MLS Decision Day 2025: Playoff Spots on the Line as Teams Clash

As the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season approaches its conclusion, fans are gearing up for the highly anticipated Decision Day on October 7, 2025. On this final matchday, all 30 teams will compete simultaneously to finalize their standings ahead of the playoffs, which feature the league’s top 18 clubs.

The playoff structure divides the teams into two conferences: Eastern and Western, each consisting of 15 teams. The top four finishers in each conference will secure home-field advantage in the playoffs, while the fifth to seventh placed teams will qualify without it. Teams finishing eighth and ninth will enter a one-off wild-card match, with the winner claiming the final playoff spot in their respective conference. The playoffs will then proceed with a best-of-three series culminating in the MLS Cup.

Eastern Conference Race Heats Up

The Eastern Conference has seen intense competition this season, with only five points separating fourth-placed Charlotte from ninth-placed Columbus. Columbus has earned a notable 51 points, significantly outperforming last year’s ninth-place team. As Decision Day approaches, the focus is on positioning within the playoff bracket.

The Philadelphia Union has already secured the top seed after clinching the Supporters’ Shield in the previous match. The battle for the second seed is heating up between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami, with Cincinnati in a favorable position against eliminated Montreal. Charlotte FC and New York City FC are vying for the crucial fourth seed, which guarantees home-field advantage. Both teams possess similar records and face challenging opponents, making their outcomes hard to predict.

Nashville SC and Orlando City SC also have a chance to attain the fourth seed, but they will need to win while hoping for losses from Charlotte and NYCFC. It is likely that Nashville and Orlando will end up claiming the sixth and seventh seeds, respectively. Chicago Fire FC and Columbus Crew are currently in the wild-card positions but have the potential to move up. Chicago can advance with a win and an Orlando loss, while Columbus needs to win and rely on losses from both Chicago and Orlando.

Key matches in the Eastern Conference include:
– Charlotte vs. Philadelphia
– NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders
– Columbus vs. New York Red Bulls
– New England Revolution vs. Chicago

Western Conference Scenarios Unfold

In contrast, the Western Conference remains more unpredictable. Currently, only four teams—Houston Dynamo, St. Louis City SC, Sporting Kansas City, and the Los Angeles Galaxy—have been eliminated from playoff contention. Vancouver Whitecaps FC is almost assured of the first seed, needing only to avoid a catastrophic loss to FC Dallas.

San Diego Loyal, Los Angeles FC, and Minnesota United FC have secured the second, third, and fourth seeds, respectively, but their exact placements could shift based on the outcomes of their final matches. LAFC, bolstered by the addition of South Korean star Son Heung-min, is well-positioned to aim for the second seed.

Seattle Sounders FC is guaranteed the fifth seed, while Austin FC and Portland Timbers are likely to finish in the sixth and seventh slots. The competition for the last two playoff spots is fierce, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids, and San Jose Earthquakes all contending for a place in the postseason.

Dallas and Salt Lake hold the simplest paths to qualification: a win secures their spots, regardless of other results. Colorado must win and hope for losses from both Dallas and Salt Lake, while San Jose faces a daunting task, needing to win while relying on losses from the other contenders.

Key matches in the Western Conference include:
– Vancouver vs. Dallas
– St. Louis vs. Salt Lake
– San Jose vs. Austin
– Colorado vs. LAFC

With so much at stake on Decision Day, the drama of the 2025 MLS season will reach its peak, as teams fight for their playoff futures and fans eagerly await the outcomes that will shape the road to the MLS Cup.