The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs are through the best-of-three Round 1 series and the journey toward the Dec. 6 championship game will continue with the conference semifinals.
In Round 1, the higher-seeded teams won seven of the eight matchups. The Philadelphia Union, the 2025 Supporters’ Shield winners, swept their first-round series; so did Los Angeles FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami avoided a first-round playoff upset this time around, dispatching Nashville SC in three games.
Here is a look at the schedule for the conference semifinals for the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs:
MLS Cup Playoffs 2025: Results and upcoming schedule
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Eastern Conference
- FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami — Sunday, Nov. 23, 5 p.m. ET
- Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC — Sunday, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Western Conference
- Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles FC — Saturday, Nov. 22, 9:30 p.m. ET
- San Diego FC vs. Minnesota United — Monday, Nov. 24, 10 p.m. ET
Watch the MLS playoffs on Apple TV
ROUND 1
Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union win series, 2-0
- Game 1: Philadelphia Union 2, Chicago Fire 2 (Philadelphia won penalty shootout, 4-2)
- Game 2: Philadelphia Union 3, Chicago Fire 0
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew
FC Cincinnati wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: FC Cincinnati 1, Columbus Crew 0
- Game 2: Columbus Crew 4, FC Cincinnati 0
- Game 3: FC Cincinnati 2, Columbus Crew 1
Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC
Inter Miami wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 1
- Game 2: Nashville SC 2, Inter Miami 1
- Game 3: Inter Miami 4, Nashville SC 0
Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC
NYCFC wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: New York City FC 1, Charlotte FC 0
- Game 2: Charlotte FC 0, New York City FC 0 (Charlotte won penalty shootout, 7-6)
- Game 3: New York City FC 3, Charlotte FC 1
San Diego FC vs. Portland Timbers
San Diego FC wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: San Diego FC 2, Portland Timbers 1
- Game 2: Portland Timbers 2, San Diego FC 2 (Portland won penalty shootout, 3-2)
- Game 3: San Diego FC 4, Portland Timbers 0
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Dallas
Vancouver Whitecaps win series, 2-0
- Game 1: Vancouver Whitecaps 3, FC Dallas 0
- Game 2: Vancouver Whitecaps 1, FC Dallas 1 (Vancouver won penalty shootout, 4-2)
Los Angeles FC vs. Austin FC
LAFC wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: Los Angeles FC 2, Austin FC 1
- Game 2: Los Angeles FC 4, Austin FC 1
Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders
Minnesota United wins series, 2-1
- Game 1: Minnesota United 0, Seattle Sounders 0 (Minnesota won penalty shootout, 3-2)
- Game 2: Seattle Sounders 4, Minnesota United 2
- Game 3: Minnesota United 3, Seattle Sounders 3 (Minnesota won penalty shootout, 7-6)
WILD-CARD ROUND
- Chicago Fire FC 3, Orlando City SC 1
- Portland Timbers 3, Real Salt Lake 1
2025 MLS playoff schedule
- Oct. 22: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
- Oct. 24-Nov. 9: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
- Nov. 22-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
- Nov. 29-30: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
- Dec. 6: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)
MLS Cup: Results of every championship game since 1996
- 2024: Los Angeles Galaxy over New York Red Bulls (Dignity Health Sports Park), 2-1.
- 2023: Columbus Crew over Los Angeles FC (Lower.com Field), 2-1
- 2022: Los Angeles FC over Philadelphia Union (Banc of California Stadium), 3-3 (LAFC won penalty shootout, 3-0)
- 2021: New York City FC over Portland Timbers (Providence Park), 1-1 (NYCFC won penalty shootout, 4-2)
- 2020: Columbus Crew over Seattle Sounders FC (Mapfre Stadium), 3-0
- 2019: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (CenturyLink Field), 3-1
- 2018: Atlanta United over Portland Timbers (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 2-0
- 2017: Toronto FC over Seattle Sounders FC (BMO Field), 2-0
- 2016: Seattle Sounders FC over Toronto FC (BMO Field), 0-0 (Sounders won penalty shootout, 5-4)
- 2015: Portland Timbers over Columbus Crew (Mapfre Stadium), 2-1
- 2014: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (StubHub Center), 2-1 (extra time)
- 2013: Sporting Kansas City over Real Salt Lake (Sporting Park), 1-1 (SKC won penalty shootout, 7-6)
- 2012: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 3-1
- 2011: Los Angeles Galaxy over Houston Dynamo (Home Depot Center), 1-0
- 2010: Colorado Rapids over FC Dallas (BMO Field), 2-1 (extra time)
- 2009: Real Salt Lake over Los Angeles Galaxy (Qwest Field), 1-1 (RSL won penalty shootout, 5-4)
- 2008: Columbus Crew over New York Red Bulls (Home Depot Center), 3-1
- 2007: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (RFK Stadium), 2-1
- 2006: Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-1 (Dynamo won penalty shootout, 4-3)
- 2005: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Pizza Hut Park), 1-0 (extra time)
- 2004: D.C. United over Kansas City Wizards (Home Depot Center), 3-2
- 2003: San Jose Earthquakes over Chicago Fire (Home Depot Center), 4-2
- 2002: Los Angeles Galaxy over New England Revolution (Gillette Stadium), 1-0 (extra time)
- 2001: San Jose Earthquakes over Los Angeles Galaxy (Crew Stadium), 2-1 (extra time)
- 2000: Kansas City Wizards over Chicago Fire (RFK Stadium), 1-0
- 1999: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 2-0
- 1998: Chicago Fire over D.C. United (Rose Bowl), 2-0
- 1997: D.C. United over Colorado Rapids (RFK Stadium), 2-1
- 1996: D.C. United over Los Angeles Galaxy (Foxboro Stadium), 3-2 (extra time)
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