Sports outlined the MLS playoff picture before Decision Day on Saturday. As the final matchday of the MLS regular season, it arrived with playoff places, seeding and wild-card spots still at stake.
Decision Day schedule
On Saturday, eight matches are being played simultaneously at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT), with another seven following at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).
Teams already eliminated
CF Montréal and Sporting Kansas City had already been eliminated from postseason contention. Atlanta United, D.C. United, Austin FC and San Diego FC were eliminated following defeats.
Columbus Crew’s 3-0 victory against D.C. on Saturday eliminated New York Red Bulls, New York City FC and Toronto FC from the playoff race. Nine teams had been eliminated from postseason contention before Decision Day.
Western Conference standings
Vancouver Whitecaps have wrapped up the first seed and are guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. LAFC clinched their playoff spot after drawing 2-2 against LA Galaxy in El Tráfico.
LA Galaxy were seventh in the Western Conference, one point above Portland Timbers, Colorado and Seattle, two above Real Salt Lake and three above Minnesota United.
Eastern Conference places
Nashville SC had already won their first-ever Supporters’ Shield. Miami and New England are guaranteed to finish in second and third place, while Chicago Fire are guaranteed to face Charlotte FC in the opening round of the playoffs.
Philadelphia Union clinched playoffs on Wednesday through a scoreless draw against Nashville, and Cincinnati clinched a playoff place with a win over Philadelphia on Saturday. Columbus Crew and Orlando City secured playoff spots and occupied the two Wild Card seeds.
In the Eastern Conference, all nine teams advancing to the postseason were already known before Decision Day. Orlando are guaranteed to be playing in the wild card match for the second-straight year.
