New York Red Bulls II to Host Philadelphia Union II on Saturday
Colorado Rapids 2 to Host MNUFC2 on Sunday
MLS NEXT Pro announced today the schedule for the Conference Finals following another dramatic round of action in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. After advancing out of the Conference Semifinals this past weekend, No. 1 New York Red Bulls II will host rival No. 2 Philadelphia Union II in the Eastern Conference Final Saturday night, and No. 3 Colorado Rapids 2 will host No. 5 MNUFC2 in the Western Conference Final Sunday night. Both matches will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The winners of the Conference Finals will advance to MLS NEXT Pro Cup the weekend of November 7, with the Club with the highest regular season points total hosting – therefore, the winner of the Eastern Conference Final will host Cup. With 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Champion North Texas SC’s elimination in the Conference Quarterfinals, a new League Champion will be crowned in 2025. The 2023 (Austin FC II) and 2022 Champions (Columbus Crew 2) failed to qualify for this year’s Playoffs, paving the way for a fourth Club to win the fourth edition of MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
The 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Conference Finals schedule follows (both matches on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV):
Eastern Conference:
No. 1 New York Red Bulls II vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Union II: Saturday, November 1 (7 p.m. ET) – Sports Illustrated Stadium
Western Conference:
No. 3 Colorado Rapids 2 vs. No. 5 MNUFC2: Sunday, November 2 (8:30 p.m. ET) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Union II is one of only two teams (STL) to participate in the Playoffs every season since the League launched in 2022. Philadelphia makes its second consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, returning as the defending Conference champions. Philadelphia Union II finished the 2024 season as runners-up, defeated by eventual champions North Texas SC in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
New York Red Bulls II and MNUFC2 will each make their Conference Finals debut, while Colorado Rapids 2 returns to the Conference Finals for the second time in three years (2023). MNUFC2 qualified for the postseason for the first time in 2025.
Three of the four remaining teams are led by head coaches who previously played in MLS: Michael Bradley (RBNY), Jeremy Hall (MNUFC) and Ryan Richter (PHI).
Conference Semifinal Results
No. 2 Philadelphia Union II kicked off the Semifinal action Saturday, October 25, welcoming No. 5 Huntsville City FC, who entered the match after upsetting No. 4 Chattanooga FC in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in both clubs’ MLS NEXT Pro Playoff debut. After a scoreless first half, Union II found the deciding goal as Stas Korzeniowski (PHI) converted a penalty in the 67th minute to earn a 1-0 victory. The goal was Korzeniowski’s third of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, as he scored a brace in the previous round against FC Cincinnati 2; Korzeniowski has scored all three of Philadelphia Union II’s goals in the 2025 Playoffs thus far.
In the other Eastern Conference Semifinal, New York Red Bulls II and Chicago Fire FC II dueled in an eight-goal thriller Sunday night that saw each team score three goals in regulation time. Andy Rojas, Roald Mitchell, and Jair Collahuazo each scored for the host Red Bulls II in the first half; Chicago responded with 2025 Golden Boot winner Jason Shokalook (CHI) recording a first half brace and Sam Williams adding a third goal for Fire II in the 53rd minute. With the match tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, the match went to extra time where Rojas struck again for Red Bulls II, delivering the game-winning goal in the 110th minute. Mijahir Jiménez (RBNY) added a fifth goal for insurance, New York Red Bulls II’s 10th goal of the 2025 Playoffs, in the 122nd minute.
In the first Western Conference Semifinal on Sunday, No. 1 overall St Louis CITY2 hosted their chosen opponent, No. 5 MNUFC2. The Loons booked a Western Conference Final appearance for the first time in Club history as the team recorded a second straight upset victory against higher seeded opponents, stunning St Louis CITY2, 2-0. Logan Dorsey (MIN) struck a sublime volley in the 17th minute to put the visitors ahead, as MNUFC2 kept the hosts at bay until Darius Randell (MIN) put the game out of reach with a goal in the 80th minute. MNUFC2 previously defeated No. 4 Real Monarchs, 2-1, in the Conference Quarterfinals.
The weekend’s final match saw No. 2 The Town FC play valiantly against No. 3 Colorado Rapids 2. With the match tied 1-1 after the first half through Billo Diop’s (COL) 24th minute strike and a Rapids 2 own goal, a red card for The Town FC reduced the hosts to 10 men on the pitch. Alex Harris (COL) scored in the 60th minute to put the visitors ahead with his second goal of the 2025 Playoffs, but Nonso Adimabua (TTFC) continued a sterling run of form with a goal in the 72nd minute to level the match at 2-2. In extra time, Anderson Rosa (COL) converted a penalty in the 92nd minute to put Rapids 2 into the lead with the game-winning goal, and Antony GarcÃa (COL) capitalized on a counterattack to seal the victory with a 114th minute strike. Both Alex Harris and Antony GarcÃa have now registered goal contributions in consecutive Playoff matches.
