untitled-design-2024-10-17t220525-213.png
USATSI

Only one day remains in the Regular season of Major League Soccer. Saturday, Oct. 19th every team in the Eastern and Western conferences except Toronto FC will have simultaneous kickoffs to determine the remaining spots in playoffs and seeding. Due to the league having 29 teams, one team has to be on a bye each week and it was Toronto who drew that on the final day of play. For the Eastern Conference, all kickoffs will begin at 6 p.m. ET and for the West, they'll begin at 9 p.m. ET. 

Inter Miami may have already won the Supporters' Shield, securing the number one overall spot in the league but two playoff spots are still up for grabs while other teams will be able to jostle for seeding. In the West, all of the playoff participants are set, but there is a battle of the two Los Angeles clubs to determine who the number one seed is for playoffs.

Let's take a look at the current standings, tiebreakers, and what teams have to do to make it

Eastern Conference

Bolded teams have already clinched a playoff spot.

PosTeamGPWDLGFGAGDPTS
1Inter Miami CF3321847347+2671
2Columbus Crew3318966938+3163
3FC Cincinnati33175115647+956
4Orlando City SC33157115848+1052
5New York City FC33148115447+750
6Charlotte FC33139114337+648
7New York Red Bulls33111485347+647
8D.C. United331010135267-1540
9CF Montreal331010134664-1840
10Toronto FC34114194061-2137
11Philadelphia Union33910146153+837
12Atlanta United FC33910144448-437
13Nashville SC3389163554-1933
14New England Revolution3394203568-3331
15Chicago Fire3379174059-1930


DC United can clinch a playoff berth if: They win or draw against Charlotte FC. Failure to do that is where things get murky but with a loss by CF Montreal and NYCFC along with a Philadelphia Union loss or draw, DC United will make it as long as they win out on tiebreakers. It's a similar scenario if Montreal and NYCFC lose and Atlanta United lose or draw, D.C. United will still make the playoffs as long as tiebreakers are in their favor. Finally, if Philadelphia and Atlanta United lose or draw, D.C. will clinch a place in the playoffs.

CF Montreal can clinch a playoff berth if: They win or draw against New York City FC. After that, things again get more complicated as D.C. United losing and Philadelphia losing or drawing will still see Montreal make the playoffs as long as they win out on tiebreakers. If D.C. United lose and Atlanta United lose or draw, it's similar where it will come down to tiebreakers against Atlanta United. Finally, if Philadelphia and Atlanta United lose or draw, Montreal will clinch a place in the playoffs.

The Philadelphia Union can clinch a playoff berth if: They defeat FC Cincinnati while CF Montreal and D.C. United both lose. With a victory, Philly can also make it if Montreal lose and Atlanta United lose or draw in their match against Orlando City SC. Also winning, Philly can make it if Montreal lose and they win on tiebreakers. If the Union win, they can also advance with a D.C. United loss and an Atlanta United loss or draw. If Philly win and D.C. lose, the Union can also make it based on tiebreakers.

Atlanta United can clinch a playoff berth if: They defeat Orlando City SC and Montreal or D.C. United lose. If Atlanta win, they can also make the playoffs if Montreal lose and the Union lose or draw. If Atlanta win and Montreal lose while Atlanta have the tiebreaker advantage over Philadelphia, the Five Stripes will make the playoffs. Another scenario is that Atlanta can win while D.C. United lose and Philadelphia pick up a loss or draw. Atlanta can also make it with a win, D.C. United draw and a tiebreaker advantage over Philadelphia.

Orlando City can clinch home field advantage in round one with: A win, an NYCFC loss or draw or a draw while holding an advantage in tiebreakers over NYCFC.

New York City FC can clinch home field advantage in round one with: A win over CF Montreal and an Orlando City draw with Atlanta United while winning out on tiebreakers.

Western Conference 

Bolded teams have already clinched a playoff spot.

PosTeamGPWDLGFGAGDPTS
1LA Galaxy3319776848+2064
2Los Angeles FC3318786042+1861
3Seattle Sounders3316895034+1656
4Real Salt Lake33151176347+1656
5Houston Dynamo33149104538+751
6Colorado Rapids33155135957+250
7Minnesota United33147125448+649
8Vancouver Whitecaps33138125147+447
9Portland Timbers331210116455+946
10Austin FC33109143646-1039
11FC Dallas33108155255-338
12St. Louis City33813124959-1037
13Sporting Kansas City3387185064-1431
14San Jose Earthquakes3363244075-3521


LA Galaxy clinches the number one seed with: A win or draw facing the Houston Dynamo or an LA Galaxy loss or draw vs. San Jose Earthquakes. If they are level on points, it will come down to tiebreakers.

LAFC clinches the number one seed with: A win and an LA Galaxy loss while holding an advantage on tiebreakers.

MLS Tiebreakers

  1. Total number of wins
  2. Goal difference
  3. Goals for 
  4. Fewest disciplinary points per match
  5. Away goal difference
  6. Away goals for
  7. Home goal difference 
  8. Home goals for 
  9. Coin toss or drawing of lots

Decision day schedule 

Saturday, Oct. 19
All Eastern Conference matches kick off at 6. p.m. ET, all Western Conference matches kick off at 9 p.m. ET

Eastern Conference
Chicago Fire vs. Nashville SC
D.C. United vs. Charlotte FC
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
Philadelphia Union vs. FC Cincinnati
CF Montreal vs. New York City FC
Orlando City SC vs. Atlanta Unite
Inter Miami vs. New England Revolution

Western Conference 
FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City
Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy 
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers
Minnesota United vs. St. Louis City SC
Los Angeles FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids