It’s that time of year where the dominos start to fall, shaping the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup playoff field.
In the process of claiming a big win over their unofficial rival, St Louis CITY2 became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
Now that they’ve started the party, it illuminates a very tight Eastern Conference race controlled by New York Red Bulls II, who remain in the thick of a shcedule gauntlet facing their peers at the top of the table week after week.
Read more about how Matchweek 23’s action shook up the top 10 Power Rankings below.
It's been a great week for CITY2 fans. If getting the playoff clinch wasn't enough, their latest win over the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions and 2024 playoff ouster North Texas SC swept the season series in style.
With that in the rearview for now, they are 12 points clear in the Western Conference and carry a 13-game unbeaten streak that features 11 wins.
Last match: 3-1 win at North Texas SC
Next match: vs. Sporting KC II on Sunday, August 24
Another huge statement made by The Town FC.
Taking down fellow Western Conference heavyweight Ventura County FC by a hefty 4-1 margin, TTFC extended their wining streak to six.
Like their peers at the top of the West, it’s all about fighting until a hosting playoff seed is locked in from here on out.
Last match: 4-1 win vs. Ventura County FC
Next match: at Houston Dynamo 2 on Friday, August 22
Back-to-back road losses have slowed the Philadelphia Union II buzzsaw a bit, but the defending Eastern Conference champs remain in the group’s elite.
A two-game homestand in Matchweek 24 will offer Ryan Richter’s side a golden opportunity to get right in the final stretch of the regular season.
Last match: 2-0 loss at Chicago Fire FC II
Next match: vs. Toronto FC II on Wednesday, August 24
Chris O’Neal’s Huntsville machine is hummin’.
Getting five points out of a double-fixture matchweek extended Huntsville City FC's unbeaten run to six and moved them into second place in the East.
The week was so good, it earned their second MLS NEXT Pro Team of the Matchweek selection of 2025.
Last match: 2-1 win vs. NYCFC II
Next match: at Chattanooga FC on Saturday, August 23
The Eastern Conference leaders are on a rollercoaster run lately.
They won the match of the round in Matchweek 22 with their top-of-the table clash with Philadelphia Union II, and followed it up with a loss to New England Revolution II on Friday.
Head coach Michael Bradley will be looking for a little more consistency in the closing weeks of the season as his first-place side is set for a very tough remaining schedule against a handful of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls.
Last match: 4-2 loss at Revs II
Next match: vs. Chicago Fire II on Sunday, August 24
Flipping the script on Union II, Chicago Fire FC II were impossible to score against on Sunday.
15-year-old Fire Academy goalkeeper David Molenda came away with this week’s MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchweek honor for his seven-save clean sheet.
Their big win makes it a five-game unbeaten streak as they get ready to lock horns with Eastern Conference leader RBNY II this week.
Last match: 2-0 win vs. Union II
Next match: at RBNY II on Sunday, August 24
Colorado Rapids 2 striker Billo Diop is just scoring for fun right now.
The 18-year-old Senegalese hitman took Matchweek 23’s Player of the Matchweek honor with a hat trick and assist in Rapids 2’s 4-1 win over 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup champs Austin FC II.
That performance makes it eight goals in Diop’s last four games, two of which were substitute shifts.
If it’s all about getting hot at the right time, Rapids 2’s latest revelation is a big reason they’re on a five-game unbeaten run heading into the last month of the season.
Last match: 4-1 win vs. Austin FC II
Next match: vs Timbers2 on Wednesday, August 20
Chattanooga FC got a much-needed bounceback win in their battle of the independents rivalry clash with Carolina Core FC.
An 89th-minute penalty conversion from defender Tate Robertson did the trick to get CFC back in the win column for the first time since May.
Sitting three points below hosting playoff seeds with six games to go, CFC do not have games in hand over any of their Eastern Conference foes.
Translation: It’s nail-biting time for Chattanooga fans hoping to see playoff games at Finley Stadium. Every minute of every remaining match is going to be critical in that effort.
Last match: 1-0 win at Carolina Core FC
Next match: vs. Huntsville City FC on Saturday, August 23
Holding down fifth place in the East, New England Revolution II snapped a two-game winless skid in style.
A 4-2 win over Eastern leaders RBNY II is a great advertisement for how competitive the conference is.
They’re set for the gauntlet in the weeks ahead with six straight matches against playoff hopefuls.
Last match: 4-2 win vs. RBNY II
Next match: at Union II on Sunday, August 24
Coming off a bye, a road test against The Town FC was always going to be a tall task for Matt Taylor’s squad.
Sitting fairly safely in the Western top four, they’ll be in great shape with a bounceback win in the coming weeks.
Last match: 4-1 loss at The Town FC
Next match: at Austin FC II on Friday, August 22
