A 10-Day Soccer Showcase in Columbus

Over a span of ten days, Columbus transforms into a soccer sanctuary, hosting critical playoff matchups and state championships across two world-class stadiums, delivering an unmatched density of high-stakes soccer. This meticulously coordinated convergence of high school, collegiate, and professional knockout soccer, solidifies the city’s standing as an indisputable hub of the sport.
 

Kickoff: Collegiate and Professional Thrillers

The 10-day soccer blitz ignites immediately with a high-octane weekend featuring collegiate ambition and an electrifying professional playoff clash, setting an explosive standard for the days that follow.
 

Saturday, Nov. 1 - Friday, Nov. 7: Collegiate Ambition Takes the Pitch

The weekend begins with elite college soccer as Historic Crew Stadium hosts the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Women's Soccer Quarterfinals. This event brings some of the region's top NCAA Division I talent into the historic venue. The MAC competition is fierce; Western Michigan, the reigning MAC regular-season and tournament champion, is the favorite to reclaim the title. These quarterfinal matches are single-elimination battles, making them essential steps toward the coveted prize: the MAC tournament winner secures an automatic qualification to the prestigious NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament. So the stakes are profoundly high.

Saturday, Nov. 1: Quarterfinals

• Game 1 — No. 3 Buffalo vs. No. 6 Bowling Green at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• Game 2 — No. Ball State vs. No. 5 Kent State at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Tuesday, Nov. 4: Semifinals

• Game 3 — No. 2 Miami vs. Game 1 Winner at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
• Game 4 — No. 1 Western Michigan vs. Game 2 Winner at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Friday, Nov. 7: Championship

• Game 5 — Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

More information about the event is available here, and tickets can be purchased here.
 

Sunday, Nov. 2: Must-Win MLS Playoff Drama

The competitive intensity accelerates on Sunday as the focus shifts to Lower.com Field for the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Columbus Crew must defeat its biggest rival, FC Cincinnati, after falling 1-0 in the first game of the Best-of-3 series. The blend of a fierce rivalry and a must-win playoff game guarantees an unforgettably intense atmosphere.

If the Crew suffers a loss on their home turf, they are eliminated from the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. A victory, however, would force the series to a decisive Game 3, keeping their MLS Cup aspirations alive. The Crew have yet to beat Cincinnati in front of the Black & Gold home crowd this year, but they did come away with a 4-2 victory back in July against their rival.

Tickets to the event are available here.
 

The Apex of Ohio Soccer: The OHSAA State Tournament Championships

Following the collegiate and professional excitement, Columbus turns its attention to the foundational level of the sport, hosting the culmination of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Soccer Tournament. This event grants thousands of high school athletes the pinnacle experience of competing in an MLS-caliber venue, leveraging Historic Crew Stadium as the revered home of the State Finals.
 

Scope and Scale of the Championship

The OHSAA tournament is massive in scope, involving five separate divisions (Division I through Division V) for both Girls and Boys soccer, leading to a total of 10 championship pathways. The entire tournament structure is tightly scheduled, with the Girls and Boys Regional Final matches occurring across the state at the beginning of the month. These contests determine which teams earn the coveted spot in the State Semifinals.

The regional winners quickly advance to the State Semifinals, which are played out across the Central Ohio region. The Girls and Boys State Semifinals for all five divisions take place just days before the championship games take place. These matches are the decisive final four clashes in each of the 10 competitive divisions, sending the winners onward to the ultimate goal: the State Final match in Columbus.
 

Friday, Nov. 7 - Monday, Nov. 10: The Championship Promise

The significance of the OHSAA Finals being centralized in Columbus cannot be overstated. All State Final matches for every single division will be held at Historic Crew Stadium. This strategic decision ensures that Ohio's top high school athletes compete for their state championship on hallowed ground—a venue that has previously hosted MLS matches, U.S. National Team fixtures, and international tournaments.

The championship atmosphere kicks off with the Girls State Finals, spanning two days and five divisions:

• Friday, November 7: The venue hosts the Girls Division II and Division IV State Finals.

• Saturday, November 8: The action continues with the Girls Division I, Division III, and Division V State Finals.

The boys’ divisions close out the 10-day blitz:

• Sunday, November 9: Three championship titles are decided with the Boys Division II, Division III, and Division IV State Finals.

• Monday, November 10: The 2025 tournament cycle officially concludes with the Boys Division I and Division V State Finals.

There’s a fun new addition to the finals: they’ll feature an extra dose of school spirit, with cheerleaders, mascots, and pep bands now performing at the event at all levels.

More info about the championships is available here, and tickets can be purchased here.