Crew-FC Cincinnati dates, kickoff times announced for 'Hell is Real' playoff series

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Crew will face archrivals FC Cincinnati in the first round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs and fans now have the dates and kickoff times for the anticipated series.

Major League Soccer released the schedule and kickoff times for all eight first-round matchups in this year's playoffs. This is the third season MLS is using a best-of-three format for the first round as the higher seed team hosts game one, lower seed hosts game two, and higher seed game three if necessary. If a match ends in a tie after regulation, it goes straight to a penalty shootout.

The Crew will play their in-state "Hell is Real" rivals first at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati for game one on Oct. 27. Kickoff time is set for 6:45 p.m. Columbus will hosts FCC for game two at Lower.com Field at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2. If a third game in the Queen City is necessary, it would be played on Nov. 8 at a time to be announced.

'Hell is Real' Crew-Cincinnati playoff schedule

• Game 1 (TQL Stadium): Monday, Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m.
• Game 2 (Lower.com Field): Sunday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m.
• Game 3 (TQL Stadium): Saturday, Nov. 8, time TBD (if necessary)

This will be the first time in 2023 that the Hell is Real derby is played in the playoffs. The only other time was when the Crew came from behind to beat Cincinnati on the road 3-2 in extra time in the 2023 Eastern Conference final. Columbus would go on to win MLS Cup over Los Angeles FC that season.

The Black & Gold went unbeaten in their two regular-season matches against FCC, with a 1-1 draw at home on May 17 followed by a 4-2 road win on July 12. Cincinnati has only beaten the Crew four times in 18 matches.

The winner of the Crew-Cincinnati series will meet the winner of the first round series between Inter Miami, led by MLS golden boot winner Lionel Messi, and U.S. Open Cup champions Nashville SC.

2025 MLS Cup Playoffs bracket

This year's MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 6. If the Crew manage to get that far, it is highly unlikely it would host the final. The 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Wednesday with each conference's wild card game.