Sixteen Clubs to Compete, 11 Former MLS Players on Pick-Your-Opponent Calls
MLS NEXT Pro announced today the matchups for the first round of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, which will take place on Sunday, October 19. After an action-packed Decision Day on Sunday, October 5, the final seeding was determined for the 16 teams advancing to the Playoffs (eight per conference). Through MLS NEXT Pro’s Pick-Your-Opponent format, the No. 1-3 seeds in each conference select their opponents for the Conference Quarterfinals (first round) from the No. 5-8 seeds, with the No. 4 seed hosting the remaining team.
For the first time in the three years of the Pick-Your-Opponent process, representatives from each club called their opponent directly to make their selection. The Eastern Conference selections were made according to traditional bracket seeding, while in the Western Conference, No. 2 The Town FC chose nontraditional pick No. 6 North Texas, the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champion.
Eleven former MLS players represented their clubs on the selection calls - six head coaches and five executives.
- Head coaches: Donovan Ricketts (Carolina Core FC), Jeremy Hall (MNUFC2), Richie Williams (New England Revolution II), Ryan Richter (Philadelphia Union II), Ricardo Clark (Vancouver Whitecaps 2), and Matt Taylor (Ventura County FC)
- Executives: Jeff Larentowicz (FC Cincinnati 2), Liam Doyle (Huntsville City FC), Tiger Fitzpatrick (New York Red Bulls II), Tony Beltran (Real Monarchs) and John Wolyniec (The Town FC)
The Conference Quarterfinals schedule is as follows, with all matches airing on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app unless otherwise indicated:
Eastern Conference
Sunday, October 19
Philadelphia Union II (No. 2) vs FC Cincinnati 2 (No. 7) – Subaru Park (4 p.m. ET)
New England Revolution II (No. 3) vs Chicago Fire FC II (No. 6) – Gillette Stadium (6 p.m. ET)
New York Red Bulls II (No. 1) vs Carolina Core FC (No. 8) – MSU Soccer Park (7 p.m. ET)
Chattanooga FC (No. 4) vs Huntsville City FC (No. 5) – Finley Stadium (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Western Conference
Sunday, October 19
Colorado Rapids 2 (No. 3) vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (No. 7) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (4 p.m. ET)
St Louis CITY2 (No. 1) vs Ventura County FC (No. 8) – Energizer Park (7 p.m. ET)
Real Monarchs (No. 4) vs MNUFC2 (No. 5) – Zions Bank Stadium (8 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
The Town FC (No. 2) vs North Texas SC (No. 6) – PayPal Park (9 p.m. ET)
St Louis CITY2 and Philadelphia Union II are the only teams to appear in every MLS NEXT Pro postseason since the League launched in 2022. Five clubs will make their MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs debut in 2025: independent clubs Chattanooga FC and Carolina Core FC, and MLS affiliates Huntsville City FC, MNUFC2, and Real Monarchs.
Following the Conference Quarterfinals, the Playoffs will continue the weekend of October 24. The Pick-Your-Opponent format will return for the Conference Semifinals, with the highest remaining seed in each conference selecting and hosting an opponent from the two lowest seeded teams. The two remaining Clubs will face each other, with the higher of the two seeds hosting.
The Conference Finals (weekend of October 31) and MLS NEXT Pro Cup (weekend of November 7) will follow a traditional bracket style. As the No. 1 overall seed (best regular season record), St Louis CITY2 is guaranteed home field throughout the Playoffs.
Complete details on the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs are available at MLSNEXTPro.com.
