MLS is back, again. The league took a week off for the Leagues Cup group phase to play out, and now the chaos of the home stretch returns this weekend. Teams are revamping and retooling with the transfer window open as the calendar has moved to August. Can the teams at the top stay there through the end of a grueling summer?
MLS Supporters’ Shield Watch after Matchday 26
1st Place: Philadelphia Union– 50 points from 25 games played
The Philadelphia Union jumped back up to first place in the East and the Supporters’ Shield rankings after a come-from-behind win over Colorado on the last MLS matchday. After conceding in the first half, Tai Baribo equalized with 25 minutes left; Mikael Uhre then scored a brace in the game’s last minutes to secure all three points for Philly. Now they’re hoping to keep the ball rolling after not being involved in Leagues Cup.
Philly plays seven of its last nine games against teams outside the MLS contender status right now, starting this weekend with a game at home against Toronto. The Union is in the driver’s seat for the Shield, but not by much. If they want to win it, they have to beat the teams they’re “supposed to” beat. If they do that, we may see Philadelphia win its first Shield since 2020; if there are any slip-ups, we won’t.
- Next MLS Match: vs Toronto FC | Saturday, August 9 | 7:30 pm EST
2nd Place: FC Cincinnati – 49 points from 25 games played
FC Cincinnati was a favorite to make a deep run in the League Cup; that dream was cut short this past week. After a big win over Monterrey in their first match, they drew, then lost a PK shootout to Juárez, and lost their final phase one matchup against Chivas. Four points and a GD of zero see them crash out as an average side in the tournament. Now, they will have all of their focus shift to MLS play.
FCC takes on a Charlotte side that also failed to make it out of Phase One of the League Cup. Both will be looking for bounce-back games, as both have something to prove in the remainder of the season. Charlotte has snuck into the top 10 of MLS, while Cincinnati is looking to jump back to the top of the leaderboard. Which will be able to get back to winning ways, and who might continue to falter?
- Next MLS Match: vs Charlotte FC | Sunday, August 10 | 6 pm EST
3rd Place: Nashville SC – 47 points from 25 games played
Nashville is another team in the top five that was not a part of Leagues Cup this year. They are in the midst of a US Open Cup run, where they could host Philly in the Semifinals if the Union beat the Red Bulls this coming week. Nashville has lost two of its last four MLS matches, and this weekend it takes on St. Louis.
Nashville is in the thick of this Shield race, and like a few teams competing for the top spot, it will have midweek cup competitions to put effort into. Can they keep their strong 2025 going down the home stretch? That’s the question that is begging for an answer. This team is already overachieving, but now they’re looking to win silverware.
- Next MLS Match: @ St. Louis City | Saturday, August 9 | 8:30 pm EST
4th Place: San Diego FC – 46 points from 25 games played
San Diego returns to MLS play to continue its Cinderella expansion season. It didn’t fare well at all in the League Cup, which it entered after Vancouver opted out of. Three points from three matches against Liga MX sides sees it return to league play with its tail between its legs.
This is still the best team in the West and only four points off the Shield. Realistically, this expansion side could compete for the Shield while holding down the West. They’ll look to do just that this weekend when they head to Sporting Kansas City.
- Next MLS Match: @ Sporting Kansas City | Saturday, August 9 | 8:30 pm EST
5th Place: Vancouver Whitecaps – 45 points from 24 games played
Vancouver was supposed to be in Leagues Cup this year, but chose to focus on the Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions Cup instead. This has led to a good break over the last few weeks for Vancouver as they look to rise back into Shield contention. They took a step in the right direction in their last MLS match, beating Kansas City 3-0, and now they look to build on that.
Vancouver’s chances will be improved by the addition of German legend Thomas Müller. He could be the lynchpin that gets the Whitecaps’ attack firing on all cylinders again. They are just one point off the top of the West and five points off the Shield lead. Can they make a late-season run with 10 games left to play?
- Next MLS Match: @ San Jose Earthquakes | Saturday, August 9 | 10:30 pm EST
Rounding out the top 10
With less than a third of the season to go, it is clear that there is a top eight in contention for the Supporters’ Shield. Minnesota, Columbus, and Miami could jump into the top five with wins and luck on their side. The final two spots of MLS’s top 10 will be filled by teams that will make the MLS Cup Playoffs but are not likely to make a run for the Shield.
- 6th Place: Minnesota United – 44 points from 25 games played
- 7th Place: Columbus Crew SC – 44 points from 25 games played
- 8th Place: Inter Miami CF – 42 points from 22 games played
- 9th Place: Orlando City SC – 41 points from 25 games played
- 10th Place: Charlotte FC – 38 points from 25 games played
There are 11 weeks left of the MLS season, most top ten teams in contention for the Supporters’ Shield have nine games left. A few teams, Vancouver, Columbus, and Miami, all have at least one game in hand on the opposition. Here’s a look at the remaining schedules for the teams fighting for the Shield as we get ready for Matchday 28!
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