It’s crunch time in Major League Soccer as the MLS Cup Playoffs quickly approach at the end of October.
Although some clubs are near settled in their spots in the postseason, the race for positions in the final few matches is bound to be feisty, with everything from the final playoff spots in the Western Conference to the top seeds and Wild Card game avoidance races heating up.
Heading into the first weekend of October, most clubs have two or three remaining matches, except for LAFC, who have four due to other rescheduling moments throughout the season.
Sports Illustrated takes a look at five of the most influential games remaining on the 2025 MLS regular season schedule, which wraps up with Decision Day on Oct. 18.
