SET THE STAGE: FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Playoffs Round One | Game 2

FC Dallas returns home with its season on the line in Game 2 of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs First Round against Vancouver Whitecaps FC this Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Stadium.

Here's everything you need to know before the match.

HOW TO WATCH

All playoff games are available in both English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV as well as regular Apple TV.

HOW TO LISTEN

You can listen to all the action on the FC Dallas app and YouTube channel with broadcasters Ryan Figert, Steve Davis and Sam Hale. Pregame coverage begins at 8 p.m. CT.

MATCH OVERVIEW

Head-to-Head Records

• FCD record: 11-12-11 (44 points, 7th Seed in West)
• VAN record: 18-7-9 (63 points, 2nd Seed in West)
• FCD vs. VAN all-time: 12-11-9 (130 goals scored, 140 goals conceded)
• FCD vs. VAN away: 4-7-6 (16 goals scored, 21 goals conceded)

Story Lines

Best-of-3: The First Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs is a Best-of-3. Basically, the first team to win two games advances to the next round (which changes to a single-game elimination format). In this Round One, teams play home and away in Games 1 and 2 and, if the series is tied after those, the higher seed hosts the winner-take-all Game 3 if necessary. Dallas fell 3-0 in Game 1 at Vancouver last Sunday and thus needs to win Game 2 at home to keep the season alive and force a deciding Game 3 (which would be played at BC Place on Friday, Nov. 7). Note, in this First Round, games that are tied after 90 minutes will go directly to a penalty shootout to decide the winner and goal differential across the series does not matter.

Short Memories: FC Dallas' start to the postseason was far from ideal. In Game 1 of the First Round Best-of-3, Dallas looked like a shell of the team that rattled off four wins from its last six and was soundly defeated by the Whitecaps 3-0. And even that scoreline didn't tell the full story. Dallas was held to zero shots over the 90 minutes for the first time in club history while Vancouver kept 64% possession and generated 22 shots including 10 on target. Going into the series, we knew Vancouver - one of MLS's very every best teams - was going to be a difficult opponent but Dallas also let themselves down in Sunday's opener. Now, heading into Game 2 with the season on the line, Dallas need to put Game 1 out of their minds and face the Whitecaps with renewed conviction in front of the Toyota Stadium faithful Saturday night. Head coach Eric Quill and his players will be desperate to put on a show in what is likely their last home game of 2025.

Believe: FC Dallas was always going to be the underdog in the First Round up against second-seed Vancouver Whitecaps, and that's been further instilled after Game 1. Still, there are reasons to believe FC Dallas can force a Game 3 with a win on Saturday. First, home field advantage in the playoffs is very, very real. In the 2025 postseason so far, seven out of eight Game 1s were won by the home team (the only exception being NYCFC's win at Charlotte FC). Next, despite some early struggles at home, FCD hasn't lost at Toyota Stadium since July and recorded four wins and one draw in its last five home outings. Third, Dallas has Petar Musa. The Croatian forward finished tied for fifth in the MLS Golden Boot race and is among the league's most lethal strikers. If Dallas can feed Musa and ride the Toyota Stadium atmosphere to maximize home advantage, they have every chance of forcing a winner-take-all Game 3.