News Summary
FC Cincinnati, the No. 2 seed, will take on No. 7 seed Columbus Crew in a best-of-3 playoff series. Game 1 will be held at TQL Stadium, with tickets available now. The series promises high stakes as both teams aim for a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, with broadcast coverage available on Fox Sports 1 and MLS Season Pass. FC Cincinnati heads into the match with strong momentum, while Columbus seeks to overcome past struggles against Cincinnati this season.
Cincinnati
The Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 series will feature FC Cincinnati, the No. 2 seed, as they face off against the No. 7 seed Columbus Crew. FC Cincinnati will kick off the series with home-field advantage, hosting Game 1 on Monday, October 27, at 6:45 p.m. ET at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, with tickets now available for purchase.
Game 1 of this playoff series will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1, along with streaming options available through MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and Fox Deportes. Local radio coverage will also be provided on iHeart Fox Sports 1360 in English and La Mega 101.5 FM in Spanish.
Match Details
Following the initial game, the series will shift to Lower.com Field in Columbus for Game 2, scheduled for Sunday, November 2, at 6:30 p.m. ET. This match will also be aired on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with local radio broadcasting options mirroring those of Game 1. If necessary, Game 3 will return to TQL Stadium on Saturday, November 8, with the kickoff time to be determined.
Every matchup in this playoff round will result in a definitive winner. Should a game end in a tie after regulation time, it will be resolved through a penalty shootout, with no extra time played. The first team to secure two victories in the series will advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Background Context
FC Cincinnati secured their No. 2 seed by achieving a solid 3-0 victory against the Montreal Impact on Decision Day, reflecting strong form leading into the playoffs. Conversely, Columbus Crew clinched their playoff position as the No. 7 seed after defeating the New York Red Bulls 3-1.
This year’s postseason marks a rematch for both teams, as they last faced each other in 2023, where Columbus emerged victorious with a score of 3-2 following extra time. Historically, FC Cincinnati has struggled against Columbus this season, managing only one win, while suffering losses and draws in their two encounters.
Despite these challenges, FC Cincinnati heads into the playoffs with momentum, winning four of their last five matches, while Columbus has secured just one win during the same timeframe.
Fan Engagement and Broadcast Coverage
Fans are encouraged to participate in the excitement surrounding the playoffs by attending a Playoffs Launch Party at MadTree Parks & Rec in Blue Ash on Wednesday, October 22, starting at 6:30 p.m. Special programming will accompany the playoffs, featuring editions of MLS Countdown and MLS Wrap-Up, along with Spanish broadcasts of MLS La Previa and El Resumen.
For the entire span of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, every match will be accessible through the MLS Season Pass, which is free for Apple TV subscribers. The culmination of the playoffs will be the MLS Cup final, set to take place on Saturday, December 6.
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