MLS Decision Day rarely lacks drama, and this year two young USMNT players will fight to keep their seasons alive
MLS often gets knocked for lacking regular-season drama, but Decision Day is a notable exception. The annual showcase features all 30 teams playing in two conference-based time slots on the final day of the regular season. Modeled after the Premier League’s simultaneous finales - with a touch of NFL RedZone frenzy - it delivers nonstop stakes.
Last year offered plenty: D.C. United’s Christian Benteke had an MVP-caliber campaign end in heartbreak, while LAFC leapfrogged the LA Galaxy for the West’s top seed after trailing nearly all season.
This year promises similar tension. The Eastern Conference field is set, but seeds No. 2 through No. 9 are still in play. In the West, four teams - FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes - are vying for two play-in spots. For USMNT hopefuls Diego Luna (RSL) and Paxten Aaronson (Colorado), those matches could also be chances to impress Mauricio Pochettino in pressure-filled moments.
What's at stake on Decision Day? GOAL takes a look.