The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs are here, and red-hot Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s quest for their first MLS Cup will conclude at home against a Vancouver Whitecaps side boasting a familiar luminary.
Already a strong team, Vancouver brought aboard Thomas Muller this summer and now he’ll be standing across from Messi in a final again.
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MORE — Messi scores hat trick to secure MLS Golden Boot
As for Miami, the Herons finished just shy of the Supporters’ Shield, missing out on the top points total by a single point, as Messi rang up a league-best 29 goals and second-best 16 assists despite playing in just 28 league games. He also grabbed three assists and a goal in their 4-0 shellacking of FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Messi’s men, let by Javier Mascherano, then eviscerated NYCFC in the conference final by a 5-1 score to reach the MLS Cup Final.
Here’s how the playoffs have gone and what’s ahead for Messi’s Miami and Muller’s Caps.
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2025 MLS Cup Playoffs format explained
Nine teams from each conference make the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the top four seeds in each conference get the best situations.
There are single-elimination wild card matches between each conference’s eight and nine seeds, with each winner advancing to play the No. 1 seed in their respective conference.
That first round sees eight total “best-of-three” series: 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 in each conference. The higher seed are home for the first and — if necessary — third games of the series.
The winners advance to the conference semifinals, with that round joining the conference final and MLS Cup Final as single-elimination matches at the home of the higher seed.
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When is the 2025 MLS Cup Final?
The match is set for December 6, 2025 at the higher-ranked team, Miami.
2025 MLS Cup Playoffs — Schedule, scores
MLS Cup Final
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps — 2:30pm ET December 6 (Saturday)
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
Inter Miami 5-1 NYCFC
Western Conference
San Diego 1-3 Vancouver Whitecaps
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
FC Cincinnati 0-4 Inter Miami
Philadelphia 0-1 NYCFC
Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 (4-3 pens) LAFC
San Diego 1-0 Minnesota United
Round one series, schedule, scores (best of three)
*if necessary
Eastern Conference
Philadelphia Union (1) vs Chicago Fire (8)
Game 1: Oct. 26 at Philadelphia — Union 2-2 (4-2 pens) Chicago
Game 2: Nov. 1 at Chicago — Chicago 0-3 Philadelphia
Philadelphia Union wins series 2-0
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FC Cincinnati (2) vs Columbus Crew (7)
Game 1: Oct. 27 at Cincinnati — Cincinnati 1-0 Columbus
Game 2: Nov. 2 at Columbus — Columbus 4-0 Cincinnati
Game 3: Nov. 8 at Cincinnati — Cincinnati 2-1 Columbus
FC Cincinnati wins series 2-1
Inter Miami (3) vs Nashville SC (6)
Game 1: Oct. 24 at Miami — Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville
Game 2: Nov. 1 at Nashville — Nashville 2-1 Inter Miami
Game 3: Nov. 8 at Miami — Inter Miami 4-0 Nashville
Inter Miami wins series 2-1
Charlotte FC (4) vs New York City FC (5)
Game 1: Oct. 28 at Charlotte — Charlotte 0-1 NYCFC
Game 2: Nov. 1 at New York City — NYCFC 0-0 (6-7 pens) Charlotte
Game 3: Nov. 7 at Charlotte — Charlotte 1-3 NYCFC
NYCFC wins series 2-1
Western Conference
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San Diego FC (1) vs Portland Timbers (8)
Game 1: Oct. 26 at San Diego — San Diego 2-1 Portland
Game 2: Nov. 2 at Portland — Portland 2-2 (3-2 pens) San Diego
Game 3: Nov. 9 at San Diego — San Diego 4-0 Portland
San Diego wins series 2-0
Vancouver Whitecaps (2) vs FC Dallas (7)
Game 1: Oct. 26 at Vancouver — Vancouver 3-0 Dallas
Game 2: Nov. 1 at Dallas — Dallas 1-1 (2-4 pens) Vancouver
Vancouver wins series 2-0
LAFC (3) vs Austin FC (6)
Game 1: Oct. 29 at Los Angeles — LAFC 2-1 Austin
Game 2: Nov. 2 at Austin — Austin 1-4 LAFC
LAFC wins series 2-0
Minnesota United (4) vs Seattle Sounders (5)
Game 1: Oct. 27 at Minnesota — Minnesota 0-0 (3-2 pens) Seattle
Game 2: Nov. 3 at Seattle — Seattle 4-2 Minnesota
Game 3: Nov. 8 at Minnesota — Minnesota 3-3 (7-6 pens) Seattle
Minnesota United wins series 2-1
Wild card round
October 22, 2025
Chicago Fire 3-1 Orlando City SC
Portland Timbers 3-1 Real Salt Lake
