MLS announces the 2025 Regular Season Schedule: Full fixtures list and key dates!

The Major League Soccer is gearing up for it's return in February 2025, with excitement building among fans of their respective football clubs.  Last season's MLS Cup winners, LA Galaxy, triumphed over the NY Red Bulls with a narrow 2-1 victory. LA Galaxy has now won the MLS Cup 6 times out of their respective 10 time appearances in the finals. Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025 MLS season as clubs work on reshuffling their squads to prepare for the upcoming season.

Last year's MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket

MLS Season Schedule Dates

The 2025 MLS Season is set to start on February 22, with Inter Miami facing New York City in the opening match at Chase Stadium in the Eastern Conference League. LAFC will host Minnesota on the same day at BMO Stadium, LAFC's home ground. The league phase is scheduled to run until the end of October. During this busy MLS Season, there are several important dates that fans should mark on their calendar. 

The first is Rivalry Week, taking place from May 14 to May 18. This week features thrilling matches across the USA and Canada, where the best teams will face each other in one of the most thrilling and entertaining weekends in the MLS. On July 23, the MLS all star game will be held, showcasing legendary players from the league as they come together for this highly anticipated event. The Leagues Cup will start on July 29 and will finish on August 31.

Opening Schedule list for the 2025 MLS Season

Teams and the Favorites to win the MLS Cup

The MLS League season consist of 30 teams, with 27 from the USA and the other 3 from Canada. These teams are divided into two different leagues. One is called the Eastern Conference and the other one is the Western Conference. This year, both conferences consist of 15 teams, all competing to finish among the Top 7 teams to secure a spot in the MLS Play Offs. For another year, after their impressive signings, Inter Miami are the clear favourites to top the Eastern Conference league. With global stars like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez, the team is heavily favored to win, though other teams have also strengthened their squads. In the Western Conference, LAFC and LA Galaxy are favourites to finish strong in their respective league. 

Judging from last year, LAFC, LA Galaxy and Inter Miami are once again heavy favourites to win the MLS Cup, establishing their status as the strongest teams in the league at this moment. Messi's Inter Miami are yet to win the MLS Cup, with Beckham, Messi and Co hoping that this year it will be their turn to lift the MLS Cup.

Image Credits: Getty Images

How the League Table Works and other possible qualifications!

This year, the MLS consists of a total of 30 teams, divided into two different league conferences based on their geographical regions in the USA. These conferences are named as the Eastern Conference League and Western Conference League. Teams will play 34 games during the regular season, with each team playing 17 games at home and playing 17 away games. In previous years, teams in the Western Conference two extra games due to having one lesser team. However, this year, both conferences will have 15 teams each, ensuring an equal number of games for all teams.

During each MLS season, 4 teams will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, which operates similarly to the the UEFA Champions League. It is important to note that Canadian teams cannot qualify to the CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS. The top two teams from each conference automatically qualify for the competition. The third spot is awarded to the team that wins the MLS Cup, while the fourth spot is given to the winner of the U.S. Open Cup.

How the league winner is determined

After the region conference league's are finished, the top 7 teams from each conference automatically qualify for the MLS Playoffs. The teams finishing in 8th and 9th place will compete in a play-in match to determine the final spot in the knockout stage. The playoffs are determined from the 1st place team playing the 8th ranked team, 2nd against 7th, 3rd against 6th and the 4th place will play against the 5th place.

The first round is a best-of-three series, with the team winning two out of three matches advancing to the semifinals. From the semifinals onward, the playoffs switch to a single-elimination format. The winners of each regional conference then face off in the MLS Cup final, the most prestigious match of the season, to crown the league champion.

Image Credits: LA Times

How is the MLS Different from European Soccer League

The MLS operates quite differently compared to European leagues. The MLS season begins in February and finishes in mid-December, with the pre-season taking place in January and early February. In contrast, European leagues have a different schedule, typically starting in August and ending in May, with their pre-season running from July to August.

Another key difference is in the league structure. The MLS is divided into two different conferences, followed by knockouts, playoffs, and a final to determine the champion. On the other hand, European leagues have a standard format, where clubs play each other twice—once at home and once away—and the team with the highest points tally at the end of the season is crowned the league champion.

Stay tuned to GameChampions for the latest updates and exciting content about Major League Soccer!