Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming boxes, game consoles, and web browsers. For Apple TV subscribers, the streaming of these matches will be free, while fans can sign up for the season pass at a cost of $9.99 for the remainder of the season. The service is available in over 100 countries and regions, allowing a broad audience to enjoy the games.
Special Coverage and Playoff Bracket
The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will not only feature live match streaming, but also special 30-minute pre- and post-game shows that will deliver analysis and highlights. Many playoff games will also be broadcasted on FOX Sports in the U.S. and on TSN and RDS in Canada, ensuring extensive coverage.
Charlotte FC has clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference after securing a 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Decision Day. They are set to compete against New York City FC in the opening round of the playoffs. The exact dates and times for the Round One matches will be disclosed on October 19.
New York City FC Playoff Details
New York City FC is preparing to host its playoff matches at Yankee Stadium. This will mark NYCFC’s ninth playoff appearance in ten seasons, a testament to the team’s consistent performance. Nevertheless, the team enters the playoffs on a modest two-match losing streak, having recently lost their last regular season game to the Seattle Sounders at Citi Field.
Looking Ahead
The excitement of the playoffs is amplified by opportunities for fans to engage with the tournament outside of just watching matches. Supporters can submit their playoff brackets to win prizes, including gift cards to the MLS Store.
As the anticipation grows for what is sure to be thrilling playoff action, all eyes will be on the teams as they prepare for the first matches on October 22. The culmination of the postseason will be the 2025 MLS Cup, which is scheduled for December 6, 2025, promising a grand conclusion to the 2025 season.
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HERE Resources
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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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