The MLS Decision Day has come around and Saturday will see the final spots in the MLS Cup Playoffs being secured by three more teams.
There are six teams still in with a chance of making the playoffs in the Western Conference, while five teams vie for home-field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
The Eastern Conference is already settled for qualification purposes. All nine playoff places are confirmed, with Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Columbus and Orlando competing for the final two automatic Round One places rather than the Wild Card round.
The drama is set to play out across five hours, with all 30 MLS teams in action as the stage for the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs is set.
Those clubs sweating for their spots in the postseason are LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United.
Meanwhile, Chicago Fire, Charlotte FC, San Jose Earthquakes, St. Louis City and Houston Dynamo go into the final round of games with the opportunity for home-field advantage in round one.
MLS Decision Day betting picks and predictions
LA Galaxy to beat Real Salt Lake (+320)
A game simply meant for Decision Day takes place in Utah as Real Salt Lake bid to make the playoffs with a final-day win and the Galaxy attempts to hold off the closers.
It's a simple scenario, if LA can win, they go to the playoffs and Real Salt Lake are eliminated. The hosts need other results to go in their favour, regardless.
Pablo Mastroeni's Salt Lake side has lacked some consistency with just four wins in 19 games since the MLS returned after the World Cup.
Three of those wins came in the last four but a costly defeat at San Jose Earthquakes, in which they trailed 2-0 after 17 minutes, has halted the momentum.
The Galaxy are unbeaten in four games and have scored 10 goals in that run. Veteran Marco Reus had three assists in the 4-1 win over Austin FC last time and his quality could be key here as the visitors attempt to secure a third win at America First Field in their last four visits.
LAFC to beat Seattle Sounders (+280)
Two-time MLS Cup winners Seattle Sounders have missed the playoffs just once in 18 seasons since they joined the league in 2009.
Brian Schmetzer's team have home-field advantage in a must-win clash with LAFC at Lumen Field and they have to make it count to avoid missing out.
A costly run of five games without a win has left the Sounders in peril as they welcome an LAFC outfit with just one victory in their last eight games as they transition from Marc Dos Santos in the dugout to new head coach Xavi Tamarit.
The pressure is resting squarely on Seattle as LAFC have all but locked into their sixth-place spot in the West.
Seattle shipped five goals at Vancouver Whitecaps last time out and their fragile confidence could be a stumbling block if the likes of Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min hit form for LAFC at a ground where they have won three and drawn two from their past six visits.
Orlando City to beat New England Revolution (-104)
Orlando City hold the longest active playoff streak in MLS, qualifying for every postseason since 2020 and the Lions booked their spot with a game to spare after the New York Red Bulls lost at Nashville FC.
One win in five isn't the sort of form interim head coach Martin Perelman will want to bring to the postseason and his side could gain home advantage for a Wild Card match if they beat New England and move up one position or, even better, rise two spots and move past the Wild Card game.
Antoine Griezmann has starred since arriving in Orlando and the French ace has 14 goals and eight assists in 17 matches since his mid-season move.
New England know a win here could see them taking second in the Eastern Conference but they have failed to win in three visits to this Florida venue, conceding three goals in each, and may come unstuck.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
