2025 MLS Week 18 Power Rankings

The Week 18 Power Rankings:

1. NASHVILLE SC (+1) | 1-0 W PHI

Nashville SC is magical right now. After missing four penalties across the last two seasons and losing his role to Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar stepped up to the spot with his scoring counterpart subbed off the pitch. He put about as much venom as humanly possible on his penalty and honored Diogo Jota with the stoppage time celebration. Nashville takes the top spot as a result and season sweeps Philadelphia. The first time they beat them was a shock, but everything has changed since then and it can be argued that Nashville is now the best team in MLS at the July 4th benchmark. Their last loss was three months ago. Fourteen unbeaten.

2. FC CINCINNATI (+3) | 2-1 W CHI

FC Cincinnati did what they do best and edged out Chicago Fire with an Evander masterclass. That has truly been the name of the game for this squad, just let Evander work his magic and have the defense hold onto a one-goal win. Kevin Denkey scored another goal and is starting to develop that connection more and more. Luca Orellano getting back to cooking is an underrated aspect of this run as well, he was so influential in the attack last year and if he can start getting those numbers up, it makes for an unstoppable three-headed monster.

3. INTER MIAMI CF (+4) | 4-1 W MTL

Don't let the standings fool you, Inter Miami might just be the best team in the Eastern Conference still. Their measly sixth place comes as a result of four games in hand—if they won those games they're easily atop the Supporters' Shield standings, just for context. Lionel Messi may have made history with his worst mistake leading to an opponent's goal of his career before essentially zapping the play out of existence with two goals and an assist. Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez also registered multiple goal contributions.

4. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (-3) | 3-0 L LA

Vancouver temporarily shut the noise up with the win over LAFC, but a 3-0 loss to LA Galaxy brings all of it back, and then some. Only in this league could the previous best team in the league get shellacked by the worst, but that was indeed the case. Sure they're missing players, but that wasn't an issue in most of the other games they've won this year. Jayden Nelson's red card compounded the problems and the Whitecaps were never for a moment deserving of the game. As they continue a five-game road trip, tough times may be ahead for a Vancouver team that looked invincible until the CCC final.

5. COLUMBUS CREW (+1) | 1-1 D SEA

Columbus Crew struck first through Diego Rossi, but the lead did not last and the match ended at ones. The Crew had a rough stretch there, but they've completely gotten back into form and it's looking sharp again. Darlington Nagbe is running the park and the attacking midfield looks better, though Daniel Gazdag has been round peg in a square hole. The issue of no real striker has started to become worse and worse, the Crew badly need to make a move in the transfer window. If they do grab a legit striker, this team is going to be extremely difficult to hold down. The possession play is pretty, but it can only bring a team so far. They just need a little bit more.

6. SAN DIEGO FC (-3) | 4-3 L HOU

San Diego FC is usually the team making the comeback, not the one choking. They led 1-0, they led 3-2 and they still gave up four goals to a very average Houston Dynamo attack. Milan Iloski scored another goal, Anders Dreyer assisted another goal and it all still was not enough. CJ Dos Santos was horrific in goal and the backline absolutely folded. San Diego is a top, top team for entertainment purposes, but this is the kind of game that cannot happen if they want to go far. Giving up two goals in the dying moments—well it's not exactly the dying moments when 17 minutes were added on—certainly is not ideal.

7. PHILADELPHIA UNION (-3) | 1-0 L NSH

The Philadelphia Union lost both games against Nashville this season. The absences have been out of control for this team lately, and it got so bad that 15-year-old Cavan Sullivan started a game. Tai Baribo did finally return off the bench and the team is starting to come back together. Kai Wagner continued his unbelievable year and rarely ever plays a bad game. That's now two straight 1-0 losses for Philadelphia, who are beginning to slip a little, but are still right there in the Eastern Conference and are still just fine.

8. MINNESOTA UNITED (-) | 2-1 W DAL

Minnesota United found an unlikely goal scorer in Carlos Harvey, but Anthony Markanich has become quite a common scorer. The long throw in ability of Michael Boxall has become such an incredible weapon for the Loons. They have cashed in on tons of flicked opportunities in the box. Tani Oluwaseyi returned to the lineup with an assist, while Kelvin Yeboah still hasn't figured it out, even after scoring a couple of goals. With the uncertainty in the West and the fact that really no team is on a high note right now, Minnesota will feel they can take that top spot.

9. SEATTLE SOUNDERS (-) | 1-1 D CLB

The Seattle Sounders returned from the Club World Cup with a win and now a draw against Columbus Crew. The Sounders are better than their 8-6-6 record to start the year, but they've got to start showing it now. There's no more other excuses, it's time for Seattle to step it up a notch. Jesus Ferreira just has not been good enough, Pedro de la Vega might just be a failed signing at this point. They've got a makeshift defense and problems with injuries, but this roster should be competing at higher levels in the Western Conference. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi's late red card will make the defensive structure even thinner next time out. Prayers up for Stefan Frei.

