Decision Day

Decision Day: What every Western Conference team is playing for

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Decision Day has arrived.

Will your team make the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs? Will they earn home-field advantage in Round One? Who will meet in the Wild Card match? 

All these questions and more will be answered on Saturday as the regular season reaches its endpoint. 

Here's a rundown – sorted by the current standings – for what every Western Conference team has to play for

Vancouver Whitecaps FC logo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday at CF Montréal (4 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 1st place, 61 points

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have already locked up the West's No. 1 seed and can secure the second MLS Cup presented by Audi hosting priority behind Supporters' Shield winners Nashville SC. A point at Canadian rivals CF Montréal would be enough.

FC Dallas logo
FC Dallas
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. Colorado Rapids (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 2nd place, 55 points

With a top-four spot secured, FC Dallas need just a point vs. the Colorado Rapids to fend off the third-place San Jose Earthquakes and finish second in the West.

San Jose Earthquakes logo
San Jose Earthquakes
  • Decision Day: Saturday at Minnesota United FC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 3rd place, 52 points

San Jose can finish anywhere from second to fifth, though falling out of the top four would require a lopsided loss. They can jump into second place with a win at Minnesota and a Dallas loss.

St. Louis CITY SC logo
St. Louis CITY SC
  • Decision Day: Saturday at Houston Dynamo FC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 4th place, 51 points

Home-field advantage in Round One is on the line when St. Louis CITY SC visit Houston Dynamo FC.

A draw is enough for St. Louis to claim a top-four spot, while a loss would drop them to fifth.

Houston Dynamo FC logo
Houston Dynamo FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. St. Louis CITY SC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 5th place, 51 points

Houston host St. Louis, hoping home-field advantage on Decision Day will translate into earning home-field advantage in Round One.

They'll jump into the top four with a win, while a draw likely keeps them in fifth place.

Los Angeles Football Club logo
Los Angeles Football Club
  • Decision Day: Saturday at Seattle Sounders FC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 6th place, 47 points

LAFC are essentially locked into a sixth-place finish when they visit Seattle.

They could technically drop to seventh with a loss, but it would require arch-rivals LA Galaxy to win and erase what's currently a 19-goal gap in goal differential (extremely unlikely!).

LA Galaxy logo
LA Galaxy
  • Decision Day: Saturday at Real Salt Lake (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 7th place, 44 points

The Galaxy's primary objective is to book a playoff spot, followed by avoiding the Wild Card round.

A win at Real Salt Lake would guarantee a direct ticket to Round One. However, dropped points would leave their postseason fate in the hands of five teams below them.

Portland Timbers logo
Portland Timbers
  • Decision Day: Saturday at Austin FC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 8th place, 43 points

The simplest playoff scenario for Portland? Win and you're in.

They're one of three West teams with 43 points, and currently have home-field advantage over Colorado in the Wild Card match due to the goals-scored tiebreaker.

With one game remaining, the Timbers could still finish anywhere from seventh to 12th place.

Colorado Rapids logo
Colorado Rapids
  • Decision Day: Saturday at FC Dallas (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 9th place, 43 points

A win at FC Dallas would book Colorado's playoff spot. And just like Portland, the Rapids can still finish anywhere from seventh to 12th place.

Should Colorado draw, an RSL, Seattle or Minnesota win would knock them out. Should Colorado lose, a Sounders draw would also end their season.

Seattle Sounders FC logo
Seattle Sounders FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. LAFC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 10th place, 43 points

The Sounders risk missing the playoffs for the second time in their 18 MLS seasons (joined the league in 2009).

They're by no means out, but they'll need a positive result and points dropped by teams above them to have a chance.

A win vs. LAFC, combined with a Galaxy, Timbers, or Rapids loss, would be enough. A draw would necessitate further help.

Real Salt Lake logo
Real Salt Lake
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. LA Galaxy (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 11th place, 42 points

RSL are on the brink of missing the playoffs for the first time under head coach Pablo Mastroeni (qualified every year since 2021).

If Portland, Colorado or Seattle lose, a win would send RSL to the playoffs, where they can potentially rise as high as seventh. However, if RSL draw, they'll need losses from all three to sneak in. A loss would see them eliminated.

Minnesota United FC logo
Minnesota United FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. San Jose Earthquakes (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 12th place, 41 points

Minnesota may sit all the way back in 12th place, but their season isn't over quite yet.

They'll need three points and help, but depending on the results above them, the Loons could still end up hosting the Wild Card match.

San Diego FC logo
San Diego FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. Sporting Kansas City (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 13th place, 38 points

Following their historic expansion year, San Diego FC have already been eliminated from postseason contention. They could finish 12th or 13th.

Austin FC logo
Austin FC
  • Decision Day: Saturday vs. Portland Timbers (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 14th place, 34 points

Austin FC missed the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. They are guaranteed to finish 14th in the West.

Sporting Kansas City logo
Sporting Kansas City
  • Decision Day: Saturday at San Diego FC (7 pm ET | Apple TV)
  • Standings: 15th place, 23 points

Already guaranteed to finish last in the West, Sporting Kansas City can avoid being crowned Wooden Spoon "winners" with a win and a Montréal loss.