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MLS Decision Day

Key Storylines

Playoff positioning & finish

  • In the Eastern Conference, Nashville SC secured the 6th seed with a 16‑12‑6 record despite dropping their season finale 5‑2 to Inter Miami CF. The loss didn’t prevent their playoff berth, but left questions about momentum.

  • On the opposite end, D.C. United concluded a fraught campaign by drawing 1‑1 with Atlanta United in the finale and finishing dead last in the league with a 5‑18‑11 record.

  • Elsewhere, New York Red Bulls’ playoff streak – one of the longest active in North American sport – officially ended. The loss of their postseason run after 15 consecutive years marks a significant shift in the Eastern Conference landscape.

Departures & transitions

  • Veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan announced his retirement at season’s end. He closed out his career with Atlanta in their final match against D.C., bringing down the curtain on a 21‑year professional journey.

  • In the fallout from a disappointing season, Atlanta United dismissed head coach Ronny Deila. The club managed only five wins all season and will seek a reset in 2026.

Historic notes & league‑wide trends

  • Transfer spending in MLS topped $336 million this year, a 75 % year‑over‑year increase, underscoring the league’s accelerating ambition.

  • The conclusion of the regular season showed how much value time offers: longtime savers and early starters continued pulling ahead of those who waited.

Stand‑out Matches in Last Week

Inter Miami CF 5‑2 Nashville SC

This ended Nashville’s regular season on a sour note, though their playoff berth was safe. Inter Miami’s attack ran hot, with Lionel Messi scoring a brace (including a penalty) and showing he remains the benchmark in the league. Sam Surridge’s 24th goal of the campaign set a club record for Nashville, despite the defeat.

D.C. United 1‑1 Atlanta United

The match marked an anti‑climax of sorts—with D.C. already locked into the league’s basement and Atlanta in full rebuild mode. The draw served as a fitting end to a wretched campaign for both. Gosabel Pirani scored late to ruin Guzan’s farewell night.

Implications for the Playoffs

  • Nashville will enter as a lower seed in the East, meaning they’ll have to win on the road. Their final match showed signs of attacking potency but exacerbated defensive vulnerabilities.

  • Inter Miami, by contrast, appear battle‑ready and are heading into the postseason with something to prove.

  • D.C. United will turn their focus fully to 2026, hoping to rebuild after their worst season.

  • The Red Bulls’ failure to qualify signals a coming shift in the East’s power structure—expect younger squads to rise.

Big Takeaways

  1. Time and consistency matter: Nashville’s season showed how accumulating wins early and maintaining form matters—individual brilliance (Surridge) helped, but team rhythm is key.

  2. Transitions loom large: With Guzan’s retirement and Deila’s departure, clubs are entering off‑season change modes. That means 2026 may look very different.

  3. Strategic investment shows results: The league‑wide surge in spending points to MLS clubs increasingly treating themselves like global players. The fruits of those investments will grow over multiple seasons, not just weeks.

  4. Momentum matters in the playoffs: Inter Miami’s dominant finale gives them psychological leverage. Teams that press on into the postseason often ride high. Nashville’s stumble, meanwhile, may cost them once the margin for error vanishes.

Looking ahead, the 2025 MLS Cup playoff series promises to deliver drama — and the seeds of major resets for both clubs at the top and bottom. If you want, I can track bracket predictions, highlight dark‑horse hopefuls, and spotlight which players to watch in the next phase.


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