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The headline is confirmed: Nashville SC are the 2026 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners. Gary Smith’s side wrapped it up with a 2-0 win at CF Montreal on Saturday 17 October — Sam Surridge in the 51st minute, Hany Mukhtar in the 76th. First Shield in franchise history. Home-field advantage locked in through MLS Cup. With the regular season winding into the final weeks before Decision Day on Saturday 7 November, Nashville now plays for the all-time MLS points record. Here’s the week in MLS.
Nashville clinch the Shield
Nashville came into Montreal needing a win to clinch and got one — 2-0 CF Montreal. Surridge scored first on 51 minutes, Mukhtar doubled the lead at 76. The result ended the Supporters’ Shield race with weeks to spare and gave Gary Smith’s side the kind of November prep they wanted: no pressure, full rotations, playoff-focused training.
What the Shield means: home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. Nashville will host every round if they advance — a huge advantage, especially in the best-of-three Round 1 format.
The record Nashville is chasing: the all-time MLS points record. Three regular-season matches to go. Nashville is on pace to challenge the single-season benchmark set by the greatest MLS sides.
Standings — the Shield is settled, playoff seeding is live
Three Decision Day matches to go. Nashville are champions of the regular season; the fight below them is for seeding, Wild Card spots, and avoiding Round 1 road matches.
Eastern Conference (post-Shield-clinch):
- Nashville SC — Shield champions
- New England Revolution / Inter Miami CF — tied, chasing 2nd
- Chicago Fire FC — top of chasing pack
- Charlotte FC — holding fifth seed
Western Conference:
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC — Western champions, hosting Round 1
- Saint Louis City SC / FC Dallas — tied for 2nd
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Houston Dynamo FC
The Wild Card race is still live in both conferences — the 8th and 9th seeds will play a one-off wild-card match before Round 1.
Storylines heading to Decision Day
Vancouver chasing the all-time Western Conference points record. Already assured of the Western Conference crown but seeding and the record are still in play.
Miami’s slip. Messi’s team sits level with New England on points — the East’s 2nd and 3rd seeds will be decided on tiebreaker or final matches.
The 8/9 wild-card dogfight. Red Bulls, NYCFC, Colorado, LA Galaxy — tight race for the last Wild Card slot in both conferences.
Sporting KC’s season. MLS’s worst team at 21 points. Offseason overhaul begins the moment Decision Day whistles blow.
How to watch MLS in Australia
Every MLS match is on Apple TV MLS Season Pass. For the Decision Day schedule with AEDT kick-offs, use our live TV Guide.
One email per day at 7:00pm AEDT. Tomorrow’s schedule with confirmed broadcasters and the pick of the day. Free.
What’s next?
Standings accurate as of Sunday 18 October 2026 US time. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.