MLS Playoff Race Heats Up: Which Teams Would Battle for the 2025 MLS Cup Right Now?
The 2025 Major League Soccer campaign is approaching its conclusion, and Matchday 37 has started to provide clearer insight into the potential makeup of this year's MLS Cup Playoffs.
Philadelphia Union secured control of their Supporters' Shield destiny with a commanding 6–0 victory over D.C. United, while the New York Red Bulls' defeat to New York City FC has likely ended their chances of maintaining their playoff streak at 16 straight seasons.
Across the board, the latest round of matches enabled five additional clubs to secure postseason berths, bringing the total to 13 of 18 available spots with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Although several teams have matches in reserve and compressed fixture lists leading up to Decision Day on Oct. 18, here's what the opening round best-of-three playoff series would resemble if they commenced immediately.
MLS Cup Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference
*Secured Playoffs
The Red Bulls trail Chicago by five points for the last playoff position, with Chicago holding a game in reserve. Should Gregg Berhalter's squad claim victory in that fixture, the points deficit would become impossible to overcome. They require significant assistance, but currently these nine clubs appear destined for qualification. The final seeding arrangement may shift with Miami possessing two games in hand over those positioned above them, though New York requires extraordinary circumstances to qualify.
MLS Cup Playoff Picture: Western Conference
*Secured Playoffs
FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and the Houston Dynamo are attempting to mount a final surge toward playoff qualification with merely two points dividing San Jose in ninth and Houston in 12th position. The season's concluding matches could produce significant changes affecting potential MLS Cup routes for Western Conference teams.
Both Dallas and Salt Lake possess an extra match compared to Colorado and San Jose, making the western portion of MLS difficult to forecast.
When are the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs?
The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs commence with Wild Card fixtures on Oct. 22, followed by the opening round best-of-three series spanning from Oct. 24 through Nov. 9.
Advancing teams will then pause for the November international break, before single-elimination conference semifinal contests on either Nov. 22 or Nov. 23.
Both Eastern Conference and Western Conference championship matches will occur on either Nov. 29 or Nov. 30, with clubs striving to claim the MLS Cup on Dec. 6.