MLS Power Rankings: Eastern Conference leaders Nashville maintain upward momentum
It’s Monday, and MLS action returns, bringing with it ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Which team appears to be the strongest? Which one might face a challenging season? Our writers analyzed the events from Matchday 8 to establish this week’s rankings. Let’s take a closer look.
1. Vancouver Whitecaps
Previous ranking: 1
The Whitecaps faced minimal resistance in a 3-0 victory over 29th-place Sporting Kansas City. With three goals scored within the first 28 minutes and their fifth clean sheet of the season, the Whitecaps hold the highest goal differential in the league and lead the Supporters’ Shield standings.
2. Nashville SC
Previous ranking: 3
Nashville’s ascent in 2026 continues. They made history midweek by becoming the first MLS team to secure a competitive victory at the renowned Estadio Azteca, with Hany Mukhtar scoring the decisive goal against Club AmΓ©rica in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal. Although Mukhtar did not score in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph over Atlanta, the former league MVP assisted both goals in the club’s sixth win of the season.
3. San Jose Earthquakes
Previous ranking: 4
Bruce Arena’s well-coordinated Earthquakes team made a statement with a 4-1 victory against LAFC on Sunday, handing the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinalists their second consecutive regular-season defeat. In a strong team performance, Ousseni Bouda netted a brace, while Timo Werner scored his inaugural goal in MLS.
4. LAFC
Previous ranking: 2
LA secured their place in the Concacaf Champions League semifinals with a gritty result in Mexico against Cruz Azul midweek. However, they faltered in a heated 4-1 defeat to the Quakes on Sunday, conceding four goals in just 27 minutes, marking two consecutive losses and six goals allowed over two MLS weekends.
5. Inter Miami CF
Previous ranking: 5
Guillermo Hoyos achieved victory in his debut as the Herons’ new manager, but it required a few moments of brilliance from Lionel Messi to secure the win. Messi’s early penalty and late goal marked his second brace of the season, clinching a 3-2 victory in Colorado.
play1:06Colorado Rapids vs. Inter Miami CF – Game Highlights
Watch the Game Highlights from Colorado Rapids vs. Inter Miami CF, 04/18/2026
6. Real Salt Lake
Previous ranking: 7
Following a 4-2 victory against San Diego, which included a brace from Sergi Solans and an early goal from Diego Luna (thanks to San Diego’s poor goalkeeping), RSL has not lost a match since February 21. They face a challenge against Miami midweek to see if they can extend their unbeaten streak.
7. Seattle Sounders
Previous ranking: 6
Seattle is now concentrating on the MLS regular season after their exit against Tigres on away goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup. With a 4-1 victory over St. Louis City SC, which featured two goals from Cristian Roldan off corners, their performance has been promising.
8. Chicago Fire
Previous ranking: 8
Chris Brady’s seven saves in a 3-3 draw helped limit Cincinnati’s 23 shots, which managed to breach an otherwise solid defense this season. Saturday’s three goals bring Chicago’s total to eight conceded in 2026, still the second fewest in the Eastern Conference. Offensively, Hugo Cuypers scored twice in his return from a head injury, maintaining his streak with a goal in every MLS appearance this season.
9. Minnesota United
Previous ranking: 11
Kelvin Yeboah’s fifth goal of the season secured a 2-0 victory in Saint Paul, as the Loons remained unbeaten in four regular-season matches and extended their three-game winning streak. Colombian star James RodrΓguez made his return in the 90th minute, marking his third club appearance (and first since March 22) as he regains full fitness after the international break.
10. San Diego FC
Previous ranking: 9
San Diego’s match against Salt Lake City commenced with a fourth-minute goal from Luna, who capitalized on a poor attempt to play out from the back, but it did not improve from there. With four goals conceded by halftime, San Diego exited with a 4-2 defeat and remains winless since March 7 in the regular season. A silver lining? No red cards were issued for the first time in five matches.
11. FC Dallas
Previous ranking: 12
With two goals in a 2-2 draw against the Galaxy, Petar Musa leads the Golden Boot race with nine goals in eight matches. Dallas squandered their 2-0 lead, conceding two goals within ten minutes before halftime, but they remain unbeaten in five games as they prepare to face Minnesota next weekend.
12. Red Bull New York
Previous ranking: 10
Before the weekend, only three teams had more shots on target than the Red Bulls. However, against a struggling MontrΓ©al team that recently dismissed their coach, they managed just one shot in a 4-1 defeat. At the other end, they conceded four goals and remain the team with the highest goals conceded among playoff contenders (including wildcard).
