There is no better time in American professional soccer than the MLS Cup Playoffs. Just as the leaves begin to fall across the continent, the best 18 teams from the regular season make their way to the legacy-defining knockout tournament.
To win it all, the least amount of games a team has to play is five, before lifting MLS Cup—and only in the best-of-three series in the first round, can a side afford to lose a match in any manner.
For the clubs that finished eighth and ninth in their respective conference, there’s an additional hurdle to pass. They have to win the single-knockout wild card game, played midweek after the intensity of Decision Day and before the first round.
After a dramatic end to the 2025 regular season, we’ve got our matchups as the Portland Timbers host Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference, and the Eastern Conference sees Chicago Fire—in their first MLS Cup playoff appearance since 2017—battle Orlando City SC.
The Western Conference winner goes on to face San Diego FC, while the Eastern Conference winner sets up a series with the Philadelphia Union.
Here’s how sees the wild card round unfolding.
Jump to:MLS Cup Western Conference Wild Card: Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt LakeMLS Cup Eastern Conference Wild Card: Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC
