MLS Decision Day awaits on Saturday with teams having a final crack at improving their playoff positioning.
Of the 29 teams in MLS, 18 will make the playoffs including the 1-7 seeds in each conference who will qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 Series as well as seeds 8-9 who will qualify for the Wild Card matches.
Despite 16 of those berths already being decided, there will still undoubtedly be shifting in the playoff landscape on Decision Day, so let’s take a look at the possible scenarios for each club involved:
Eastern Conference
- Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami has already clinched the Supporters’ Shield with 71 points but still have something to fight for on Saturday. With a win over New England Revolution, the Herons would break the Revs 73-point MLS single-season record set back in 2021.
- Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew are locked into second place.
- FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati are locked into third place.
- Orlando City SC
Orlando City requires a win or NYCFC dropping points to lock up fourth position and a home playoff berth but a draw could also be enough despite a New York win should the Lions maintain their superior goal differential.
- New York City FC
NYCFC could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth depending on results above and below them but a win could give them home-field advantage in Round One if Orlando City loses and they overturn the minimal current 3-goal differential.
- Charlotte FC
Charlotte also has a potential three-position swing from fifth to seventh depending on results from each New York team. One thing is for sure; winning helps them secure the best possible seed.
- New York Red Bulls
Red Bulls already has seventh place locked up but could leapfrog Charlotte FC with a win and Crown dropping points.
- D.C. United
D.C. can guarantee a Wild Card berth with a point but could even qualify with a defeat depending on the results of Philadelphia and Atlanta. Christian Benteke can also secure his Golden Boot as he enters Decision Day with a league-leading 23 goals scored.
- CF Montréal
Similarly, CF Montréal can book a playoff spot with a win or draw but could also find themselves in the Wild Card despite a defeat depending on the results of Philadelphia and Atlanta.
- Toronto FC
Toronto FC has been eliminated from 2024 MLS Playoff contention.
- Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia requires a victory and a defeat by either D.C. or Montréal while maintaining a superior goal differential to snatch a playoff spot. Luckily the latter shouldn’t be an issue, currently at least 23 goals ahead.
- Atlanta United
Atlanta also requires a victory and a defeat by either D.C. or Montréal while maintaining a superior goal differential to climb above the playoff line. If Philadelphia wins and maintains its goal differential over Atlanta, the Five Stripes will require both D.C. and Montréal to lose.
Western Conference
- LA Galaxy
One point secures the top spot in the Western Conference for LA Galaxy.
- LAFC
LAFC has second-place locked up but requires a win and a Galaxy loss while gaining an advantage on the goal differential tiebreaker to steal the top position from their bitter rivals.
- Seattle Sounders
A win for the Sounders secures third place.
- Real Salt Lake
RSL has a home-playoff berth in their back pocket but would hop Seattle in any scenario in which they gain more points on Decision Day than the Sounders.
- Houston Dynamo
Houston can finish anywhere from fifth to seventh in the West but as long as they pick up three points, fifth place will remain in their hands.
- Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids could finish anywhere from fight to seventh, depending on the results of Houston (one point above) and Minnesota (one point below).
- Minnesota United
Minnesota United has the biggest possible swing of any team from fifth to eighth in the West due to how tightly packed those positions are in this conference. Most importantly, they need to avoid dropping to a Wild Card position in eighth with a defeat and Vancouver win.
- Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver can finish between seventh and ninth in the West as they aim to jump MNUFC with a win and Loons loss.
- Portland Timbers
Portland is guaranteed a Wild Card berth but they will either host or travel for that match depending on whether they can grab eighth place from Vancouver (one point ahead).
