MLS Cup Playoffs 2025 Schedule: Dates, Bracket, and How to Watch Messi’s Inter Miami

Lionel Messi Inter Miami MLS Cup Playoffs 2025

Lionel Messi is on fire as Inter Miami heads into the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they are hoping to win their first MLS Cup.

Despite playing in just 28 league games, Messi recorded a league-best 29 goals and second-best 16 assists, and the Herons finished just one point short of the Supporters’ Shield and the top points total.

As the road to the MLS Cup Final pass through Philadelphia and San Diego, here is how the playoffs operate and who Messi’s Miami will next play.

An explanation of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs format

The top four seeds in each conference receive the best conditions, and nine teams from each conference advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The eight and nine seeds in each conference compete in single-elimination wild card matches, with the victor going on to face the league’s top seed.

Eight “best-of-three” series are played in that first round, with 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, and 4v5 in each conference. The first and, if needed, third games of the series are played at the higher seed.

The winners advance on to the conference semifinals, which are single-elimination games at the home of the higher seed, joining the conference final and MLS Cup Final.

When is the 2025 MLS Cup?

The higher-ranked team from the Eastern or Western Conference will host the game on December 6, 2025.

2025 MLS Cup Playoffs — Schedule, scores

Wild card round

October 22, 2025
Chicago Fire 3-1 Orlando City SC
Portland Timbers 3-1 Real Salt Lake

Round one pairings (best of three)

*if necessary

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia Union (1) vs Chicago Fire (8)
Game 1: Sunday, October 26 at Philadelphia
Game 2: Saturday, November 1 at Chicago

Game 3: Saturday, November 8 at Philadelphia*

FC Cincinnati (2) vs Columbus Crew (7)
Game 1: Monday, October 27 at Cincinnati
Game 2: Sunday, November 2 at Columbus

Game 3: Saturday, November 8 at Cincinnati*

Inter Miami (3) vs Nashville SC (6)
Game 1: Friday, Oct 24 at Miami
Game 2: Saturday, November 1 at Nashville
Game 3: Saturday, November 8 at Miami*

Charlotte FC (4) vs New York City FC (5)
Game 1: Tuesday, October 28 at Charlotte
Game 2: Saturday, November 1 at New York City

Game 3: Friday, November 7 vs Charlotte*

Western Conference

San Diego FC (1) vs Portland Timbers (8)
Game 1: Sunday, October 26 at San Diego
Game 2: Saturday, November 1 at Portland

Game 3: Sunday, November 9 at San Diego*

Vancouver Whitecaps (2) vs FC Dallas (7)
Game 1: Sunday, October 26 at Vancouver
Game 2: Saturday, November 1 at Dallas

Game 3: Friday, November 7 at Vancouver*

LAFC (3) vs Austin FC (6)
Game 1: Wednesday, October 29 at Los Angeles
Game 2: Sunday, November 2 at Austin

Game 3: Saturday, November 8 at Los Angeles*

Minnesota United (4) vs Seattle Sounders (5)
Game 1: Monday, October 27 at Minnesota
Game 2: Monday, November 3 at Seattle

Game 3: Saturday, November 8 at Minnesota*