Matchday 28 is in the books.
What did we learn? Did the games confirm what we already knew, or did they change the complexion of the league?
Let’s dive into some key takeaways from another weekend of MLS action.
Back in early August, Chicago Fire FC were dealt a significant blow in their hunt for Audi MLS Cup Playoffs glory.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter announced that star center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi would miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury. But now? The 21-year-old is already back on the field. He started and apparently played longer than expected (80 minutes) for the Fire in their 1-0 win at Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Simply put, it’s hard to overstate Mbokazi's impact on Chicago’s defensive setup. The same was true for South Africa when he was shining at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
With elite defensive range, Mbokazi’s ability to sweep up danger behind the Fire’s backline has proven crucial in 2026. That was certainly the case for Berhalter’s outfit over the weekend. Up against a Charlotte team eager to get out in transition, Mbokazi made it his mission to snuff out their host’s quick attacking forays. But it’s not just the youngster’s ability to get out and run that impresses. It’s also strength that creates a knack for winning the ball.
Since Robert Lewandowski’s arrival in the forward line has altered Chicago’s defensive approach, having arguably MLS’s best pure center back return is a massive boon. With their restored backline, Chicago could catapult back into MLS Cup presented by Audi contention.
Since arriving in the summer transfer window for a club-record fee, André Luiz has started four games for Sporting Kansas City and racked up five goal contributions (4g/1a).
Most recently, he scored the opener for Kansas City in their 2-0 win at Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, then added a game-sealing assist later in the first half.
Houston, like LAFC and the Philadelphia Union before them, couldn’t slow down the Brazilian winger. Those three teams are among MLS's best defensive outfits, so Luiz hasn't faced an especially easy slate of opponents to begin life with Sporting KC.
Luiz clearly passed the test on Saturday and then some. In the buildup to Sporting KC's second goal, this chop sent one of the league's best center backs this season (Houston’s Lucas Halter) sliding out of play:
Whether it's the open field or tight spaces, Luiz has thrived during his first handful of appearances.
Before the star attacker joined the starting lineup, Sporting KC won just four times in 22 games. Since he joined the lineup? It’s two wins in four. It’s hard to imagine a more transformative impact.
If a game was going to test the Philadelphia Union’s resolve, it was Saturday’s against Orlando City.
Heading into the match, the Union were on an 11-game unbeaten streak in league play, including five straight wins. Under interim head coach Ryan Richter, they hadn’t lost since the World Cup break. But they would be without five starters due to the international break: goalkeeper Andre Blake, center back Neil Pierre, right back Frankie Westfield, central midfielder Danley Jean Jacques and right-sided attacker Cavan Sullivan.
If Philadelphia had fallen this past weekend, it would have been an understandable defeat against Antoine Griezmann and Orlando. But that’s not what happened.Â
Instead, the Union won 4-2, extending their unbeaten run to a dozen MLS matches, including 10 wins, and showing off their depth along the way. The Lions were missing pieces, too, but even a rotated version of Philadelphia looked dominant. Quinn Sullivan, Jesús Bueno and others admirably held down starting roles for a Philadelphia team that didn’t miss a beat.
Between high-performing depth pieces and starting striker Milan Iloski (who scored a hat trick) reminding onlookers of his status as one of MLS’s best at his position, the Union didn’t slow down against Orlando. At this rate, they might not slow down until mid-December.
A true bright spot for Austin FC in 2026 has been the emergence of homegrown midfielder Ervin Torres.
After making his professional debut a couple of seasons ago, Torres became a regular starter for Austin in August. And increasingly, he’s looking less like a body in interim head coach Davy Arnaud’s starting lineup and more like a genuine game-changer.
With slick vision and a broad passing range, the 18-year-old midfielder's fingerprints were all over Austin FC’s 3-3 comeback draw with San Diego FC on Saturday. Despite Austin trailing by three goals partway through the second half, the hosts climbed their way back to a point.
Specifically, Torres’ assist got the ball rolling:
The speed and texture on that ball into the box for Brandon Vazquez? Sublime.
Whether used deeper in central midfield or allowed to creep closer to the attacking third to play the final ball, Torres has boosted Austin’s possession play this season.
With Jim Curtin set to take over as head coach next season, Torres will surely have a part to play in the Verde & Black's next iteration.
This past weekend couldn’t have gone much better for Nashville SC in their chase for silverware: they bested Toronto FC by a 2-0 scoreline and saw Vancouver Whitecaps FC, their only real competition for the Supporters’ Shield, drop points in a 3-3 draw with D.C. United.
Nashville were, as we’ve come to expect, dominant on Saturday night. Hany Mukhtar’s brace, via assists from fellow Designated Players Sam Surridge and Cristian Espinoza, headlined the evening. But strong performances from members of every line, including reserve goalkeeper Joe Willis in place of newly named US men’s national team call-up Brian Schwake, also caught the eye. Head coach B.J. Callaghan’s team controlled the ball, the field and the chances.
Almost a full season’s worth of performances like Saturday’s have put Nashville in position to do more than simply win the Shield.
Becoming the second-fastest team in league history to reach 60 points in a season, with seven games remaining, Nashville are within spitting distance of the MLS single-season points record, one set at 74 by Inter Miami in 2024. To claim the necessary 15 points to set a new record, Nashville will need to average 2.14 points per game over their final seven matches. Though that sounds daunting, they've averaged more than that – 2.22 points per game – thus far in 2026.
When you watch Nashville down the stretch, you may just be witnessing history.
