Leo Messi’s Inter Miami will play the first round of the playoffs against Nashville, South Korean Heung Min Son’s Los Angeles FC will challenge Spanish coach Nico Estevez’s Austin and Mexican Hirving Lozano’s San Diego, leader of the West, will face one of Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake, after the Decision Day that ended the regular season of the U.S. league. The play-in will be played as a single game on Wednesday and the playoffs will begin on Friday with a best-of-three series.
The MLS regular season ended with Leo Messi winning the Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer with 29 goals in 28 games played.
MLS Playoffs 2025: The West pairings
What a gem of a goal 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bW6wIXfLQI
– LÁFC (@SomosLAFC) October 19, 2025
In the West, MLS newcomers San Diego made history by finishing first in their conference with a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers on the road and Vancouver’s loss to FC Dallas.
The Californians will know their opponent on Wednesday, when the Timbers will play Real Salt Lake in the play-in game, in a match between the eighth and ninth-place teams, respectively.
Thomas Muller’s Vancouver, in second place, will face Dallas, who finished seventh.
Los Angeles FC, with Heung Min Son’s ninth MLS goal, finished in third place and will face Nico Estevez’s Austin in the first round.
Finally, Minnesota will play in the first round against the Seattle Sounders, a matchup of fourth- and fifth-place finishers, respectively.
Eastern pairings
Activating playoff mode ⚡️
🎟️ 🎟️ https://t.co/VWZL3Y14BL#DOOP pic.twitter.com/C5sO27GvYS
– Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 19, 2025
Buzzy
In the East, Inter Miami will take on Nashville with the first game of the series set for Friday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Javier Mascherano’s side arrive with Leo Messi in outstanding form after scoring a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-2 win at Nashville’s own ground.
The Philadelphia Union, leaders and winners of the Supporters’ Shield for the best team of the regular season, await the winner of the play-in between the Chicago Fire and Orlando City.
Second-placed Cincinnati will meet Columbus Crew, while Spanish coach Pep Biel’s Charlotte will play New York City.
Filed under: MLS Playoffs 2025
With information from EFE
