MLS Decision Day

For ten teams, this final match week will decide whether their season is extended for a possible seven weeks or whether they can book the Cancun flights early. Here are the important games and playoff scenarios to prepare you for Saturday.

Here is how each of the 10 teams can clinch a playoff berth.

As a reminder, every team besides DC United plays this week. Every Eastern Conference team plays at 6 p.m. EST, and every Western Conference team plays at 9 p.m. EST.

Eastern Conference

NYCFC

NYCFC sits in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with 38 points. Their playoff scenario is relatively simple.

NCYFC needs to win versus Chicago, the Red Bulls must lose at Nashville and Charlotte needs to drop points at home against Miami.

Charlotte FC

After failing to beat a Messi-less Miami on Wednesday, Charlotte FC returns home to play, guess who, Miami again. Unfortunately, even if Charlotte FC wins on Saturday, they don’t guarantee playoff soccer.

Charlotte FC needs to win, and out of the New York Red Bulls, Montreal and the Chicago Fire, two of them need to lose or draw.

Chicago Fire

Chicago sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and will need some help to make the playoffs.

For Chicago to make the playoffs, it must beat NYCFC and have either the Red Bulls or Montreal drop points. If the Fire tie, the Red Bulls would need to lose and Charlotte would need to drop points.

New York Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, just below the playoff line. Their decision-day matchup comes against seventh-place Nashville, who already clinched a playoff berth.

Their playoff ticket can be purchased in a few ways, if the Red Bulls win and either Montreal or Chicago loses or draws. If New York draws at Nashville, it would need both Charlotte and Chicago to drop points in their matchups.

CF Montreal

Montreal currently holds onto the higher of the two play-in spots, sitting in 8th in the west. Unlike every other Eastern Conference team, Montreal can make the playoffs even if they lose.

The easiest way Montreal confirms their playoff spot is by beating Columbus. If they draw or lose, they can still make the playoffs if Chicago and Charlotte drop points, if Chicago and the Red Bulls drop points, or if Charlotte and the Red Bulls drop points.

Western Conference

Minnesota United and Sporting KC

I’m combining these two teams because their playoff scenarios are identical.

First off whichever team loses this game is out. If the game ends in a draw, both teams are out. The winning team will need either Portland, San Jose, or Dallas to lose or draw. If any of those teams drop points, the winner of the Minnesota at Sporting KC fixture makes the playoffs.

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose currently occupies the last playoff spot in the west. If the Earthquakes win, they’re in. If they draw, Dallas or Portland need to lose. If they lose, Kansas City and Minnesota need to tie.

FC Dallas

Dallas is one spot above San Jose but only due to goal differential. Dallas’ playoff scenarios are almost exactly the same as San Jose’s. The only difference is that if both Dallas and San Jose lose, Dallas makes the playoffs over San Jose.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers have the easiest route to post-season soccer. If either Dallas or San Jose draw, Portland needs a draw as well. If either Dallas or San Jose loses, Portland makes it automatically. Lastly, Similar to Dallas and San Jose’s scenarios, if Kansas City and Minnesota tie, Portland makes the playoffs.

Owen Cameros is a first-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, please email ohc5024@psu.edu.