Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs: Format & How It Works

LAFC has qualified for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs -- the club's seventh postseason berth in eight seasons, and its fourth straight top-four seeding in the Western Conference. Here's everything you need to know about how the playoffs work and the path LAFC must navigate to reach MLS Cup presented by Audi on December 6.

LAFC's Regular Season

The Black & Gold is one game away from finishing a marathon 34-game regular season that has been interspersed with additional forays in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Club World Cup and Leagues Cup tournaments. Overall the team is 17-8-8, sits on 59 points - one point behind second-place San Diego - and has secured home field advantage for at least Round One of the playoffs.

Decision Day

The final matchday of the regular season will see LAFC play away at the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, October 18.

All 30 MLS teams play on Decision Day with Eastern Conference teams all playing at 3 pm PT and Western Conference teams playing at 6 pm PT.

MLS Cup Playoffs Rounds & Dates

Four rounds follow the Wild Card Matches, ending with MLS Cup presented by Audi on December 6. (Hosting rights are awarded to the finalist with the best regular-season record).

The playoff rounds and date windows are:

• Wild Card Matches: Wednesday, October 22
• Round One Best-of-3 Series: Friday, October 24 - Sunday, November 9
• Conference Semifinals: Saturday, November 22 - Sunday, November 23
• Conference Finals: Saturday, November 29 - Sunday, November 30
• MLS Cup presented by Audi: Saturday, December 6

MLS Cup Playoffs Format

Wild Card

• Two single-game elimination matches hosted by the higher seed (Eastern Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9; Western Conference No. 8 vs. No. 9).
• If the score of a Wild Card game is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played. There will immediately be a penalty kick shootout to determine the winner.
• The winner of each Wild Card match will advance to the Round One Best-of-3 Series, where they will face their conference's No. 1 seed.

Round One Best-of-3 Series (16-24 games)

• Every Round One game will have a winner; no ties, no aggregate score.
• The matches will be hosted in a home-away-home format:
  • Match 1: higher seed hosts
  • Match 2: lower seed hosts
  • Match 3: higher seed hosts (if necessary)
• If a match is tied at the end of regulation, no extra time will be played. Teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
• The first team to win two matches will advance.
• Four teams from each conference will advance to the Conference Semifinals.
  • Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
    • No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
    • No. 2 vs. No. 7
    • No. 3 vs. No. 6
    • No. 4 vs. No. 5
  • Western Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series
    • No. 1 vs. No. 8 or 9
    • No. 2 vs. No. 7
    • No. 3 vs. No. 6
    • No. 4 vs. No. 5

Conference Semifinals (4 games)

• Single-elimination matches, hosted by the higher seed.
• If the score of a Conference Semifinal game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will determine the winner via a penalty kick shootout.
• Conference Semifinal winners will advance to the Conference Final.
  • Eastern Conference Semifinals
    • Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
    • Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series
  • Western Conference Semifinals
    • Winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 series vs. winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 series
    • Winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6 series vs. winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 series

Conference Finals (2 games)

• Single-elimination match hosted by the higher seed.
• If the score of a Conference Final game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
• The winner of each Conference Final match will advance to MLS Cup presented by Audi.
  • Eastern Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed
  • Western Conference Final: highest advancing seed vs. lowest advancing seed

MLS Cup presented by Audi (1 game)

• A single match hosted by the higher seed.
• If the score of the game is tied at the end of regulation, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the two extra time periods, teams will participate in kicks from the penalty spot to determine the winner.
• MLS Cup presented by Audi: Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion

LAFC travels to face the Colorado Rapids on MLS Decision Day, Sat., October 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 710 AM ESPN LA, the ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera (Spanish) and KYPA 1230 AM (Korean).