The 2025 PPOP: Potential Playoff Opponent Preview (Part 1)

The Portland Timbers have clinched a spot in the 2025 Major League Soccer postseason. Who they play is yet to be determined.

With Austin FC's Sunday night victory over a Son and Bouanga-less LAFC, the Verde and Black have officially cemented the 6th place spot in the Western Conference. Even though Phil Neville and the Green and Gold have clinched a spot in the postseason, the question remains as to where the Timbers might land in the pecking order. With a win or tie against San Diego FC on Decision Day, the 7th playoff spot goes to Portland. Any other result, and Portland very likely could see itself in the Western Conference Wild Card Play-in game for the second year running.

Traditionally, in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the first-place seed in the conference plays the winner of the play-in game, and the 2nd place seed in the west plays the 7th seed. With that all being said, there is a possibility of 8 different teams that the Portland Timbers could face in the 2025 edition of the playoffs. Let's take a look at each of these clubs, from likeliest on downward.

We'll start with the "best" case scenario: who Portland could face if Portland finishes in 7th place.

San Diego FC- 2nd place

2025 Record: 18 wins, 9 losses, 6 draws (60 points)
Head Coach: Mikey Varas
Sporting Director: Tyler Heaps
Leading Scorer: Anders Dreyer
Previous Result Against PTFC: (0-0, August 23rd)

If the postseason were to begin today, the Portland Timbers would see themselves face off against their decision day foes, San Diego FC. In their expansion year, San Diego FC has come flying out of the gates this season. Centering their roster around the statement signing of Hirving "Chucky" Lozano from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, with Danish attacking midfielder Anders Dreyer in support, San Diego have just kept winning.

Portland and San Diego have met one time this season, having played to a zero-zero draw on August 23rd in San Diego. The first meeting in late August saw the Portland Timbers' debuts for Kristoffer Velde, Felipe Carballo, and Matias Rojas. Decision day for the Timbers brings a major opportunity for Phil Neville's men to set serious intentions for themselves going into the 2025 postseason.

LAFC(3rd Place, 1 point behind San Diego)

2025 record: 17 wins-8 losses- 8 draws (59 points)
Head Coach: Steve Cherundolo
Sporting Director: John Thorrington
Leading Scorer: Denis Bouanga
Previous Result Against PTFC: (3-3, April 19, 2025) (0-1, July 25, 2025)

Sitting just behind San Diego FC in the Western Conference standings is their neighbors from a few hours north, LAFC. The secondary transfer window saw the arrival of South Korean star Son Heung-Min from Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur. His strike partnership with the Gabonese international Denis Bouanga has proved to be one of the most lethal within MLS. With World Cup winner Hugo Lloris defending the net for LAFC, they have grown to be one of the most consistently dominant teams in MLS in 2025.

How will the Portland Timbers fare if they face LAFC in the first round of the postseason? They haven't lost to the black and gold yet this season, but they also haven't faced an LAFC with Son Heung-Min leading the front line.

Minnesota United FC (4th Place, 2 points behind San Diego)

2025 Record: 16 wins, 7 losses, 10 draws
Head Coach: Eric Ramsay
Sporting Director: Khaled El-Ahmad
Leading Scorer: Tani Oluwayesi (left club to join Villareal in the summer window), Anthony Markanich
2025 Results against PTFC: (1-1, August 30) (1-1, July 19th)

Sitting two points behind San Diego FC in 4th place are Eric Ramsay and the Loons of Minnesota United. Minnesota has been one of the most interesting teams to watch in Major League Soccer this season for a wide variety of reasons. Minnesota is the best team in the league this year when it comes to set-pieces, and has won the majority of their games with the least possible amount of possession.

In their two previous meetings this year, Portland and the Loons have fought to 1-1 draws on both occasions. A postseason meeting between the two clubs would see a clash of coaches trained at the University of Old Trafford, with Eric Ramsay having graduated several years after Phil Neville, and Neville having trained under the expert professorship of Sir Alex Ferguson, while Ramsay having trained under Erik Ten Hag. With Tani Oluwayesi in Spain now, Minnesota is having to rely on the attacking services of others. Could Portland stop them now? We might find out.

Final Thoughts

As of now, the most likely first-round opponent for the Portland Timbers will be San Diego FC. With that being said, the Timbers have the unique potential opportunity of having to face San Diego at least three times in a row. I think that this would be a unique opportunity to throw things at the dart board and to try and adapt systems.

What are your thoughts on the Timbers' postseason prospects? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for part two of this series, detailing PTFC and their potential play-in game opponents.