The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off this week with a Wild Card round, the first of several rounds that will culminate in the MLS Cup championship final on December 6. The Wild Card round this week sees the eighth- and ninth-seeded teams from both the Eastern and Western conferences facing off for a chance to clinch the final two spots in Round 1. This Wednesday’s Wild Card games feature Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC, and Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake. Round 1 will then begin in earnest on Friday as the top teams in each conference compete in best-of-three series. Round 1 will run through Nov. 9.
This year, every match of the MLS Cup Playoffs will air on MLS Season Pass, which is available on Apple TV and through DirecTV, but note that if you’re an Apple TV subscriber, you’ll be able to watch every match for free. Some, but not all, matches throughout the playoffs will also be available to watch on FS1 and Fox Deportes. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs including how to watch, which teams are playing, and the schedule of this week’s Wild Card and Round 1 games.
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How to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs:
Dates: Oct. 22 – Dec. 6
Channels: Select games to air on FS1 and Fox Deportes
Streaming: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, DirecTV, Fox One
How to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs for free:
MLS Season Pass is the most comprehensive way to watch every MLS Cup playoff game. You can subscribe to MLS Season Pass through Apple TV and DirecTV, but for this season’s playoffs, all matches stream for free on MLS Season Pass if you have Apple TV, even if you’re not an MLS Season Pass subscriber. (While MLS Season Pass is available through DirecTV, you will need a paid Season Pass subscription to watch playoff matches there.)
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Select games, including this week’s Inter Miami vs. Nashville match, will also air on FS1 and Fox Deportes which you can watch on cable or stream on platforms like Fubo, DirecTV, and Fox One.
MLS Season Pass is a must-have if you want to catch every soccer game of the 2025 season. Subscribers get English and Spanish broadcasts of hundreds of live MLS matches, plus game replays, highlights, analysis, and more original programming.
At this point in the season, fans who don’t already have a subscription to MLS Season Pass can sign up and get the remainder of the season for just $29.99, and if you’re an Apple TV+ subscriber, it costs just $25, but as a special promotion, Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch every game of the MLS Cup Playoffs for free with their subscription.
A subscription to DIRECTV includes access to dozens of channels, including ABC, ESPN, TNT, FOX Sports, NBA TV & 40+ regional sports networks, making it one of the most comprehensive places to watch sports. In 2025, DIRECTV is also offering soccer fans access to every MLS game by offering an MLS Season Pass add-on. Customers who subscribe through DIRECTV will also be able to access MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app.
You can subscribe to MLS Season Pass through DIRECTV. After a free trial, packages for DIRECTV start at $74.99/month and the MLS Season Pass add-on is an extra $14.99/month or $29.99 for the rest of this season.
2025 MLS Cup Playoff Schedule This Week:
Eastern Conference Wild Card
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Weds, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, Chicago Fire FC vs. Orlando City SC (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV)
Western Conference Wild Card
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Weds, Oct. 22, 10:30 p.m. ET, Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV)
Round 1
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Friday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. ET, Inter Miami vs. Nashville (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, FS1, Fox Deportes)
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Sunday, Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m. ET, Philadelphia vs. TBD (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, FS1, Fox Deportes)
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Sunday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. ET, Vancouver vs. Dallas (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV)
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Sunday, Oct. 26, 9:30 p.m. ET, San Diego vs. TBD (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV)
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Monday, Oct. 27, 6:45 pm. ET, Cincinnati vs. Columbus (MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, FS1, Fox Deportes)
A comprehensive schedule of every Round 1 game can be found here.
2025 MLS Cup Playoff teams:
18 teams, 9 from the Eastern Conference and 9 from the Western conference, qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Here are the following teams who have made it to the MLS Cup Playoffs:
Western Conference:
San Diego FC
Vancouver Whitecaps
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LAFC
Minnesota United
Seattle Sounders
Austin FC
FC Dallas
Portland Timbers (WIld Card)
Real Salt Lake (Wild Card)
Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati
Inter Miami
Charlotte FC
NYCFC
Nashville SC
Columbus Crew
Chicago Fire (Wild Card)
Orlando City SC (Wild Card)
Which teams were eliminated before the MLS Cup Playoffs?
In the Eastern conference, the New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Toronto FC, CF Montreal, Atlanta United, and D.C. United were eliminated after regular season play. The eliminated Western Conference teams were the San Jose Earthquakes, Colorado Rapids, Houston Dynamo, St. Louis City FC, LA Galaxy, and Sporting KC.
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Where to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs:
