Decision Day is living up to its name this year: This coming Saturday, when all 30 Major League Soccer teams play their final match of the 2025 season, every game but one will have something at stake.
In the Western Conference, four teams are vying for the final two playoff spots. In the Eastern Conference, three teams are looking to finish in the Top 4 and secure home-field advantage in Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. And across both conferences, five teams are looking to climb out of the Wild Card places and directly into the best-of-three Round One.
Here's a guide to what's on the line on Decision Day 2025, and how the day's results will shape the playoffs that will start with the single-elimination Wild Card round played next week on Wednesday, October 22.
Decision Day 2025: 6 pm ET kickoff
• New York City FC vs Seattle Sounders
What's at Stake: Top 4 Spot, Playoff Positioning
New York City FC currently sit in 5th Place with 56 points. They could finish in 4th Place in the East – and secure home-field advantage in Round One – but only if they get a result against Seattle Sounders FC at Citi Field and if Charlotte FC stumble and drop points at home with a draw or loss against Philadelphia Union.
New York City and Charlotte are even on points, so NYCFC could climb the table and secure Top 4 in the East with a win and a Charlotte draw or loss, or with a draw, a Charlotte loss, and a Nashville SC draw or loss.
New York City could also fall to 6th Place with a loss and a Nashville SC win.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Seattle will remain in 5th Place in the West no matter if they win, lose, or draw. But Seattle are looking to climb the MLS table. They currently sit in 13th Place overall, behind every team in the East other than Columbus Crew in 9th Place. A win could put them as high as 10th Place overall, which could be useful if they advance to the 2025 MLS Cup Final and hope to host the title game.
• Charlotte FC vs Philadelphia Union
What's at Stake: Top 4 Spot, Playoff Positioning
Charlotte currently sit in 4th Place in the East with 56 points, and will lock that in with a win, or if New York City lose. They could also climb as high as 6th Place in the overall MLS table.
Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia are playing for pride: A win will give them a club-record 69 points, beating the 67 points they took in 2022.
• FC Cincinnati vs CF Montréal
What's at Stake: Playoff Positioning
FC Cincinnati currently sit in 2nd Place with 62 points. A win and they will keep 2nd Place in the East, and could clinch 2nd Place in the overall table. A draw or loss and Miami could climb into 2nd Place in the East, and possibly 2nd Place overall.
Cincinnati already clinched a Concacaf Champions Cup spot allotted based on the Supporters' Shield standings, which has them in a position of automatic qualification given that teams around them in the Supporters' Shield table like Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Miami have already automatically qualified for the next Champions Cup through other accomplishments.
• Columbus Crew vs NY Red Bulls
What's at Stake: Playoff Positioning, Wild Card Hosting, Round One Qualification
Columbus Crew currently sit in 9th Place with 51 points and have the last playoff spot. A win and a Chicago Fire draw or loss to New England Revolution, and they will climb to at minimum 8th Place and host the Wild Card round, which will be played on short rest next Wednesday.
Theoretically, Columbus could also climb over both Chicago and Orlando City SC and up into 7th Place and entirely out of the Wild Card round. That scenario requires a Crew victory and an Orlando loss at Toronto FC and a Chicago draw or loss at New England.
