TACOMA, WASH. – MLS NEXT Pro today announced its 2025 regular season schedule, a campaign that sees each of its 29 teams play 28 matches over the course of 30 weeks. Tacoma Defiance opens its fourth MLS NEXT Pro season on the road in a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Pacific Division foe Ventura County FC on March 7 at California Lutheran Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV), in one of four matches being showcased on MLS NEXT Pro’s Opening Night. Defiance will then face another division rival when it hosts The Town FC at Starfire Stadium March 14 in its home opener (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
For the third-consecutive year, the majority of regular season matches, in addition to all Decision Day contests, postseason fixtures and MLS NEXT Pro Cup, will be available to watch live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Available in more than 100 countries and regions, MLS Season Pass can be viewed on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, game consoles, and online at tv.apple.com. The remainder of regular season matches will stream live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Complete information on the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro schedule, playoff format and new league rules can be found here.
A two-time Pacific Division winner, Tacoma’s divisional schedule also includes a home matches against Whitecaps FC 2 on April 6 and September 4 and visits the Canadian side at Swangard Stadium on May 14. Tacoma’s season series with Ventura County continues with a road match on May 4 before playing at Starfire Stadium on August 1. After its home-opener, Tacoma hosts The Town FC in a second home match on July 3, then travels to the Bay Area for its last road trip of the regular season on September 28. Defiance’s additional divisional fixtures include a pair of road matches against LAFC2 on April 10 and June 29 before hosting the Southern California side on August 10. Defiance travels to archrival Timbers2 on May 18 and August 24 and hosts the club on July 27. Finally, Tacoma travels to Real Monarchs on June 11 and August 31 with the two sides facing off at Starfire Stadium on July 17.
Information regarding ticket on-sale details for all Tacoma Defiance home matches will be unveiled at a later date.
Other highlights from Defiance’s 2025 regular-season slate include a Decision Day matchup against Houston Dynamo 2 on October 5 at Starfire Stadium and a home match against defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champion North Texas SC on May 25. For the fourth consecutive year, all of Tacoma’s regular-season matches are against Western Conference opponents.
Matchups during the first two rounds of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will once again be determined through the Pick-Your-Opponent format. This season will mark the third straight year the unique process has been utilized by MLSNP. The postseason features 15 single elimination matches over the course of four consecutive weekends, with three rounds beginning the weekend of October 17 and culminating with MLS NEXT Pro Cup the weekend of November 7.
Tacoma finished the 2024 regular season fourth in the Western Conference with 46 points (13-10-5), scoring 59 goals, tied for most in MLS NEXT Pro, before falling to eventual MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champion North Texas SC in the Western Conference Semifinals.
