MLS announces playoff schedule, FC Cincinnati opens NYCFC series Oct. 28

FC Cincinnati's playoff schedule is set.

MLS officials on Sunday announced the playoff schedule for the entire postseason field, and No. 3-seed FC Cincinnati will host No. 6-seed NYCFC at TQL Stadium Oct. 28. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. NYCFC's home leg of the series is scheduled for Nov. 2, but the time and venue are yet to be confirmed.

NYCFC has no true home field of its own and has used a variety of venues over the years, including the two Major League Baseball stadiums in New York City. With both New York-based MLB clubs still alive in baseball's postseason as of Sunday night, NYCFC didn't have clarity on which venue it would use for the postseason.

NYCFC is aiming to open its own soccer-specific stadium in 2027 in the Willets Point area of Queens.

The schedule, venues, and broadcast details

• Game One: Monday, Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m. ET; TQL Stadium, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (free), FS1, TSN, RDS.
• Game Two: Saturday, Nov. 2, TBD time; TBD venue*, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). * Due to schedule availability, the venue and time for this match will be finalized in the near future.
• Game Three (if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. ET; TQL Stadium, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

After FC Cincinnati played road matches against NYCFC at Citi Field (2022), Yankee Stadium (2023) and Red Bull Arena (2024) over the last three years, those venues could all be possible destinations for Game Two. So, there's a chance FC Cincinnati could be facing elimination, or pushing to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinal, on a converted baseball diamond at the New York Mets' Citi Field or the New York Yankees' Yankee Stadium.

NYCFC has also played home matches at the University of Connecticut campus.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS announces playoff schedule, FC Cincinnati opens NYCFC series Oct. 28