Most teams have four games left. The end is nigh. Until then...
Each week we’ll look at four teams either rising or falling in the standings, three players making an impact and three storylines to keep an eye on. An Audi MLS Cup Playoffs race 4-3-3, if you will.
Four teams we're monitoring
- 11th in Eastern Conference
- 35 points (10W-15L-5D)
A few weeks ago, 2026 seemed like a lost season for the Columbus Crew. They were spinning their wheels toward the end of a season that’s featured a fired first-year head coach, a season-ending injury to a Designated Player and several changes to the core of a roster that won multiple trophies. Then they went on to win four of their last five. They’re suddenly a point below the playoff line.
It’s not just that they’ve won; they’ve taken down quality teams. The Crew’s last three wins came against Inter Miami, Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati. They also tacked on a win against CF Montréal. Now, admittedly, some of those performances have been more impressive than others. Even in the last week, they pummeled Charlotte midweek before turning around and failing to do it again against Cincinnati. They won’t care that they were outshot 23-3 in a 2-0 win, but for analysis’ sake, we have to care a little.
Still, they might have turned the corner at the right time. And a critical match this weekend against our next team may play a deciding role in whether they can ride this sudden burst of competency into the playoffs.
- 10th in Eastern Conference
- 36 points (8W-10L-12D)
They aren’t quite as hot as the Crew, but they have taken seven points from their last three matches to put themselves level with eighth-place Red Bull New York and ninth-place Cincy. They took down that same RBNY side 2-0 over the weekend in a match that actually included their three Designated Players – striker Josh Sargent, attacker Djordje Mihailovic and midfielder Niklas Dorsch – in the starting lineup. That’s been a rare occurrence this year. Sometimes Getting Hot At The Right Time is just getting healthy.
It also helps if you have a friendly schedule to close out the year. They have a big match in Columbus this weekend before facing D.C. United and Atlanta, then closing out the regular season against Philadelphia. Compare that to the eighth-place Red Bulls, who have to face Miami, New England and Nashville before closing the year against Atlanta.
- 10th in Western Conference
- 36 points (10W-14L-6D)
Are you picking up on this week's theme? Another “mostly dead, but only mostly” team is making a late push.
RSL have been living a nightmare during the second half of the season. The departure of star winger Zavier Gozo played a role, of course, but man, that can only account for so much when you go from an early top-four contender to a side that went 11 winless after the FIFA World Cup break.
Like we said, though. They’re not finished yet. Last week’s four-point week has them within three points of the playoff line. We should note that their win last week came against Sporting KC; however, they’ve taken seven points from their last four games. That includes a 3-0 win over the Revs.
There’s a slight chance that their Decision Day matchup with LA Galaxy could be, well, decisive.
- 5th in Western Conference
- 47 points (13W-9L-8D)
One team is breaking the mold this week. It’s not for the reasons you’d hope for as a Houston Dynamo fan. The Dynamo are sitting below the top four after a two-point week that continued a fruitless run of form. They’ve won just once in their last 10 matches. The five-game winning streak that preceded all this feels like ancient history.
They have a chance to get back on track this weekend against Minnesota United. They may be out of steam, though.
Three stars making an impact
22 Under 22 No. 1 Cavan Sullivan has deservedly gotten plenty of attention during the Union’s all-time run back toward the top of the conference. Don’t count out Damiani, though.
He had 3g/1a last week, bringing his season total to 12g/4a. In his last seven matches, he’s scored nine times. Like the Union, it took Damiani a moment to get going this year. He’s steamrolling folks now.
We didn’t have to search far this week. Griezmann earned Player of the Matchday honors with two goals and one assist against D.C. United. In just 14 matches, Griezmann has 12g/7a for the Lions.
Orlando are likely stuck in playoff-race purgatory now, with five points of cushion on either side of the standings, but whoever ends up as the second Wild Card team will have their hands full with Griezmann and one of the league's best attacking sides. Which, checking the standings, whoooooo boy, that series could be fun. On a related note…
The second-place Herons have looked much more like their most terrifying selves over the past couple of weeks. They’re on a three-match winning streak and have put themselves in an excellent position for a top-four finish, with a seven-point cushion over fourth-place Chicago and four matches remaining. The only team that can realistically catch them now is New England, who trail by three points with four matches remaining.
Anyway, Suárez has played a key role in getting Miami back into form. He’s scored twice and dished out four assists over the last three matches. He’s actually been even better statistically this season than in Miami’s MLS Cup presented by Audi-winning run last season. Suarez now has 15g/12a. He’s two goal contributions away from matching his output in 2024, his first season in MLS.
Three storylines to track
In both conferences, the fourth-place team has 48 points, the fifth-place team has 47 and the sixth-place team has 46.
We’ve already mentioned a handful of teams. We couldn’t get to everyone, though. That’s because three points separate eighth-place New York from 13th-place D.C. United. Toronto and Columbus have the best form of the bunch for now, but things can change in an instant.
From here on out, matchdays will change the live table and the Wild Card picture multiple times.
St. Louis finally, finally lost a match. They were unbeaten over their last 19 MLS matches before falling to Minnesota United over the weekend. Vancouver took advantage of the rare opportunity to extend their lead atop the West. It helped that the ‘Caps already played St. Louis to a 0-0 draw earlier in the week. Their 2-1 win over Austin has Vancouver four points ahead of St. Louis and FC Dallas with four matches left to play.
After a brief lull, they may just be back on track.
