Inside the 2025 MLS Season

Highlights of the 2025 MLS Season

Photo by Omar Ramadan on Unsplash

The regular season has come to a close and it is time for the Major League Soccer (MLS) post-season. Throughout this season, many changes were made, including the addition of a new team. With upsets and unpredictable games, MLS fans are ecstatic to watch the upcoming playoff games. One of the new teams added was San Diego FC. The addition of San Diego FC made the league’s total number of teams 30. The team played very well this season and so far are 19-6 before their post-season games.

The 2025 Rivalry Week was heated and left many fans excited for the rest of the season. During Rivalry Week, highlighted MLS teams played their arch rival. This year, Rivalry Week was held May 14-18. Toronto FC became the winner of the Canadian Classic after beating CF Montreal and the New York Red Bulls lost to New York FC in the Hudson River Derby. During the Texas Derby, the Houston Dynamo travelled to FC Dallas and won at FC Dallas’ home field for the first time in 14 years. Orlando City FC beat Inter Miami 3-0 in the Florida Derby and the Colorado Rapids won the Rocky Mountain cup against Real Salt Lake.

MLS All-Star Week also provided fans with a chance to participate in MLS celebrations around the All-Star Game. During the MLS All-Star Game, chosen notable players are put on a team to play a guest opponent. This season, players like Dayne St. Clair, a goalie for Minnesota United FC, and Tai Baribo, forward for Philadelphia Union, were chosen. The 2025 MLS All-Star team played the All-Star team from Liga MX, Mexico’s soccer league. The final score was 3-1 with the MLS All-Stars beating the Liga MX All-Stars. MLS All-Star Week also includes the All-Star Skills Challenge. During the All-Star Skills Challenge, MLS All-Star players compete in many skill-based challenges like shooting, touch, cross and volley, passing and cross bar. MLS All-Star Week also hosts the MLS NEXT All-Star Game where the MLS top young players are put on a team and are split into East All-Stars and West All-Stars. This year, the East All-Stars won 4-3. This fun-filled week also included fan events like festivals and community works.

The MLS Wild Card Matches have also just started. These games kick off playoffs and eliminate the loser of the #8 and #9 seed games from each conference. The winner of each game advances to Round One to play the #1 seed of their conference. This season, the Chicago Fire beat Orlando City SC for the Eastern Conference. For the Western Conference, the Portland Timbers beat Real Salt Lake. 

The MLS Conference Semifinals are coming up on November 22-24. For the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Union will play New York City FC and FC Cincinnati will play Inter Miami. For the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps will play LAFC and San Diego FC will play Minnesota United. The winners of the semifinals will play each other to win the MLS Cup Finals for the 2025 season in December. 

The 2025 MLS season has been intense and action-filled. With playoffs just starting to kick off, fans look forward to seeing who will win the 2025 MLS Cup Finals.