Decision Day 2026 Kicks Off Saturday, November 7, with Simultaneous Eastern Conference Matches at 4 p.m. ET and Western Conference Matches at 7 p.m. ET, Live on Apple TV
Tune into MLS 360 to follow Every Goal and Key Moment from all 15 Matches
NEW YORK (Tuesday, November 3, 2026) – This Saturday is Decision Day 2026, and the final day of the MLS regular season sets the stage for a dramatic finish, with Audi MLS Cup Playoffs positions, the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, a potential single-season points record, and home-field advantage all on the line.
All intraconference matches will kick off simultaneously on MLS on Apple TV with Eastern Conference matches at 4 p.m. ET and Western Conference matches at 7 p.m. ET. The lone cross-conference match between CF Montréal and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will kick off at 4 p.m. ET.
- Click Here for the Decision Day 2026 schedule
- Click Here for current MLS standings
- Click Here for the Decision Day playoffs scenarios
Lionel Messi Eyes Historic Golden Boot presented by Audi Double
Heading into Decision Day, the 2026 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi looks destined to head back to South Florida as Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi leads with 26 goals over FC Dallas’ Petar Musa (22 goals). Messi would become the first player in MLS history to win the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi in consecutive seasons, and the sixth player to win the trophy twice.
Players to win multiple MLS Golden Boots:
- Preki (1997, 2003)
- Taylor Twellman (2002, 2005)
- Jeff Cunningham (2006, 2009)
- Chris Wondolowski (2010, 2012)
- Bradley Wright-Phillips (2014, 2016)
Throughout his illustrious career, Messi has taken home numerous top scorer honors at the club level, earning La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy eight times, the European Golden Shoe six times, and UEFA Champions League top scorer on six different occasions. On Decision Day, Messi could add another MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi to his historic list of accolades.
Nashville Set Sights on Single-Season Points Record
Nashville SC (74 points, 22-3-8) travel to TQL Stadium to face FC Cincinnati (46 points, 12-11-10) with a chance to make MLS history. Having equaled Inter Miami CF's single-season points record of 74 pts. (2024 season), Nashville needs just a draw to set a new league benchmark.
Beyond the points record, Nashville could also set or equal three other MLS single-season records on Decision Day:
- Most wins in the post-shootout era: 22 (Current record: 22 by three clubs)
- Best goal differential: +44 (Current record: +48 by 2019 LAFC)
- Fewest goals conceded in a 34-game season: 25 (Current record: 26 by 2022 Philadelphia Union)
Six Clubs Battle for Final Three Western Conference Postseason Spots
Six clubs will battle for the final three Western Conference playoff berths on Decision Day: one automatic spot in the Round One Best-of-3 Series and two places in the Wild Card round. Just three points separate LA Galaxy (44 points, 11-11-11), Portland Timbers (43 points, 12-14-7), Colorado Rapids (43 points, 12-14-7), Seattle Sounders FC (43 points, 11-12-10), Real Salt Lake (42 points, 12-15-6), and Minnesota United FC (41 points, 10-12-11). With qualification for the 2027 Leagues Cup also at stake, this promises to be one of the most dramatic Decision Days in recent history.
In a crucial head-to-head matchup, the Galaxy travel to face Real Salt Lake, knowing a win would secure their postseason participation, while Salt Lake needs a victory and favorable results elsewhere. Colorado and Portland also control their own destinies, with wins over FC Dallas (55 points, 15-8-10) and Austin FC (34 points, 8-15-10), respectively, guaranteeing postseason qualification.
Seattle hosts LAFC (47 points, 12-10-11), while Minnesota welcomes the San Jose Earthquakes (52 points, 14-9-10), with both clubs needing favorable results elsewhere to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Wild Card and Home-Field Advantage at Stake in the East
With all nine Eastern Conference postseason berths secured, Decision Day will determine which clubs avoid the Wild Card round and which earn home-field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, and Orlando City SC are all fighting to avoid the Wild Card. Philadelphia (47 points, 13-12-8) needs just a draw to advance directly to Round One, while Cincinnati (46 points, 12-11-10) can guarantee its place with a win. Columbus (44 points, 13-15-5) and Orlando (43 points, 12-14-7) need victories and favorable results elsewhere, but both face opponents with home-field advantage at stake.
Columbus visits Chicago Fire FC (55 points, 16-10-7), which can secure fourth place with a win, while Orlando hosts the New England Revolution (58 points, 18-11-4), who are chasing second-place Inter Miami CF (59 points, 16-6-11). Miami hosts Charlotte FC (53 points, 15-10-8), with the Crown looking to leapfrog Chicago into fourth place and secure home-field advantage.
Fast Facts on the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs
- Home-Field is Truly an Advantage: Since the introduction of the current Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format in 2023, the home team has won 70% of the Round One Best-of-3 Series, making a top-four seed in each conference a significant advantage.
- Wild Card Winners Have History of Making Noise: History tells us that a hot Wild Card team can spring an upset in the playoffs. The winner of a Wild Card match has taken down a No. 1 seed in the Round One Best-of-3 Series in two of the last three postseasons: Eastern Conference No. 9 Atlanta United in 2024 (vs. Inter Miami CF) and Western Conference No. 8 Sporting Kansas City in 2023 (vs. St. Louis CITY SC).Â
- Winning Game 1 is Crucial: Over the last three seasons, the winner of Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series has advanced 21 -of -24 times to the Conference Semifinal, including in all eight matchups in 2025.
The Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs will begin on Thursday, November 19 and unfold across four consecutive weeks leading into 2026 MLS Cup presented by Audi on Friday, December 18. For the full Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule, **Click Here**.
MLS Teenagers Rewrite the Record Books in 2026
One of the defining stories of the 2026 MLS season has been the emergence of a record-breaking generation of teenage talent. MLS teenagers have already set single-season records for players (95), goalscorers (29), goal contributions (174), minutes played (42,542), appearances (854), and starts (460).
On Decision Day, several of the league's brightest young stars will have the opportunity to add their names to the record books:
- Julian Hall needs one goal to set a new MLS single-season teenage scoring record (14)
- Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti could equal the single-season record for starts by a teenager (32) if both start for Red Bull New York.
- Cavan Sullivan has already set the single-season record for goal contributions by a teenager (21) and could extend his mark when the Philadelphia Union face Toronto FC.
- Snyder Brunell and Julian Hall could set a new single-season record for appearances by a teenager if they feature for Seattle Sounders FC and Red Bull New York, respectively.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer -- celebrating its 31st season in 2026 -- features 30 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. All MLS and Leagues Cup matches can be watched on the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com, and features the most expansive and accessible lineup of programming ever for MLS fans. For more information about MLS, visit mlssoccer.com. For more information about the Apple TV app, visit apple.com/apple-tv-app.
