Decision Day is less than a week away on Nov. 7, so the field for the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will soon be set. In the Eastern Conference, Supporters’ Shield champion New England has the no. 1 seed locked up. Philadelphia held on to second place, breaking a standings tie with Nashville. New York City clinched a playoff spot with a 3-1 win against Miami and hurdled Orlando to take the final spot in the top four.
New England, Philadelphia, Nashville and NYCFC have all secured a postseason berth. Six teams remain in contention for the final three spots in the east: Orlando (48), Atlanta (47), New York (46), D.C. (44), Columbus (44) and Montreal (44).
Here’s a look across the table heading into the final week of the MLS regular season:
5-seed Orlando City SC (12-9-12; 48 points): Orlando City dropped out of the top four for the first time in two weeks. The club earned only a point last week after a loss to Columbus and tie with Nashville. Orlando doesn't play again until Nov. 7 when it faces Montreal on Decision Day.
6-seed Atlanta United (12-9-11; 47 points): Atlanta rallied to beat Miami 2-1 on Oct. 27 and played Toronto to a draw on Oct. 30 to gain four points in the standings. Next up, a weighty matchup on Wednesday against New York Red Bulls before it closes out the regular season against Cincinnati on Decision Day.
7-seed New York Red Bulls (13-12-7; 46 points): New York is one of the hottest teams in the conference, winning five of its last six matches. A win against Atlanta on Nov. 3 can get the Red Bulls in the playoffs, then they wrap up against Nashville on Decision Day.
D.C. United (13-15-5; 44 points): D.C. is still on the outside looking in after losing to Columbus over the weekend. The club has one matchup remaining – against Toronto on Nov. 7.
Columbus Crew (12-13-8; 44 points): Columbus is making a last-minute push to get above the playoff line after picking up six points this past week with wins over Orlando and D.C. and scoring six goals in those matches. Next up, the Crew meets Chicago on Decision Day.
CF Montreal (11-11-10; 43 points): Montreal gained one point in two matches this past week, but remains in contention. It’s one of only a few clubs to have two matches in the regular season’s final week. First, it faces Houston on Wednesday, then Orlando on Nov. 7.
Eliminated:
Inter Miami CF (11-17-5; 38 points), Chicago Fire FC (9-17-7; 34 points); Toronto FC (6-17-10; 28 points), FC Cincinnati (4-21-8; 20 points)
What Atlanta United can do this week:
The three-game homestand wasn't quite as commanding as Atlanta had hoped. The team beat Miami, but gave up goals in the final minutes to tie NYCFC on Oct. 27 and Toronto on Oct. 30. Still, the club picked up five out of nine possible points and remained above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.
Wednesday’s matchup between Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls is monumental in terms of each team’s playoff hopes. Either club can clinch a postseason berth with a win. If Atlanta and New York play to a draw and Montreal loses or ties Houston on Wednesday, then Atlanta would also qualify for the playoffs.
A home playoff match is not out of the picture yet for Atlanta. To land fourth place or better, the club needs wins in its last two matches and losses from either New York City or Nashville.
