More than one cluster: Western Conference table tightens at the top with seven matches to go
If a top seed falls in Soldier Field on a random Tuesday during the international break, does it make a sound? Here's how Vancouver's loss to Chicago sets up potential shifts in table math.
Perhaps you weren't aware there was an MLS match on last night.
But it was actually consequential to the Western Conference race — in a way that might impact Austin FC should it qualify for the 2026 edition of the playoffs.
With Chicago Fire FC's 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Whitecaps' seemingly insurmountable lead atop the West table has now narrowed to three points, with both a surging St. Louis City SC and a steady FC Dallas on 47 points to the Whitecaps' 50. All three teams atop the West table have seven matches remaining — as do San Jose and Houston, who could also challenge for home hosting privileges in MLS' best-of-three, maybe-too-much-soccer first round.
Here's how the table's shaping up.
What that means for Verde is still unclear — to make this germane, the squad (facing Nashville at home and LAFC away before hosting Vancouver in an eight-day block) has to ascend into the top nine of the West.
But let's say Verde emerge from Decision Day into the West's No. 8 vs. No. 9 play-in match and win that. The conventional wisdom for much of the season was that the winner of that match would face Vancouver.
However, the Whitecaps' recent form — 2W 3L 1D in its last six, including a home loss to Austin — has put them in danger of slipping below the top spot. Meanwhile, Dallas is unbeaten in its last six, and St. Louis is unbeaten in its last 17 matches, despite the front office transferring two key players out (Marcel Hartel and Eduard Löwen) during that stretch.
St. Louis' last loss was ... to Austin FC on May 3.
Should the current trends continue, and St. Louis and/or Dallas emerge as the West's top team come Decision Day, the play-in winner could face an even hotter team than Vancouver in the first round.
With MLS play resuming Saturday, here's what that race for the bottom two playoff spots in the West look like. Of the bottom eight teams, all are officially still in the mix, though SKC is significantly behind the pack. But even 14th-place Minnesota is only three points back of 10th-place Portland.
Nashville, visiting Q2 Stadium on Saturday, remains — for now — the only MLS team guaranteed to go to the 2026 post-season.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Also, we're fully in the 21st century now; join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin issued a joint statement regarding the Sept. 26 match, and Austin Anthem issued its own statement via social media on Tuesday. Austin FC plays at home again on Saturday.
Eze Onuoha is a 17-year-old defensive midfielder from Finland who could be Austin FC's next signing. But will he first be a mainstay for Austin FC II? And given his reported transfer fee, is that smart roster building?
Austin FC's possession numbers and xG values haven't been sterling in 2026. But the changes made under Davy Arnaud are perceptible and bearing out in the numbers, per one analyst.
Austin FC announced that it will be playing the 2027 Coachella Valley Invitational — its fourth straight appearance at the tournament. Here's what we learned about that, and by extension, the sprint season.
Perhaps you weren't aware there was an MLS match on last night.
But it was actually consequential to the Western Conference race — in a way that might impact Austin FC should it qualify for the 2026 edition of the playoffs.
With Chicago Fire FC's 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Whitecaps' seemingly insurmountable lead atop the West table has now narrowed to three points, with both a surging St. Louis City SC and a steady FC Dallas on 47 points to the Whitecaps' 50. All three teams atop the West table have seven matches remaining — as do San Jose and Houston, who could also challenge for home hosting privileges in MLS' best-of-three, maybe-too-much-soccer first round.
Here's how the table's shaping up.
What that means for Verde is still unclear — to make this germane, the squad (facing Nashville at home and LAFC away before hosting Vancouver in an eight-day block) has to ascend into the top nine of the West.
But let's say Verde emerge from Decision Day into the West's No. 8 vs. No. 9 play-in match and win that. The conventional wisdom for much of the season was that the winner of that match would face Vancouver.
However, the Whitecaps' recent form — 2W 3L 1D in its last six, including a home loss to Austin — has put them in danger of slipping below the top spot. Meanwhile, Dallas is unbeaten in its last six, and St. Louis is unbeaten in its last 17 matches, despite the front office transferring two key players out (Marcel Hartel and Eduard Löwen) during that stretch.
St. Louis' last loss was ... to Austin FC on May 3.
Should the current trends continue, and St. Louis and/or Dallas emerge as the West's top team come Decision Day, the play-in winner could face an even hotter team than Vancouver in the first round.
With MLS play resuming Saturday, here's what that race for the bottom two playoff spots in the West look like. Of the bottom eight teams, all are officially still in the mix, though SKC is significantly behind the pack. But even 14th-place Minnesota is only three points back of 10th-place Portland.
Nashville, visiting Q2 Stadium on Saturday, remains — for now — the only MLS team guaranteed to go to the 2026 post-season.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Also, we're fully in the 21st century now; join us on Instagram to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.
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