It is Decision Day in the MLS 2025 season on Saturday night with 15 matches taking place to conclude the regular season and with playoff places and seedings up for grabs we are in for a wonderful night of football.
This is a bumper night of football and it can all be enjoyed live and with full coverage via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV but those who don’t have that facility can stream the games on the bookmaker consoles.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: Red matches 23.00 kick off and blue 02.00)
Atlanta United vs DC United
Charlotte FC vs Philadelphia Union
Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls
FC Cincinnati vs CF Montreal
Nashville SC vs Inter Miami
New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire
New York City FC vs Seattle Sounders
Toronto FC vs Orlando City SC
Colorado Rapids vs Los Angeles FC
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United
Portland Timbers vs San Diego FC
San Jose Earthquakes vs Austin FC
Sporting Kansas City vs Houston Dynamo
St Louis City SC vs Real Salt Lake
Vancouver Whitecaps vs FC Dallas
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Big Matches
It is a big night for a number of teams. The first thing to sort is the number one seed in the Western Conference where Vancouver Whitecaps need just a draw in their home match against FC Dallas to secure that. The problem there is Dallas need a win to guarantee their playoff spot. Real Salt Lake also need a win to ensure they are in the playoffs. They head to St Louis City SC. If either slip up then the season remains alive for two more teams. Colorado Rapids are the first in line to pounce but they host the form horse Los Angeles FC while San Jose Earthquakes will be in the playoffs if they win at home to Austin FC and two of the other three lose.
Best of the Rest
We already know the nine teams who will compete in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference but what we don’t yet know is the two teams who will play in the wildcard round. Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew will meet in that as things stand but were either to win and Orlando City lose at Toronto FC then that team will force the Floridians into the wildcard match. The fourth seed in the East is at stake too with Charlotte FC currently holding first round home advantage. They host the Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union which could open the door for New York City FC who just need to better the Charlotte result to finish fourth. LA Galaxy conclude their season as champions with a home game against Minnesota United while Inter Miami will go into the playoffs with a trip to Nashville SC.
Betting
There is a lot to play for on Saturday night but this is one of those nights where those who need something are much shorter than they would ordinarily be. The one thing we need to be careful of here is the wildcard matches are on Wednesday and although teams aren’t guaranteed to be in them, should other sides be ahead which means the teams in them can’t progress then players could come off early for those teams, which makes betting on them difficult.
In the end I’m going to take San Diego FC to beat the Portland Timbers. The Timbers technically need a result to remain in seventh spot and dodge the wildcard round but there is a strong chance that FC Dallas don’t beat Vancouver Whitecaps in which case Portland won’t be playing for too much here. San Diego certainly are. Even if they can’t chase down the Whitecaps for the number one seed, they do need to win to fend off Los Angeles FC for the number two seed, which could lead to home advantage in the Western Conference final should Vancouver slip up in the early part of the playoffs. San Diego are one of the better away teams in the league and against a Portland side who could quickly lose motivation, and maybe even not want to show their full hand against a team they would probably face in a best of three from next week, I would expect a San Diego win here.
Tips
Back San Diego FC (-0.25AH) to beat Portland Timbers for a 3/10 stake at 1.99 with William Hill
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