The 2025 MLS season is back in full swing, following the international break. However, Decision Day (Oct. 18, 2025) is still far off, so there’s no official list of teams for this year’s Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Regardless, there are several clubs from both conferences that are considered frontrunners for this postseason event. Find out who they are and why they’re expected to feature in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup playoffs.
Eastern Conference contenders
Here are the top four teams from the MLS Western Conference that’ll most likely make the cut in this year’s playoffs:
- Philadelphia Union: This team sits pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference standings with 40 points after 19 games played. They’ve set the standard for youth development. Philadelphia Union is also led by Bradley Carnell, a coach known for his tactical brilliance.
- FC Cincinnati: Cincinnati is just four points adrift of the Philadelphia Union. With players such as Evander and Roman Celentano in the lineup, they’re poised to qualify and reach the knockout rounds of this year’s playoffs.
- Nashville SC: Another contender for the 2025 playoffs is Nashville SC. Their coach, BJ Callaghan, has revamped the team’s attack, making them one of the highest-scoring squads this season.
- Inter Miami: Inter Miami has remained red-hot in recent times, all thanks to football greats such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez in the lineup. Led by Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami has cemented itself as a resilient team unafraid to attack their opponents from the get-go.
Western Conference contenders
Sportytrader experts back our top prospects in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. You can check their latest picks and predictions available for upcoming matches. As for the projected playoff picture, these are the most likely:
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Vancouver Whitecaps FC have proven themselves to be one of the most consistent teams. With Brian White and Ryan Gauld leading the charge, and considering they’re in the top ranks on the MLS table, it’s safe to say they’ll be making the playoffs for a third consecutive year.
- San Diego FC: San Diego FC is hot on the heels of Vancouver in the Western Conference. Despite this being their first Major League Soccer season, the San Diego FC plays with the confidence of the best teams. If players like Anders Dreyer keep delivering the goods in goals and assists, San Diego FC can qualify for the playoffs and go a reasonable distance.
- Minnesota United: As one of the toughest attacking teams in the Western Conference, it’s no surprise that Minnesota United currently ranks third in the standings. They deliver strong performances at their home ground, the Allianz Field, and have a decent away record as well. All in all, they’re looking like playoff material.
- Los Angeles FC: LAFC has missed the playoffs just once since 2018. They are currently having a good 2025, with seven wins, five draws, and four losses in 16 matches. Key players such as Denis Bouanga and Nathan Ordaz are also in scintillating form, so they’re among the team’s most likely to make the playoffs again.
How the Audi 2025 MLS Playoffs Work
For those unfamiliar with the current playoff format, the MLS Cup playoffs will feature the top eight teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Teams who finish in 1st to 7th place will automatically qualify for the playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series. The 8th- and 9th-place teams from each conference will qualify for the single-elimination Wild Card Matches to reach Round One. The winners of these Wild Card matches will join the other teams in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
As its name suggests, the Round One Best-of-3 Series will require each team to play up to three matches. The four winners of the series (teams that win at least two matches) from each conference will proceed to the Conference Semifinals.
During the Conference Semifinals, teams will play single-elimination matches. The victors will then proceed to the Conference Finals. The winners become champions of their respective conferences and then head to the MLS Cup Final. The team that wins the final becomes the overall MLS champion for 2025.
Upcoming Climate Change Conference COP27: Nigerians On High Alert(Opens in a new browser tab)
A total of 18 teams make the playoffs, so plenty of clubs still have a shot at joining the top contenders in the postseason. However, the MLS is a very volatile league, and previous season performances don’t guarantee continued success. Based on how teams have fared so far this season, we deduced which clubs have a higher chance of making a deep playoff run. You’ll want to keep an eye on these Western and Eastern Conference teams to see how they progress. The qualifying teams for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs will be finalized on Decision Day after the last round of regular-season matches.