13. Colorado Rapids
Previous ranking: 14
During portions of a 3-2 loss against Miami, the Rapids appeared to be the superior team. However, that only goes so far when Messi breaks through an otherwise quiet match to score a remarkable goal in the 79th minute.
14. LA Galaxy
Previous ranking: 15
In a 2-2 comeback draw with FC Dallas, the positive takeaway for Galaxy supporters is that there is sufficient talent in this squad to score high-quality goals and earn points on the road, as Joseph Paintsil assisted and scored in his first start since March 7. The downside is that the team’s leading scorer JoΓ£o Klauss left the field in tears due to an injury.
15. Charlotte FC
Previous ranking: 16
Kristijan Kahlina entered the weekend leading MLS in saves (35 in seven matches) and made six more in a 2-1 victory against NYCFC. Consequently, Charlotte’s last three matches have concluded 2-1, with two of those victories.
16. New York City FC
Previous ranking: 13
It took 93 minutes for the Pigeons to breach Kahlina’s goalkeeping on a particularly frustrating evening at Citi Field, as the home side outshot Charlotte 22 to seven in a 2-1 loss, leaving them winless in four regular-season matches.
17. Toronto FC
Previous ranking: 17
Kobe Franklin’s 88th-minute goal (his first in MLS) earned a point for Toronto and prevented their first home defeat since May 31, but 10 minutes of stoppage time were insufficient to secure a fourth goal or three points in a 3-3 draw with Austin. Josh Sargent took four of Toronto’s 18 shots — including three on target — but did not contribute a goal in his fourth start.
18. St. Louis City SC
Previous ranking: 17
St. Louis experienced their fourth loss of the season in a 4-1 defeat to Seattle. While it may not yield three points, Eduard LΓΆwen’s 92nd-minute goal is only the third scored against the Sounders this season. LΓΆwen’s impressive strike also marks his first goal in his first appearance of the year.
19. FC Cincinnati
Previous ranking: 21
Evander had a busy evening with seven shots, a goal, and three significant chances as he helped his team rally to a 3-3 draw after trailing 3-1 by the 48th minute. Saturday’s draw with Chicago is a commendable result against a strong team, but they remain below the playoff line and continue to concede numerous goals.
20. New England Revolution
Previous ranking: 23
After defeating Columbus 2-1, the Revs have achieved three consecutive wins in three regular-season home games and concluded the weekend in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Next, they will travel, starting with a struggling Atlanta United, followed by a match against Inter Miami.
21. Portland Timbers
Previous ranking: 19
After defeating LAFC last weekend, the Timbers faced a disappointing 2-0 loss to Minnesota during a challenging stretch of matches. Following three consecutive encounters against teams in the top ten of the Shield standings, they will face a struggling yet dangerous San Diego next, followed by an upward-trending RSL the week after.
22. Austin FC
Previous ranking: 20
They scored three goals, Brad Stuver made eight saves, and there was a notable impact from the bench. Robert Taylor came on and assisted Facundo Torres for his first goal of the season, while fellow substitute Christian RamΓrez netted a go-ahead goal four minutes later. However, they squandered the lead twice and settled for a 3-3 draw in Toronto.
23. Houston Dynamo
Previous ranking: 22
Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Orlando marked several firsts for Dynamo fans: their first regular-season win since March 14, HΓ©ctor Herrera’s first goal of the season, and their first clean sheet of the year.
24. D.C. United
Previous ranking: 25
After starting the season with three goals in four matches, Tai Baribo remains goalless in three following his first match back from injury. In a 0-0 draw against Philadelphia, D.C. failed to register a single shot on target against Baribo’s former team. This marks their fourth loss in MLS.
25. Columbus Crew
Previous ranking: 24
Max Arfsten concluded 2025 with nine goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in 29 appearances, but he has only managed four in his last four games for a struggling Columbus. With top scorer Wessam Abou Ali’s season cut short due to injury, the Crew’s situation is worsening after suffering a 2-1 defeat against New England.
26. Philadelphia Union
Previous ranking: 26
After securing their first win of the year on the road in Montreal, Philly settled for a 0-0 draw against D.C. United. With 17 shots and no goals to show for it, the Union are in urgent need of offensive form. Their six goals this season are the second fewest in MLS, trailing only D.C. United.
27. Orlando City
Previous ranking: 27
Orlando remains winless in four regular-season matches after succumbing to a late goal from Hector Herrera in a 1-0 loss to Houston. Supporters searching for positives
