Which team has advantages?

MLS has headed to the last few months this season, with a set of playoffs, and the front runners separate themselves from the rest of the package. There is only one cup that will find the conclusion at the end of the season.

Shield Race supporters have been competitive even though they are dominated by the Easter conference team for more than half a season.

Some teams have advantages, while others only hope to be considered for shields. Three teams are in the heat of death for supporting shields, with the rest of the league after chasing far behind.

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San Diego FC

San Diego is the newest team that joined MLS this season, and many think that they will be like a distinctive expansion team and fail to compete for their first few seasons. That hasn’t happened yet.

San Diego not only led the Western conference in their first season but also supporters of the Shield Race. The team did a spectacular job carrying players who were strongly appointed from abroad who had improved team play.

They also invest in youth programs that provide education and housing for players to practice. This builds the foundation for the future and makes parents choose San Diego from other MLS clubs.

Some original teams have invested fewer in DPS and their youth systems compared to San Diego.

This new club leads this year; Every match is important for San Diego because they are in a tie for the top position with the next team mentioned.

FC Ringinnati

FCC has struggled against teeth and nails to be at the top of the standings for the shield. For Cincinnati, winning against Columbus is one of the if not the biggest, a goal for clubs outside the MLS Cup.

Winning supporters will be the biggest honor that FCC will achieve since becoming the MLS team many years ago.

This season, they have to fight in the middle of the package only to pursue Philadelphia a few weeks ago. They now have a little advantage over the union, but cannot succeed in getting the first one. Having Evander as a star player they also don’t hurt, because the former Portland Timber has become a MVP candidate this season.

The real question for FCC is whether they can continue their good form and lead solidly from Philadelphia and San Diego.

Only time will tell Ohio’s second oldest team: Will they fight to be above, or will they start sliding under the standings?

Uni Philadelphia

The Union has been at a conference for the shield since the beginning of this season. They were third in the race because of the emergence of San Diego and FCC.

Union has built his team by selling its stars and replaced it with the development players they built through their youth system. The union continues to float for years thanks to the upper-level youth system that allows it to equip again every year.

Philadelphia defended the shield from the Cincinnati, which was in their tail almost throughout the season. San Diego blown them a few weeks ago, then went down to third place after the FCC became deadlock with the expansion team from California.

With a strong and disciplined list, there is no reason to think that Philadelphia cannot jump past the two leaders in the last seven matches this season.

Main photo

Credit Imago/Sportswire icon

Recording date 16.08.2025