Three teams entered Week 26 with a chance to clinch a spot in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, with a top-of-conference clash between the Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United offering the winner one of the first spots in the East, contingent on Orlando City's trip to San Jose. Philadelphia were the victors there, meaning Atlanta will have to wait at least another week to clinch. The Union, meanwhile, secured their spot after the Lions fell to San Jose in a later kickoff, while New York City FC also booked their postseason spot thanks to a 3-1 win over Vancouver in conjunction with Orlando's loss and Montreal's 3-0 loss to D.C. United.
Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati were the first team in 2019 to be eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to FC Dallas, though they were quickly followed by the Vancouver Whitecaps after the Canadian side's loss to NYCFC later in the evening.
Check out all the scenarios below.
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LAFC
LAFC will clinch first place in the Western Conference if:
- LAFC win vs. Minnesota
- – OR –
- LAFC tie vs. Minnesota AND ...
- Real Salt Lake lose or tie vs. Portland (Final: POR 1, RSL 0) AND ...
- Seattle vs. LA Galaxy ends in tie
Atlanta United
Atlanta will clinch a berth in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if:
- Atlanta win vs. Philadelphia (Final: PHI 3, ATL 1) AND ...
- Orlando lose or tie vs. San Jose (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0)
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia will clinch a berth in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if:
- Philadelphia win vs. Atlanta (Final: PHI 3, ATL 1) AND ...
- Orlando lose or tie vs. San Jose (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0)
New York City FC
NYCFC will clinch a berth in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if:
- NYCFC win vs. Vancouver (Final: VAN 1, NYC 3) AND ...
- Montreal lose vs. D.C. United (Final: MTL 0, DC 3) AND ...
- Orlando lose vs. San Jose (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0)
FC Cincinnati
Cincinnati will be eliminated from playoff contention if:
- Cincinnati lose vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1)
- – OR –
- Cincinnati tie vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Montreal win or tie vs. D.C. United (Final: MTL 0, DC 3)
- – OR –
- Cincinnati tie vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Toronto FC win or tie vs. New England (Final: NE 1, TOR 1)
- – OR –
- Cincinnati tie vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Orlando win vs. San Jose (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0)
- – OR –
- Cincinnati tie vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Chicago Fire win vs. Columbus (Final: CLB 1, CHI 1)
- – OR –
- Cincinnati tie vs. FC Dallas (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Orlando tie vs. San Jose (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0) AND ...
- Chicago Fire tie vs. Columbus (Final: CLB 1, CHI 1)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Vancouver will be eliminated from playoff contention if:
- Vancouver lose or tie vs. NYCFC (Final: VAN 1, NYC 3)
- – OR –
- San Jose win or tie vs. Orlando (Final: SJ 3, ORL 0) AND ...
- FC Dallas win vs. Cincinnati (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1)
- – OR –
- FC Dallas win vs. Cincinnati (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Portland win vs. Real Salt Lake (Final: POR 1, RSL 0)
- – OR –
- FC Dallas win vs. Cincinnati (Final: DAL 3, CIN 1) AND ...
- Sporting KC win vs. Houston (Final: SKC 1, HOU 0) AND ...
- Portland tie vs. Real Salt Lake (Final: POR 1, RSL 0)
