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The Supporters’ Shield is settled — Nashville SC, clinched on Saturday 17 October. The Western Conference is settled — Vancouver Whitecaps, holding the top seed with four Decision Day matches to go. The rest of the regular season is a race for seeding, Wild Card survival, and record books. Nashville is on pace to challenge the all-time MLS single-season points record. Decision Day is Saturday 7 November. MLS Cup Playoffs — the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs — begin Wednesday 18 November. Here’s the week in MLS.
Nashville on the all-time points record
Nashville sit at 61 points with the Shield already locked in. The single-season MLS points record was set by LAFC in 2019 (72 points). Nashville has three regular-season games left — a run of 11 points would equal the record. Gary Smith is now openly discussing the chase; the lineup rotation is being managed for both the record and playoff preparation.
Sam Surridge sits in the Golden Boot race with 25 regular-season goals through the Montreal clincher.
Vancouver’s Western crown
Vancouver Whitecaps hold the Western Conference lead at 52 points. The second-seed scramble is live — Saint Louis, FC Dallas, San Jose and Houston all within six points of each other, playing for the second-best Round 1 position. Jesper Sorensen’s Whitecaps have been one of the stories of the 2026 season.
Playoff seeding — tight races
Eastern Conference seeding below Nashville is a four-team pack:
- Nashville SC — Shield champion, hosting every round
- New England Revolution / Inter Miami CF — tied for 2nd
- Chicago Fire FC — chasing a 4th seed
- Charlotte FC — holding the 5th seed
Western Conference below Vancouver is tighter still:
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Saint Louis City SC — top of chasing pack
- FC Dallas — tied with Saint Louis
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Houston Dynamo FC
The Wild Card race
Eastern 8th-9th: Red Bulls, NYCFC, Orlando — three teams fighting for the one-off wild card. Western 8th-9th: Colorado, LA Galaxy, Seattle — similar tightness. The team that finishes 8th plays a single-game wild card against the 9th seed, with the winner facing the top seed in Round 1 best-of-three.
MLS Cup Playoffs 2026 format
- Wild Card round — 11 November (single-game, 8 vs 9)
- Round 1 — best-of-three — begins 18 November. Higher seed hosts Match 1 and Match 3; lower seed hosts Match 2. No aggregate — each match independent. Tied match goes directly to penalties.
- Conference Semifinals — single-elimination, late November
- Conference Finals — single-elimination, early December
- MLS Cup Final — Saturday 18 December 2026, host decided by seed
Storylines to watch
Can Nashville break 72 points? They need 11 points from three remaining games. Realistic.
Golden Boot race. Surridge leads. Messi (Miami), Mukhtar (Nashville), Camilo (Dallas) all within four goals.
Wild Card drama. The 8/9 pairings are still tightening with four Decision Day matches to go.
Sporting KC’s offseason. MLS’s bottom team now shifting attention to the offseason overhaul.
How to watch MLS in Australia
Every MLS match is on Apple TV MLS Season Pass. All playoff games follow the same platform. Decision Day on Saturday 7 November will be a day of simultaneous late-afternoon kick-offs. For AEDT times each day, use our live TV Guide.
One email per day at 7:00pm AEDT. Tomorrow’s schedule, confirmed broadcasters, pick of the day. Free.
What’s next?
Standings accurate as of Sunday 25 October 2026 US time. Decision Day Saturday 7 November. MLS Cup Playoffs begin 18 November. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.