The 2025 MLS Cup playoffs (branded as the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 30th edition of the MLS Cup playoffs, following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The playoffs began on October 22 and concluded with MLS Cup 2025 on December 6.
Both of the previous year's MLS Cup finalists, champions LA Galaxy and runners-up New York Red Bulls, failed to qualify, the latter for the first time since 2009. San Diego FC qualified for the playoffs as Western Conference champions in their inaugural MLS season, but were eliminated in the conference finals by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Philadelphia Union entered as Supporters' Shield and Eastern Conference champions, but were eliminated in the conference semifinals by New York City FC.
Inter Miami CF won their first MLS Cup title after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–1.
Format Since the 2023 edition, the MLS Cup playoffs had been contested by a field of 18 teams—the top nine teams from each conference. The top seven teams in each conference automatically qualified for round one, while the eighth and ninth-placed teams in each conference played a single wild card match to determine who drew the best-ranked team in their conference, with only a penalty shoot-out occurring if the game was tied.
The first round comprised a best-of-three format, with higher seeds playing against lower seeds. The round did not use an aggregate score, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The remaining three rounds—the conference semifinals, conference finals, and MLS Cup—were single-elimination matches played with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if still tied.
The team with the better regular season record hosted in all rounds except the best-of-three series in round one, where the team with the lower regular season record hosted the second of three possible matches. All matches were broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple. Select matches were available on Fox Sports channels in the US.
Qualified teams The playoffs was contested by 18 teams. The date listed indicates when each team qualified for the playoffs.
Eastern Conference Charlotte FC (September 13) Chicago Fire FC (September 30) FC Cincinnati (September 13) Columbus Crew (September 27) Inter Miami CF (September 24) Nashville SC (September 27) New York City FC (September 20) Orlando City SC (September 27) Philadelphia Union (August 30)
Western Conference Austin FC (October 5) FC Dallas (October 18) Los Angeles FC (September 20) Minnesota United FC (August 30) Portland Timbers (October 5) Real Salt Lake (October 18) San Diego FC (August 23) Seattle Sounders FC (September 27) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (September 13)
Conference standings
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Bracket The higher seeded teams hosted single-elimination matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points in the Supporters' Shield table. During the best-of-three round, the team with higher seed hosted the first match (and the third match, if required).
Wild card round
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Round one
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.
FC Cincinnati won the series 2–1.
Inter Miami CF won the series 2–1.
New York City FC won the series 2–1.
Western Conference
San Diego FC won the series 2–1.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC won the series 2–0.
Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.
Minnesota United FC won the series 2–1.
Conference semifinals The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Conference finals The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
MLS Cup 2025
The higher-ranked finalist in the overall Supporters' Shield table (Inter Miami CF) hosted the match.
Top goalscorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Tadeo AllendeInter Miami CF92 Lionel MessiInter Miami CF63 Anders DreyerSan Diego FC44 Amahl PellegrinoSan Diego FC3 Son Heung-minLos Angeles FC6 Tai BariboPhiladelphia Union2 Denis BouangaLos Angeles FC BrennerFC Cincinnati Hugo CuypersChicago Fire FC Nicolás FernándezNew York City FC Hirving LozanoSan Diego FC Alonso MartínezNew York City FC Felipe MoraPortland Timbers Jordan MorrisSeattle Sounders FC Danny MusovskiSeattle Sounders FC Jacen Russell-RoweColumbus Crew Mateo SilvettiInter Miami CF Obed VargasSeattle Sounders FC Kristoffer VeldePortland Timbers Brian WhiteVancouver Whitecaps FC
References