Twenty-four of the league’s 28 clubs enter this week in contention for the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs by virtue of maintaining a place above the playoff line or by sitting within six points of a playoff spot.
Atop the Western Conference is the Los Angeles Football Club, which leads the league with 54 points as winners of their last six straight matches. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Union (48 points) top the Eastern
Conference, currently holding a five-point advantage over CF Montréal (43 points) and a six-point lead over defending MLS Cup champions New York City FC (42 points), who sit in third place on the strength of one of the league’s staunchest defenses.
Teams closing in on the first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs appearance in club history include second-year standout and current Western Conference No. 2 seed Austin FC (48 points), FC Cincinnati (33 points), and Charlotte FC (29 points), as all three clubs are looking to punch their first tickets to the postseason.
With only 54 days until MLS Decision Day 2022, stakes continue to rise as the postseason picture starts to take shape.