MLS Cup playoffs: When will Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC series begin?

Charlotte FC will have a 10-day layoff before opening the MLS Cup playoffs.

The Crown’s chase for the MLS Cup begins on Tuesday, Oct. 28, when the team faces the New York City Football Club at Bank of America Stadium. The teams split their regular-season series.

Charlotte FC ended regular-season play with a 2-0 win over Philadelphia on “decision day,” the final day of the regular season when all MLS matches are played simultaneously to determine the final playoff spots, seeding and home-field advantage.

Charlotte’s win locked in the No. 4 seed and home-field advantage for the best-of-3 first-round series. The team has won 11 of its past 13 matches, which included league record-tying nine consecutive wins.

FC will be playing without left wing Wilfred Zaha, one of the team’s biggest stars, for the first round. Zaha got two yellow cards during the Philadelphia match, which automatically turn into a red card and a one-game suspension.

Tickets are on sale now for Game 1 through Ticketmaster.

The games will be streamed on Apple TV+, via its MLS Season Pass and will have English and Spanish commentary options.

The pass, now discounted, is $12.99 per month or $25 for the remainder of the season. Some additional playoff games and the MLS championship on Dec. 6 will be shown on Fox Sports.

Charlotte FC vs. NYCFC schedule

Game 1: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Bank of America Stadium

Game 2: 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1 at Yankee Stadium

Game 3*: TBD, Friday, Nov. 7 at Bank of America Stadium

*If needed

MLS playoffs key dates

Wild-card matches: Wednesday, Oct. 22

Best-of-3 quarterfinal matches: Friday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Nov. 9

Conference semifinals: Saturday, Nov. 29-Sun, Nov. 30

MLS Cup: Saturday, Dec. 6

This story was originally published October 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM with the headline "MLS Cup playoffs: When will Charlotte FC vs. New York City FC series begin?."