MLS Power Rankings: Olivier Giroud and LAFC take Western Conference title to Decision Day, Columbus Crew excel, final playoff pushes await

The Wooden Spoon is theirs. That's something, right?

Sporting's campaign has been, well, bad. Peter Vermes couldn't perform his late-season magic this time around, and now, they're looking ahead to 2025. It remains to be seen if their manager comes with them, though.

Was battered by the Crew 4-0 Saturday evening. There is so much change is needed, from physical personnel to the mentality of everyone in the club.

They appointed ex-USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter as their new manager last week, with his tenure beginning after the completion of the 2024 season. It's an exciting time for Chicago. Excellent hire.

They wrap up their regular season when they host Nashville on Decision Day.

A good few months under BJ Callaghan shows potential for the squad. However, they need a roster overhaul heading into 2025.

Already out of the postseason, they wrap up their campaign against the Fire on the final day, in a match with little to nothing to play for.

One week on from Josh Wolff's firing and they'll be looking to end the campaign on a high note when they host the Rapids. However, they're likely focused on their coaching search at the moment more than their regular season finale, though.

Arguably the biggest disappointment of 2024, CITY are out of the postseason. They wrap up Decision Day with a road match against the Loons, but bigger picture, they'll be starting their search for a new permanent head coach thereafter.

Officially eliminated from playoff contention, TFC's season is over. Look ahead to next year, where they will need to look hard in the mirror. John Herdman's status as manager will be questioned, too.

Eliminated from postseason contention. However, without a permanent head coach and little infrastructure this season, expectations were not high. Onto 2025, where they will look to bring in a new manager, and potentially, some new talent.

Someway, somehow, they are still mathematically alive in the playoffs. However, they hit the road to face an in-form Orlando side on Decision Day.

They'll need three points, a D.C. loss, a CF Montreal loss and confirmation that they are ahead of both of those teams on criteria points as they'll all end level on 40 points if that happens.

RBNY host the Crew in the final week of the season, a match that could potentially give the struggling side the confidence they need to go on a postseason run. Sitting seventh in the East, a victory could potentially see them climb as high as fifth, too, so they have everything to fight for.

The Union's postseason dream, is, well, exactly that. It's a fever dream if anything, but, there's a mathematical way they can secure a playoff berth when they host FC Cincinnati on Decision Day.

They need both D.C. and Montreal to lose their respective matches, they need to claim three points and ensure they have the criteria points advantage over them both, as they'd all be level on 40 points.

A win or a draw confirms their postseason presence in the wildcard play-in match. However, they're hosting an NYCFC side that are playing for a potential top-four seed in the East, meaning it will be no walk in the park.

Similar to Montreal, a win or a draw sees D.C. confirm its spot in the wildcard game. The club hosts Charlotte, who are playing for seeding themselves, meaning it will be a must-watch affair.

Things are not looking good for the Whitecaps. They've fallen hard in recent weeks, winless in six. As a result, they're down to the seven seed in the West, and actively sitting in a wildcard position. They'll need three points and Minnesota to lose or draw to climb out of it.

They travel to RSL on final weekend of the season.

Travel to D.C. on the final day. They're guaranteed one of the fifth through seventh seeds in the postseason, so they're strictly playing for seeding in their regular season finale.

The Timbers are desperate to avoid the wildcard play-in game, but they have one of the toughest Decision Day matches of any team, traveling to Lumen Field against their archrivals Seattle.

To guarantee avoiding it, they would need three points, a Minnesota loss, a Vancouver draw or loss and they'd need to be ahead of the Loons on criteria points.

The Dynamo are looking to play spoiler on the final day of the season, when they host the Galaxy. Sitting fifth in the West, they're already guaranteed to avoid the wildcard play-in game and they cannot climb higher than their current spot, so the only thing on their mind is three points and confirmation of the No. 5 seed.

The Rapids sit sixth in the West, and head to Austin for their regular season finale. A win or a draw guarantees they avoid the wildcard play-in game. They could climb as high as fifth or fall to eighth depending on how results from around the league go on Saturday, meaning manager Chris Armas will need to have his squad ready to search for an important road victory.

NYCFC have a chance to secure the fourth seed, so they will be fighting to collect all three points Saturday.

They sit fifth, trailing fourth-placed Orlando City by two points. They travel to Quebec to take on a Montreal side that is fighting for its playoff lives on the final day, though. It will be a must-watch contest as a result.

RSL are guaranteed the No. 4 seed in the West, regardless of how Decision Day fares. They host the Whitecaps, who are fighting for seeding on the final day, so one can imagine it will be a contentious affair.

The Loons are doing their thing under Eric Ramsay, and it's really fun to watch. One loss in their last six matches, they're in hot form heading into Decision Day - where they are playing for seeding in the West.

They host St. Louis CITY SC, and with a win, they avoid the wildcard play-in game. Sitting seventh heading into the final day, they could climb as high as fifth or fall to ninth based on other results from around the league.

FCC are winless in four, but their stellar campaign has already guaranteed them the No. 3 seed in the East. They travel to Philadelphia on Oct. 19.

It's that time of the year where we remember Brian Schmetzer is one of MLS' biggest coaching talents, and as a result, the Sounders are a true playoff contender.

Sitting third on 56 points, they've already secured a top-four seed in the West, but they're level with fourth-place RSL at the same time. When they host their archrivals Portland on Decision Day, they'll need three points if they want to guarantee the No. 3 seed.

A win over Atlanta United secures the No. 4 seed in the East. They've been in stunning form of late, with six wins in their last seven. A proper dark horse contender this postseason.

You have to hand it to them. They haven't given up.

A 91st minute winner from Ilie Sanchez handed LAFC all three points Sunday evening in a massive win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. As a result, they are still in the hunt for the Western Conference title. With a win over San Jose, a Galaxy loss to Houston, and they make up the goal-differential deficit (-2), the West could potentially be theirs Saturday night.

They should be feeling confident heading into their match against the Dynamo. A win or a draw on the road against Houston hands them the Western Conference title and the No. 1 seed in the West for the playoffs.

Absolutely battered the Revolution Saturday evening, winning 4-0. For Alexandru Matan, his hat-trick had to have meant a lot, especially with it being against Caleb Porter.

During his time as Crew manager, Porter played him less than 1000 minutes across all competitions over two seasons. A real full-circle moment for him.

They've secured the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. They do potentially have another historic milestone on their hands as they could set the points record in MLS this weekend.