Understanding the MLS Playoffs: Format and Insights for the 2025 Season
As the soccer season reaches its crescendo, fans eagerly await the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs. Unlike many global leagues, which determine their champion via a straight league table, MLS utilizes a dynamic playoff system reminiscent of American sports leagues. This creates nail-biting drama and excitement, especially for clubs vying to etch their names in history.
MLS Cup Playoff Format
The MLS playoffs underwent a significant overhaul in 2023, introducing a new structure designed to heighten fan engagement. Nine teams from each conference qualify for the postseason, with seeds assigned based on regular-season performance. This new format features:
- First-Round Knockout: Teams seeded one through seven in both the Eastern and Western Conferences contest the playoffs. The eighth and ninth seeds face off in single-elimination wild card matches.
- Best-of-Three Series: The Round of 16 is a best-of-three series, where all drawn matches are resolved by penalty shootouts. A team must win two games to advance, extending the competition’s excitement.
- Single-Elimination Rounds: Once the Round of 16 concludes, the playoffs revert to the traditional single-elimination format for the semifinals, finals, and the prestigious MLS Cup match.
The ultimate victor receives the MLS Cup and claims the title of league champion. In 2022, LAFC made headlines by winning both the MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield, a feat achieved only seven times since the league’s inception in 1996.
Teams in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference
- 1. Philadelphia Union
- 2. [Team TBD]
- 3. [Team TBD]
- 4. [Team TBD]
- 5. [Team TBD]
- 6. [Team TBD]
- 7. [Team TBD]
- 8. [Team TBD]
- 9. [Team TBD]
Eliminated: NY Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Toronto FC, CF Montreal, Atlanta United, D.C. United.
Western Conference
- 1. [Team TBD]
- 2. [Team TBD]
- 3. [Team TBD]
- 4. [Team TBD]
- 5. Seattle Sounders
- 6. [Team TBD]
- 7. [Team TBD]
- 8. [Team TBD]
- 9. [Team TBD]
Eliminated: Houston Dynamo, St. Louis FC, Sporting KC, LA Galaxy.
2025 MLS Cup Playoff Schedule
The playoff schedule is meticulously crafted to build excitement across multiple rounds. Key dates include:
Wild Card Matches
- Date: Wed., Oct. 22
- East No. 8 vs. East No. 9 | Location: Higher seed host
- West No. 8 vs. West No. 9 | Location: Higher seed host
Round One — 1st Leg
- Date: Oct. 24-26
- Matchups include East No. 1 vs. East wild card winner (hosted by East No. 1).
- Other first-leg matchups will mirror this format.
Round One — 2nd Leg
- Date: Oct. 31-Nov. 2
- Hosts will reverse for the second legs, providing high-stakes matches across both conferences.
Conference Semifinals
- Date: Nov. 22-23
- The winners of the first-round matchups will clash, with higher seeds hosting.
Conference Finals
- Date: Nov. 29-30
- Determining the finalists, the matchups will consist of the conference semifinal victors.
2025 MLS Cup Final
- Date: Sat., Dec. 6
- The ultimate showdown to crown the champion will take place at the site of the higher seed’s venue.
MLS Trophies: Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup
Each MLS season offers two prestigious titles:
-
Supporters’ Shield: Awarded to the team with the most points during the regular season, regardless of conference. This year, Inter Miami claimed its first Shield, recognizing its consistent performance.
-
MLS Cup: The esteemed title that denotes the league champion, awarded to the playoff victor. It’s regarded as the pinnacle of success within the league.
Historical Context: Past Winners of the MLS Cup
A look at recent champions highlights a rich tapestry of competitive soccer. Here are the winners from 2024 back to the league’s inception:
| Year | MLS Cup Winner | Final | Supporters’ Shield Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | LA Galaxy | 2-1 vs. NY Red Bulls | Inter Miami |
| 2023 | Columbus Crew | 2-1 vs. LAFC | FC Cincinnati |
| 2022 | LAFC | 3-3 vs. Philadelphia Union* | LAFC (3) |
| 2021 | NYCFC | 1-1 vs. Portland Timbers* | New England Revolution |
| 2020 | Columbus Crew | 3-0 vs. Seattle Sounders | Philadelphia Union |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders | 3-1 vs. Toronto FC | LAFC (2) |
| … | … | … | … |
*Matches decided on penalties.
Global Context: Playoff Systems Elsewhere
MLS is not an outlier in its use of playoffs; various leagues globally employ similar systems. Notably, leagues such as Mexico’s Liga MX, Australia’s A-League, Argentina’s Primera Division, and several European leagues utilize playoff formats to determine their champions.
- Hybrid Systems: Many leagues adapt hybrid formats, segmenting their seasons to incorporate playoff-style conclusions.
- Split Seasons: Leagues in Mexico and South America often run two distinct seasons (Apertura and Clausura), culminating in separate playoffs.
How MLS Works
With 29 clubs spanning the U.S. and Canada, MLS operates a tightly regulated league focusing on competitive balance. The season runs from February to October, with 18 clubs (nine from each conference) advancing to the playoffs.
The league enforces uniform roster and budget rules to maintain parity among teams, allowing each club the flexibility to pursue talented players while adhering to fiscal guidelines. Notably, designated players can exceed salary caps to attract big-name talent, enriching the league’s competitive landscape.
While closed leagues like MLS do not feature promotion and relegation, strategies like player drafts and allocation money assist in upholding competitive integrity, giving bottom teams a chance to improve.
As the playoff season approaches, anticipation builds, especially with icons like Lionel Messi blazing trails in the league. Fans can expect thrilling encounters as their teams vie for soccer’s ultimate glittering prize—the MLS Cup.