MLS Regular Season: Drama to Unfold on Decision Day?

by Bradley Gibbs | by Bradley Gibbs

image MLS Regular Season: Drama to Unfold on Decision Day?
We’ve reached the end of another MLS regular season. The fate of many has been sealed already, but on Saturday, it’s Decision Day, and there’s plenty still to fight for.
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Which teams are still fighting for the postseason?

As is always the case at this late stage in the Major League Soccer season, several teams have already secured their postseason position, but for several others, the time is now.

See below for the Eastern Conference teams who can still succeed or fail in their mission to reach the 2026 postseason:

  • Philadelphia Union
  • Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • Orlando City

The picture in the east is much clearer than in the west. The four teams above will all feature in the postseason in one form or another, it’s just about in what order they go through and whether they’ll go straight into the best-of-three play-off round, or whether they’ll be forced to enter the play-out fixture first.

Now, let’s look at the Western Conference teams that haven’t yet got over the line and thus still have something to fight for on Decision Day:

  • LA Galaxy
  • Portland Timbers
  • Colorado Rapids
  • Seattle Sounders
  • Real Salt Lake
  • Minnesota

In the west, it’s a little more complex. The Galaxy can control their own fate, and if they win, they’ll be straight into the best-of-three section of the play-offs. Fail to win and Greg Vanney’s men could head into a play-out game, or worse.

The Timbers, the Rapids and the Sounders all sit a point behind the Galaxy and all know that a win gives them a huge chance of heading directly into the best-of-three section, while RSL and Minnesota both know that they need to win and hope for favorable results elsewhere.

Key battles on Decision Day

With lots left to fight for, here are the key Eastern Conference games to watch out for on Decision Day:

  • Philadelphia Union vs Toronto FC (16:00 EST)
  • Cincinnati vs Nashville SC (16:00 EST)
  • Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew (16:00 EST)
  • Orlando City vs New England Revolution (16:00 EST)

Here are the key Western Conference tussles to keep an eye on:

  • Austin FC vs Portland Timbers (19:00 EST)
  • FC Dallas vs Colorado Rapids (19:00 EST)
  • Minnesota vs San Jose Earthquakes (19:00 EST)
  • Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy (19:00 EST)
  • Seattle Sounders vs LAFC (19:00 EST)

Saturday’s biggest battle is undeniably the clash at America First Field, where RSL and the Galaxy are in direct competition for a place in the postseason.

Watch out for these Decision day difference makers

We’ve looked at the teams involved in the race for the postseason, and we’ve looked at the key games, but what about the individuals who can make the difference for their desperate teams on Decision Day?

These are the players who can help drag their team over the line in the race for the play-offs:

Marco Reus (LA Galaxy)

After something of a mid-campaign lull, Marco Reus has woken up at just the right time, hitting some fine form as the play-offs approach.

A player with no shortage of game-winning experience, Reus has delivered three assists last time out, while he’s scored and assisted six goals in his last four MLS games. Only three players have produced more regular-season assists than Reus, so he’s definitely the man to create the chances that allow Greg Vanney’s men to progress.

Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City)

Antoine Griezmann was expected to make light work of delivering the goods in Major League Soccer, and the mid-season arrival has not disappointed.

Griezmann has rapidly become the key man for the Lions, producing a rather ridiculous 21 goals and assists in 17 appearances. He averages 1.25 goals and assists per 90 minutes, while he’s scored and assisted nine goals in his last six appearances. He’s the man to take Orlando to the postseason.

Kelvin Yeboah (Minnesota)

The Loons have an outside chance of featuring in the postseason, but if they do get over the line, they’ll have Kelvin Yeboah to thank, and let’s face it, if anybody can make the difference for the men from Allianz Field, it’s the Ghanaian.

As things stand, Yeboah features in Major League Soccer’s top ten performers in terms of goals and assists, with the 26-year-old producing 22 goals and assists during the regular season. He comes into this game in fine form, scoring six of his last nine, producing two assists during that time too.