Ultimate Guide to Decision Day 2025 All You Need to Know and Top Questions Answered
As the regular season wraps up, soccer fans look forward to Decision Day, which occurs on Saturday, October 18, 2025. This day features 15 critical matches that will influence the playoff picture for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup. Each match can be viewed through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Match Schedule
Games will kick off in two windows:
- Eastern Conference: 6 PM ET
- Western Conference: 9 PM ET
The Eastern Conference will include a special inter-conference match between New York City FC and Seattle Sounders FC at 6 PM ET.
Key Standings and Playoff Implications
In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC currently lead with 63 points. A win or draw on Decision Day would secure them the top seed. However, San Diego FC, with 60 points, can surpass them with a victory.
Eastern Conference Showdown
In the Eastern Conference, Charlotte FC, New York City FC, and Nashville SC are competing fiercely for the No. 4 seed, which offers home-field advantage in the playoff series. Charlotte FC currently holds fourth place but is closely trailed by NYCFC based on overall wins.
Wild Card Contenders
Wild Card spots are up for grabs as FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake currently occupy these positions in the West. The Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes have a chance to enter the playoff picture if results favor them.
In the East, the Chicago Fire FC and Columbus Crew are in Wild Card positions but could secure a direct path to a Best-of-3 series by winning their matches. Orlando City and Nashville also face the risk of falling into Wild Card territory.
Star Players and Their Impact
LAFC and Inter Miami, featuring star players like Son Heung-Min and Lionel Messi, are crucial to their respective conferences. LAFC is positioned to finish between the second and fourth places in the West. Messi stands out in the scoring race with a league-leading 26 goals, contributing to his team’s strong playoff aspirations.
As the first Golden Boot tiebreaker is assists, Messi could potentially clinch this title for two consecutive seasons. His competition includes Denis Bouanga and Sam Surridge, who have scored 24 and 23 goals, respectively.
Playoff Structure and Key Dates
Ultimately, 18 teams will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the top nine from each conference. Seeds one through seven automatically advance to the Best-of-3 series, while the eighth and ninth seeds enter Wild Card matches.
Important playoff dates include:
- Wild Card Matches: October 22
- Round One Best-of-3 Series: October 24 – November 9
- Conference Semifinals: November 22 – November 23
- Conference Finals: November 29 – November 30
- MLS Cup: December 6
As the excitement builds, fans eagerly anticipate how Decision Day will set the stage for the playoffs and the path to the MLS Cup. Teams will be jockeying for position, and every match will matter in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
