The Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season reaches its climax on October 15, 2025, with the much-anticipated Decision Day. All 30 teams will battle simultaneously, determining the final playoff standings before the MLS Cup playoffs commence. This year’s format sees teams divided into two conferences—Eastern and Western—each containing 15 teams. The stakes are high, as teams vie for critical positions that could influence their playoff journey.
Eastern Conference Highlights
The Eastern Conference has proven to be exceptionally competitive this season. With only one matchday remaining, just five points separate Charlotte in fourth place from Columbus in ninth. Columbus has amassed a total of 51 points, surpassing last year’s ninth-place total by a notable 11 points. The New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, CF Montréal, Atlanta United, and D.C. United have been eliminated, leaving the remaining teams focused on playoff positioning.
Philadelphia has already secured the first seed after clinching the Supporters’ Shield in the last match. The battle for the second seed is heating up between Cincinnati and Miami. Cincinnati, facing the already-eliminated Montréal, holds a favorable position. Meanwhile, Charlotte and New York City FC (NYCFC) are in contention for the crucial fourth seed, which guarantees home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Nashville SC and Orlando City also have a chance to secure that fourth seed, but their pathway requires both a win and losses from Charlotte and NYCFC—an outcome that has not occurred since late June. Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew are currently in the wild-card slots, needing wins combined with favorable outcomes in other matches to climb higher in the standings.
Key matches to watch include:
– Charlotte vs. Philadelphia
– NYCFC vs. Seattle
– Columbus vs. New York Red Bulls
– New England vs. Chicago
Western Conference Outlook
The Western Conference presents a more complex scenario as the final matchday approaches. Only four teams—Houston Dynamo, St. Louis City, Sporting Kansas City, and the Los Angeles Galaxy—have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Vancouver Whitecaps appear to be in a strong position to secure the first seed, needing only to avoid a substantial loss to Dallas. The second, third, and fourth seeds are still up for grabs among San Diego Loyal, LAFC, and Minnesota United, with all teams capable of shifting positions based on final results. LAFC, bolstered by the recent signing of South Korean star Son Heung-min, is anticipated to contend for the second seed.
Austin FC and Portland Timbers are likely to maintain their sixth and seventh seeds, but four teams—Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids, and San Jose Earthquakes—are still in contention for the final playoff spots. Dallas and Salt Lake have the simplest path to qualification: a win guarantees their places in the playoffs. Colorado needs a win while hoping both Dallas and Salt Lake do not secure points, while San Jose faces a more daunting task, requiring a victory coupled with losses from the other contenders.
Key matches in the Western Conference include:
– Vancouver vs. Dallas
– St. Louis vs. Real Salt Lake
– San Jose vs. Austin
– Colorado vs. LAFC
As Decision Day unfolds, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how the final standings shape the road to the MLS Cup. This year’s competition has showcased remarkable talent and resilience, making for an exciting conclusion to the regular season.
