Matchday 31: Who can clinch playoffs or be eliminated?

By MLSsoccer staff

This weekend during Matchday 31:

• Six teams can clinch an Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs spot.
• One team can be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention.
• Nashville SC can clinch both the Supporters' Shield and the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago Fire FC

Chicago will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. Chicago win/draw at New England or...
2. D.C. lose/draw at Orlando or...
3. Cincinnati lose/draw vs. Columbus

Charlotte FC

Charlotte will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. Charlotte win at Philadelphia or...
2. Charlotte draw at Philadelphia AND D.C. lose/draw at Orlando AND Toronto lose/draw at New York AND New York City lose/draw vs. LAFC or...
3. Charlotte draw at Philadelphia AND Cincinnati draw vs. Columbus AND D.C. draw at Orlando AND Toronto lose/draw at New York AND New York City lose/draw vs. LAFC

Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. Philadelphia win vs. Charlotte AND Cincinnati lose/draw vs. Columbus or...
2. Philadelphia win vs. Charlotte AND D.C. lose/draw at Orlando or...
3. Philadelphia draw vs. Charlotte AND Cincinnati draw vs. Columbus AND D.C. lose at Orlando AND Toronto lose/draw at New York AND New York City lose/draw vs. LAFC

WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. San Jose win vs. Nashville or...
2. San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado or...
3. San Diego lose at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose/draw at Kansas City

Houston Dynamo FC

Houston will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. Houston win vs. Dallas or...
2. Houston draw vs. Dallas AND San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado or...
3. Houston draw vs. Dallas AND San Diego lose at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose/draw at Kansas City or...
4. San Diego lose/draw at LA AND Portland lose vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose at Kansas City or...
5. San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake draw at Kansas City

Los Angeles Football Club

LAFC will clinch a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs if:

1. LAFC win at New York City AND San Diego draw at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado or...
2. LAFC win at New York City AND San Diego lose at LA AND Portland lose/draw vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose/draw at Kansas City or...
3. LAFC draw at New York City AND Austin lose/draw vs. Vancouver AND San Diego lose at LA AND Minnesota lose/draw vs. St. Louis AND Portland lose vs. Colorado AND Salt Lake lose at Kansas City

SUPPORTERS' SHIELD & NO. 1 SEED SCENARIOS

Nashville SC

Nashville willclinch the Supporters' Shield if:

1. Nashville win at San Jose or...
2. Nashville draw at San Jose AND Vancouver lose/draw at Austin or...
3. Vancouver lose/draw at Austin AND Miami lose/draw at Atlanta

Nashville willclinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference if:

1. Nashville win/draw at San Jose or...
2. Miami lose/draw at Atlanta

ELIMINATION SCENARIOS

CF Montréal

Montréal will be eliminated from Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention if:

1. Montréal lose at Seattle or...
2. Montréal draw at Seattle AND New York win vs. Toronto or...
3. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND D.C. win at Orlando AND Toronto win at New York or...
4. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND D.C. win at Orlando AND Atlanta win vs. Miami or...
5. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND D.C. win at Orlando AND New York City win vs. LAFC or...
6. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win/lose vs. Columbus AND Atlanta win vs. Miami AND New York City win vs. LAFC or...
7. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND D.C. win at Orlando AND Atlanta draw vs. Miami AND New York City draw vs. LAFC or...
8. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND Orlando draw vs. D.C. AND Atlanta win vs. Miami AND New York City draw vs. LAFC or...
9. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND Orlando draw vs. D.C. AND Atlanta draw vs. Miami AND New York City vs. LAFC or...
10. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND Toronto win at New York AND Atlanta win vs. Miami AND New York City draw vs. LAFC or...
11. Montréal draw at Seattle AND Cincinnati win vs. Columbus AND Toronto win at New York AND Atlanta draw vs. Miami AND New York City win vs. LAFC