The 2022 Major League Soccer regular season is down to its final day, dubbed Decision Day, as the final verdicts are handed out before the 14 playoff-bound clubs begin the quest for MLS Cup.
Seven teams in each conference will move on to the MLS Cup playoffs, while seven other clubs in both the East and West will see their campaigns end.
Decision Day is the first step in that MLS Cup push, as teams look to confirm places in the playoff tournament. Even clubs that have secured spots in the playoffs will push for higher seeding, knowing the higher seeds have home field advantage, potential more favorable matchups, or a first round bye as is the case for the No. 1 seed.
Heading into Decision Day 2022, there are seven teams still looking to secure the four playoff spots remaining, while one conference still has yet to determine its No. 1 seed.
MORE: MLS playoffs bracket, teams, and format ahead of 2022 postseason tournament
What is MLS Decision Day?
The final matchday of the Major League Soccer regular season is referred to as "Decision Day" since there are usually plenty of stakes to be decided among the league's 28 clubs, including some teams attempting to secure playoffs spots on the final day.
There are almost always berths up for grabs on the final day of the campaign. Even teams that have secured postseason places will be jockeying for seeding.
The Supporters' Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record, is often undecided by Decision Day, though that won't be the case in 2022.
Individual awards are also often in play on Decision Day, specifically the Golden Boot for top goal scorer and the recognition for leading assist man.
What's at stake on Decision Day in 2022?
With just one matchday remaining there is still plenty to be decided across the MLS table.
Of note, the tiebreaker process in MLS is slightly different than some other top leagues across the world. The first tiebreaker is total wins, while the second tiebreaker is goal differential. This could come into play in more than a few cases across both conferences.
2022 Supporters' Shield
Often, the Supporters' Shield, or the top regular season participant across the entire league, can come down to the final day. This season, it did not.
LAFC clinched the 2022 Supporters' Shield weeks ago, sitting on 67 points before their final match against Nashville SC. While Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, sitting on 64 points, could theoretically draw level, the first tiebreaker of overall wins is already in hand for LAFC, holding 21 wins to Philadelphia's 18.
MLS single table (overall standings):
| Pos | Team | Pts | W-L-D | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | LAFC-X | 67 | 21-4-8 | +29 |
| 2. | Philadelphia Union | 64 | 18-10-5 | +42 |
| 3. | CF Montreal | 62 | 19-5-9 | +11 |
X = clinched 2022 Supporters' Shield
East No. 1 seed
However, the top of the table still does matter on the final day, as the Philadelphia Union could potentially see their No. 1 seed slip from their grasp, with CF Montreal lurking. Philadelphia play at home against Toronto FC, and anything less than a win opens the door for Montreal, who travel to Inter Miami.
The No. 1 seed in each conference is a big deal because that team earns a first-round bye, joining for the conference semifinals.
Eastern Conference playoff race
In the Eastern Conference, five of the seven playoff places have been determined, with two left to be secured.
Wonderfully for supporters, two of these teams play each other in what is essentially a play-in game. With Columbus Crew and Orlando City matching up at Exploria Stadium in Florida, any potential winner will automatically clinch a playoff berth This match should be enthralling, as a draw could potentially — likely, even — see both teams eliminated.
| Pos | Team | Pts | W-L-D | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | Inter Miami-X | 48 | 14-6-13 | -7 |
| 6. | FC Cincinnati | 46 | 11-13-9 | +5 |
| 7. | Columbus Crew | 46 | 10-16-7 | +6 |
| — | ——————— | — | ————— | — |
| 8. | Orlando City | 45 | 13-6-14 | -10 |
X = Clinched playoff berth
FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, will travel to D.C. United knowing a win sees them into the playoffs, full stop. A draw for Cincinnati could also see them in, depending on the result of the other game.
East playoff berths (5 of 7 clinched):
- Philadelphia Union
- CF Montreal
- NYCFC
- NY Red Bulls
- Inter Miami
- TBD
- TBD
Permutations for Decision Day: #Crew96 #OrlandoCity #DCUnited #FCCincy pic.twitter.com/TGSustsaOg
— Orri Benatar (@obenatar512) October 6, 2022
Western Conference playoff race
In the Western Conference, there are also two playoff spots still up for grabs, with four teams in the mix.
Incredibly, all four teams still in the mix play each other on the final day. First, the Portland Timbers travel to Rio Tinto Stadium to meet Real Salt Lake, while Minnesota United take on Vancouver.
| Pos | Team | Pts | W-L-D | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | Nashville SC-X | 47 | 12-11-10 | +10 |
| 6. | Portland Timbers | 46 | 11-13-9 | +2 |
| 7. | Minnesota United | 45 | 13-6-14 | -5 |
| — | ————————— | — | ————— | — |
| 8. | Real Salt Lake | 44 | 11-11-11 | -4 |
| 9. | Vancouver Whitecaps | 45 | 12-7-14 | -15 |
X = Clinched playoff berth
The stakes for both matches are the same: Any winner clinches a playoff spot, while any loser is at risk of missing out. For the two sides on the outside looking in — RSL and Vancouver — only a win will do.
For Minnesota or Portland, a draw would be enough to see them in, as they would be vulnerable to being passed only by a winner in the other match.
West playoff berths (5 of 7 clinched):
- LAFC
- Austin FC
- FC Dallas
- LA Galaxy
- Nashville SC
- TBD
- TBD
What will happen in the West? #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/UG0C54QWJI
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 9, 2022
MLS Golden Boot
Sebastian Driussi of Austin FC could potentially overtake current MLS top scorer Hany Mukhtar on the final day. But he'll need a hat-trick and Mukhtar to go goal-less in his final match. Assists serve as the tiebreaker should players finish tied on goals.
MLS 2022 Golden Boot standings
| Pos | Player | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hany Mukhtar (Nashville) | 23 | 11 |
| 2. | Sebastian Driussi (Austin FC) | 21 | 7 |
| 3. | Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia) | 19 | 9 |
It's hard to see anyone getting enough assists on the final day to knock Lucho Acosta off the assist king's throne. The FC Cincinnati man has 18 helpers, with Diego Fagundez (Austin FC) and Kai Wagner (Philadelphia) three behind him.
