16 of the 18 MLS clubs remain alive in the battle to claim the four Knockout Round spots.
All to Play For in Final Matches of Leagues Cup 2026 Phase One
Leagues Cup 2026 is off to a thrilling start with late game-winning goals, fantastic atmospheres, and a tightly packed table. With one match to go for all clubs, it will be a battle to see who earns the four spots from each league in the Knockout Round.
Currently, Austin FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC, and FC Cincinnati hold the top four MLS spots, with another 12 clubs behind them aiming to try to snatch one of those. A total of six MLS teams have won each of their first two games and look to book a place in the Knockout Round with a win this week. On the LIGA MX side Club América, Juárez, Cruz Azul, and León are the current top four teams with six points each. The marquee match is shaping up to be Club América vs. Austin FC on Thursday evening (8:30 p.m. ET) as both teams currently sit atop the respective Leagues Cup standings.
The final three days of matches kick off tomorrow night and should mark an electric finish to an action-filled Phase One.
No. 1 vs. No. 2 in Crucial Supporters’ Shield Clash
With first vs. second in the Supporters’ Shield standings, a budding MLS rivalry, and stars across the field, Saturday night’s contest between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF (8:30 p.m. ET) should be one of the games of the year.
This will be the first meeting between the two clubs since Nashville knocked out Miami in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. Since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, the two sides have had epic matches in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, regular season, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup. More than 60% of those meetings have been separated by one goal or fewer.
The star power will also be evident with Messi, Casemiro, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suárez on one side opposite a Nashville side that led the league with four MLS All-Star selections: Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, Andy Najar and Brian Schwake.
With the game’s winner taking a decisive step forward in the Supporters’ Shield race, Saturday’s contest projects to be one of the best of the year in MLS.
Evander Finding MVP Form
After starting the season with three goal contributions in his first nine games, FC Cincinnati star midfielder Evander has roared to life with 19 goals and assists in his last eight MLS matches, stamping his case as the Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner.
The Brazilian No. 10 leads all MLS players in goal contributions (22), assists (11), and key passes (54) for a Cincinnati side that is tied for the most goals scored in the regular season. He’s also carried that form into Leagues Cup with dominant performances against Pachuca and Pumas, including another one of his patented long-distance golazos.
With all of Evander’s momentum and Cincinnati playing high-scoring affairs in each match, the Walmart Saturday Showdown against Antoine Griezmann and Orlando City SC should be must-watch TV this Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS on Apple TV).
Western Conference Doubleheader Highlights Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire
It’s a unique Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire doubleheader with rivalry matchups: Austin FC vs. FC Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET) and Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10:30 p.m. ET) taking center stage.
For both home sides, these matches will be crucial as they look to climb out of recent slumps and get back into solid playoff position. Austin’s regular season struggles have mostly come away from home and they’ll take solace in the fact they won last time out at Q2 Stadium, but Dallas will look to spoil the party, led by Petar Musa.
In a Cascadia Cup clash, Vancouver is looking to earn its first win at Lumen Field since April 2024 and have enjoyed captain Ryan Gauld’s return to the starting lineup. For Seattle, a growing injury list means teenagers Stu Hawkins and Snyder Brunell will be called upon to flip the script.
It should be a lively night of action out West with plenty of Audi MLS Cup Playoffs implications on the line.
