NEW YORK (Tuesday, October 21, 2025) - The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card games take place this Wednesday, October 22, with a doubleheader on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV. It is win or go home for the four participating teams as each conference competes in a single-elimination game to decide which team will advance.
If a Wild Card match is tied after ninety minutes of regulation, there will not be extra time periods. The winner will be determined by a penalty shootout. The winner of the Eastern Conference game will go on to face the Supporters' Shield winners and No. 1 seed Philadelphia Union, while the winner in the Western Conference will face No. 1 San Diego FC in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Both games will be available on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV
8:30 p.m. ET No. 8 Chicago Fire FC vs. No. 9 Orlando City SC (SeatGeek Stadium)
10:30 p.m. ET No. 8 Portland Timbers vs. No. 9 Real Salt Lake (Providence Park)
Need to Know: Eastern Conference Wild Card Game
Gregg Berhalter and Óscar Pareja Instrumental in Club Turnarounds
Chicago Fire FC head coach Gregg Berhalter has turned the club’s fortunes around in his debut season, leading the Fire to the team's first postseason appearance since 2017. Berhalter will hope to win the Fire’s first MLS Cup since 1998, having won two MLS Cups as a player for the LA Galaxy in 2009 and 2011. He is yet to win it as a coach, coming closest in 2015 when he led the Columbus Crew to MLS Cup, but fell to the Portland Timbers.
On the other side of the pitch, Óscar Pareja has seen consistent success at Orlando, with the club making the postseason in each of the last five seasons running. Pareja will look to build on last season’s run to the Eastern Conference Final and win Orlando’s first MLS Cup presented by Audi.
Players to Watch: Zinckernagel and Ojeda Face Off After Breakout Seasons
Success for both teams has come on the backs of breakout years for star players MartÃn Ojeda and Philip Zinckernagel. Ojeda’s 31 goal contributions (16 goals, 15 assists) and Zinckernagel’s 30 goal contributions (15 goals, 15 assists) are both single-season club records, and each have made key impacts in their club’s march to the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. If either score or assists, it could prove the difference maker with Orlando’s record at 11-6-4 when Ojeda does so, while Chicago is 9-5-6 when Zinckernagel contributes to the scoresheet.
Offensive Fireworks Expected on Display in the Eastern Conference
Chicago returns to the playoffs for the first time in eight years in a match that promises goals galore. Both Chicago (66) and Orlando (63) set club records for goals scored in the season in 2025, with both ranking inside the top-six amongst the league’s most prolific scoring teams.
Need to Know: Western Conference Wild Card Game
Redemption the Name of the Game in Western Conference Wild Card Game
Both the Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake are hoping to redeem themselves after disappointing 2024 postseasons. The Timbers were in the Wild Card Game just last year as they hosted Vancouver at Providence Park, but suffered a 5-0 defeat that ended their season. For head coach Phil Neville and with many of those players returning, Portland will look to get that sour taste out of their mouth with a win against Salt Lake.
Since Pablo Mastroeni became the head coach of Real Salt Lake, getting to the postseason has not been an issue, having made the postseason in each of the last five seasons but progressing past Round One has only happened once (in 2021). With first round exits in each of the last two seasons, Mastroeni and Salt Lake are looking to redeem themselves with a win in the Wild Card game against the Timbers. Having gone on a run in 2021 and the fact a Wild Card team has upset a No. 1 seed in each of the last two seasons, the Claret and Cobalt could be poised as the next team to make shock waves in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
Ready, Set, Gozo!
One of the players to watch on Wednesday night, will be 18-year-old RSL forward Zavier Gozo, who will make his postseason debut. An electrifying talent, Gozo has already had a breakout 2025 season:
- Produced a career-best four goals and three assists in less than 2,000 minutes of action.
- Earned the No. 10 spot on MLS’ annual 22 Under 22 list.
- Starred at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup for the United States, helping them reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
- Nominated for MLS Goal of the Year presented by AT&T for his remarkable bicycle kick goal on September 17 against LAFC (Watch Here).
The 18-year-old will have a lot on his shoulders but has shown that he can live up to the expectations in his young professional career.
