MLS returned from a short break this past midweek, and the top teams in the league played big games. It’s been 20 match weeks, only 14 remain! Who were the clubs that kept their momentum moving forward, and did any in the top five falter?
MLS Supporters’ Shield Watch after Matchday 20
1st Place: Philadelphia Union – 40 points from 19 games played
The Philadelphia Union has been the most consistent MLS team over the first 20 weeks of the season. They have not been seen as the best team over that time, but they are atop the Shield standings, and all of MLS has now been put on notice.
Philly secured a 1-0 win this past midweek on the road against the Chicago Fire. The lone goal came from DP forward Bruno Damiani, who slotted home a first-half penalty kick. This team has been without many starters and stars, thanks to international callups and injuries, yet they continue to get results.
The Union is four points ahead of the rest of the league and has a date with the Columbus Crew set for this weekend. Let’s see if they can keep this momentum going!
- Next MLS match: @ Columbus Crew | Sunday, June 29 | 6:00 pm EST
2nd place: San Diego FC – 36 points from 19 games played
Expansion side San Diego FC has been chugging along in MLS this season. They looked like the last few expansion sides that hit the ground running right when they joined the league. With 14 matches left, San Diego is the top team in the West and second in the Supporters’ Shield race.
This past midweek, this team made a statement, beating Vancouver 5-3. That result sent shockwaves around the league, as did Milan Iloski’s four first-half goals. This result propelled San Diego to second in the Shield race and knocked Vancouver down to fourth.
San Diego will look to keep things going on the road at FC Dallas on Saturday night. Can they stay at the top of the West and push Philly for the Shield?
- Next MLS match: @ FC Dallas | Saturday, June 28 | 8:30 pm EST
3rd Place: FC Cincinnati – 36 points from 19 games played
FC Cincinnati has been hanging around the top of MLS for most of the 2025 season. Pat Noonan’s boys have been consistently defensive but lack a big output of attacking power. While that’s the case, this team is only four points off the top of the East and the Supporters’ Shield.
Cincy is keeping pace with Philly and San Diego, and they did so by beating Montreal 3-1 this midweek. Evander scored twice and assisted on another goal. He looks to be picking up the attacking slack right now for this side, but can they keep it going as they turn the page to the weekend slate of matches?
A massive clash this weekend sees Cincinnati go on the road to play Orlando. Orlando is three points behind Cincy. A split of points wouldn’t benefit either team in this Shield race, but if one team can find all three points, they will stay in the top five for sure.
- Next match: @ Orlando City SC | Saturday, June 28 | 7:30 pm EST
4th Place: Vancouver Whitecaps – 35 points from 18 games played
Vancouver has been in a bit of a free fall after failing to win the Concacaf Champions Cup. Two losses in their last three matches have the Canadian surprise of the 2025 MLS season fall the furthest in the top five.
Their 5-3 loss at home against San Diego has them fall from second to fourth in the Shield standings. The Whitecaps’ saving grace is that they have a game in hand on the rest of the top contenders. The downside is that even if they win that game in hand, they would still be two points behind Philly.
The Caps will look to get back on the right track on Sunday night as they go to LAFC, who will return from a pretty poor Club World Cup campaign.
- Next MLS match: @ LAFC | Sunday, June 29 | 9:30 pm EST
5th Place: Nashville SC – 35 points from 19 games played
Nashville is on a great unbeaten run in MLS, winning their last 10 matches. On top of that, their striker Sam Surridge is scoring in buckets. He now leads the MLS Golden Boot standings with 15 goals, two above Union striker Tai Baribo.
In a thrilling midweek match, Nashville won 3-2 in New England. Surridge scored three unanswered goals after Nashville conceded first on the way to another victory. The win helped them keep pace with the top of MLS, now tied on points with Vancouver. Could this team move up the standings in the games to come?
Nashville plays tonight at DC. They look to make their MLS unbeaten streak stretch to 11 games, and if they can do so, they may finally move up the Supporters’ Shield standings.
- Next MLS match: @ DC United | Saturday, June 28 | 7:30 pm EST
Rounding out the top 10
The teams rounding out the top 10 are the same as at the end of match week 19. The clubs in 6th, 7th, and 8th all got wins, while the teams in 9th and 10th did not play this past match week. Here’s a look at the clubs rounding the top of the MLS.
- 6th place: Columbus Crew – 34 points from 19 games played
- 7th place: Orlando City – 33 points from 19 games played
- 8th place: Minnesota United – 33 points from 19 games played
- 9th place: Portland Timbers – 30 points from 18 games played
- 10th place: Inter Miami – 29 points from 16 games played
Columbus, Orlando, and Minnesota all stay less than three points away from being in the top five in this Supporters’ Shield race, and matches this weekend could see them jump over Nashville, Vancouver, or Cincinnati. A shakeup could be on the cards in MLS matchweek 21.
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Featured Image Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
