As Matchweek 27 continues this weekend, there is a lot more at stake as several teams have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot. With North Texas SC and St Louis CITY2 already secured a spot in the big show, four teams from the Western Conference will look to clinch their place. In the East, four teams are vying to join the playoffs this weekend, and below, we break down what needs to happen.
Western Conference
- Tacoma Defiance
- LAFC2
- Ventura County FC
- The Town FC
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) TACOMA 2 or more points
OR
2) TACOMA shootout loss + SPORTING KANSAS CITY II (SKC) 2 or fewer points + PORTLAND TIMBERS2 2 or fewer points
OR
3) TACOMA shootout loss + SKC 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON DYNAMO 1 or fewer points
OR
4) TACOMA shootout loss + SKC 2 or fewer points + VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2 loss
OR
5) TACOMA shootout loss + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points + HOUSTON 1 or fewer points
OR
6) TACOMA shootout loss + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points + WHITECAPS loss
OR
7) TACOMA shootout loss + TIMBERS 2 or fewer points + WHITECAPS 1 or fewer points + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points
OR
8) TACOMA shootout loss + SKC 2 or fewer points + WHITECAPS 1 or fewer points + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points
OR
9) SKC 2 or fewer points + TIMBERS 1 or fewer points
OR
10) HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + WHITECAPS loss + SKC 2 or fewer points
OR
11) HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + WHITECAPS loss + TIMBERS 1 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) LAFC 2 or more points
OR
2) LAFC shootout loss + SKC 2 or fewer points
OR
3) LAFC shootout loss + HOUSTON loss
OR
4) LAFC shootout loss + HOUSTON 2 or fewer points + WHITECAPS loss
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) SKC 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS loss + AUSTIN FC II 1 or fewer points
OR
2) SKC 1 or fewer points + TIMBERS loss + HOUSTON 1 or fewer points + WHITECAPS 1 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) TOWN FC win + TIMBERS 1 or fewer points + SKC 1 or fewer points
Is eliminated if:
1) COLORADO 1 or fewer points
OR
2) COLORADO shootout win + HOUSTON 2 or more points
OR
3) COLORADO shootout win + TIMBERS win
OR
4) COLORADO shootout win + REAL MONARCHS win + TIMBERS shootout win
OR
5) HOUSTON win
Is eliminated if:
1) MNUFC loss
OR
2) MNUFC shootout loss + HOUSTON 2 or more points
OR
3) MNUFC shootout loss + TIMBERS win
OR
4) MNUFC shootout loss + REAL MONARCHS win + TIMBERS shootout win
OR
5) MNUFC shootout win + HOUSTON win
Eastern Conference
- Philadelphia Union II
- FC Cincinnati 2
- NYCFC II
- Columbus Crew 2
clinches a playoff spot if:
1) PHILADELPHIA 1 or more points
OR
2) CAROLINA CORE FC 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO CITY B loss
OR
3) CAROLINA CORE FC 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO FIRE II loss
OR
4) CAROLINA CORE FC 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points
OR
5) CAROLINA CORE FC 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points
OR
6) ORLANDO loss + CHICAGO loss + COLUMBUS CREW 2 1 or fewer points
OR
7) ORLANDO loss + COLUMBUS loss + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points
clinches a playoff spot if:
1) CINCINNATI 2 or more points
OR
2) CINCINNATI shootout loss + CAROLINA CORE FC 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO loss
OR
3) CINCINNATI shootout loss + CAROLINA CORE 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO loss
OR
4) CINCINNATI shootout loss + CAROLINA CORE 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points
OR
5) CINCINNATI shootout loss + CAROLINA CORE 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points
OR
6) CINCINNATI shootout loss + INTER MIAMI II 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO loss
OR
7) CINCINNATI shootout loss + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO loss
OR
8) CINCINNATI shootout loss + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points
OR
9) CINCINNATI shootout loss + MIAMI 2 or fewer points + CHICAGO 2 or fewer points + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points
OR
10) CAROLINA CORE 2 or fewer points + CHI loss + ORL 1 or fewer points
OR
11) CAROLINA CORE 2 or fewer points + ORL loss + CHI 1 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) NYC win + CAROLINA CORE 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + ORLANDO Loss
OR
2) NYC win + CAROLINA CORE 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO loss + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points
Clinches a playoff spot if:
1) COLUMBUS win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO 1 or fewer points + ORLANDO Loss
OR
2) COLUMBUS win + CAROLINA 1 or fewer points + CHICAGO loss + ORLANDO 1 or fewer points
Is eliminated if:
1) ATLANTA loss + CROWN LEGACY FC 1 or more points + ORLANDO 1 or more points + CHICAGO win + MIAMI 1 or more points
Is eliminated if:
1) TORONTO loss + CROWN 1 or more points + ORLANDO 1 or more points + MIAMI 2 or more points + CHICAGO win