MLS Decision Day Approaches as Playoffs Intensify

Portland, Oregon – Major League Soccer (MLS) is gearing up for its crucial Decision Day on October 18, 2025, where the final playoff spots and seeding will be decided. This season, the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will only have two remaining spots available in the Western Conference, leading to intense competition among teams vying for these coveted berths.

Four teams are actively contending for the last playoff position in the Western Conference. Furthermore, three teams in the Eastern Conference are in a position to secure home-field advantage for the playoffs, thereby heightening the stakes across the league. As the regular season draws to a close, the race for postseason placement has never been more critical.

In the Western Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and San Diego FC are battling it out for the No. 1 seed, with each team needing to fulfill specific match conditions to secure their position. Similarly, teams such as Dallas, Salt Lake, Colorado, and San Jose must meet particular scenarios to clinch their playoff spots. Charlotte, New York City, and Nashville from the Eastern Conference are also eyeing home-field advantage, contingent upon favorable outcomes in their matches.

Decision Day on October 18 will see all matches wrap up, directly influencing playoff placements, as teams aim to solidify their postseason prospects. The official start of the postseason will occur shortly after on October 22 with Wild Card matches, featuring a single-elimination format between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds from each conference.

The transition to the Best-of-3 Series format will follow, allowing the top seven teams in each conference to qualify automatically. Each team in this series will host at least one home game. The structure is designed so that the higher seed will take charge of hosting the first match, while the lower seed will host the second, and if required, a decisive third match will be hosted at the higher seed’s venue.

After the Best-of-3 Series, the playoffs will shift to a single-elimination format, culminating in the MLS Cup match scheduled for December 6, 2025, hosted by the team with the superior regular-season record.

Fans can catch all playoff matches live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, offering commentary in both English and Spanish. Select matches, including the MLS Cup, will also be available on networks such as FOX Sports in the U.S. and TSN and RDS in Canada.

Among the teams poised for this pivotal postseason is the Portland Timbers, who have successfully qualified for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Under the guidance of Head Coach Phil Neville, the Timbers have displayed consistent performance, qualifying for the playoffs in both seasons he has led the team.

This season, the Timbers hold a record of 11 wins, 11 losses, and 11 draws, accumulating a total of 44 points. Their historical playoff record reflects a competitive edge, consisting of 11 wins, 7 losses, and 7 draws, with a combined score tally of 37 goals scored against 35 goals conceded.

Portland’s immediate challenge lies ahead against San Diego FC at Providence Park on Decision Day, with the match scheduled for 6 PM PT. As the season draws to a close, anticipation builds within the league and among fans as teams make their final push for playoff positioning.