10. LOS ANGELES FC (-) | N/A

LAFC's match against Austin was postponed and they will host Colorado on Wednesday. They've got to get back into form after the Club World Cup.

11. ORLANDO CITY SC (-) | 2-2 D CLT

Orlando City nearly took a bad loss to a rough Charlotte FC team, but they rescued it late. Marco Pasalic's left foot has been as magical as ever recently, it seems every shot he takes freezes the goalkeeper and finds a bottom corner. Martin Ojeda has been on a fabulous run as well. Eduard Atuesta was fantastic and helped orchestrate the comeback to earn a point for the Lions.

12. NEW YORK CITY FC (+2) | 3-1 W TFC

NYCFC's back and forth form is never-ending. Hannes Wolf has been consistent, though. He's taken over the attacking load with Alonso Martinez away, but Martinez will need to have his finishing boots on the rest of the way because he just hasn't been clinical this year. Mitja Ilenic had an incredible match as well. A strange, strange team is now 9-7-4 and seventh in the East.

13. PORTLAND TIMBERS (+2) | 2-1 W NE

David da Costa is back. He scored from distance to grab an important three points for the Timbers. Ian Smith screamed in his first career goal. Diego Chara came into the game and recorded an assist on the winner. Finn Surman put in a shift on the defensive side of things. Santi Moreno was dribbling all over the pitch and Portland has put themselves in a comfortable spot in the bad Western Conference.

14. NEW YORK RED BULLS (-2) | 1-1 D SJ

The New York Red Bulls really could've left San Jose with a win. Sean Nealis thought he had the winner but it was ruled out. Mohammed Sofo scored on his own net to equalize the match. Peter Stroud was fantastic as a creator and helped facilitate things going forward. Some of the young rotation players for this squad just have not been impactful enough for the Red Bulls to win games consistently. They're now slightly above .500 and slightly above the playoff line, which they always stay above.

15. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (+1) | 1-1 D RBNY

Cristian Espinoza did absolutely everything in his power to will the Quakes to victory with his seven chances created, but Josef Martinez was left with no real chances and Chicho Arango's six shots didn't get the job done. DeJuan Jones has a shocking performance and a red card that put San Jose in a bad spot for the las thalf hour. The Earthquakes have a perfectly balanced 7-7-7 record with the final 40 percent of the season looming. This team has to make the playoffs after finally investing some money.

16. HOUSTON DYNAMO (+4) | 4-3 W SD

The Houston Dynamo have been saved by Ezequiel Ponce recently, which is not a sentence that has been uttered very often since his arrival in Houston. Perhaps this is his breakout. He scored a brace post 87th minute to win 4-3 in San Diego. Lawrence Ennali showed his absurd speed on another goal, while Franco Escobar absolutely belted one in from distance. Ethan Bartlow may be the least likely double assister this season. The Dynamo are doing this without Jack McGlynn and have won two straight games. There's some genuine hope for this team making the playoffs.

17. CHICAGO FIRE (-4) | 2-1 L FCC

Chicago Fire is going to struggle in their race for a play-in spot. It's no easy task in such a competitive conference. Philip Zinckernagel has been seriously good and is in some great form. Hugo Cuypers is very on and off scoring wise. The midfield and defense is still just not very convincing. Chicago has enough quality to be a playoff team, but their lack of consistent game changers will make it difficult.

18. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (+1) | 2-1 W COL

Sporting Kansas City is on a great run that has put them within a victory of a playoff spot. Slowly but surely, they're working their way back towards godo things. Erik Thommy has spent too many games on the bench for how impactful he can be, and he proved it in Colorado. Dejan Joveljic is up to 12 goals on the season and Manu Garcia has taken up more of a central midfield role. John Pulskamp gave up a penalty that was missed but made up for it with an assist.

19. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (-2) | 2-1 L POR

The New England Revolution is in trouble. They were in a solid spot with all the games in hand, but that's all gone now. They cannot win games and Caleb Porter's system is dead. Forcing the five-back will only bring continued shortcomings. Everyone has them figured out, Carles Gil is the entire team and attempts to play like he is. As good as he is, no team is getting away with that. The wingbacks are the only source of progression otherwise. It's hard to see success returning until Porter and Curt Onalfo are out of the club. At least Luca Langoni finally scored, but he's been disappointing, as has Leo Campana in a big way. They revamped the new squad and only a few guys were hits. Jackson Yueill makes a million dollars on the bench and that just about sums up the Revolution's front office.

20. CHARLOTTE FC (-2) | 2-2 D ORL

Pep Biel is actually having a resurgence, but Charlotte FC is just bad. They drew 2-2 with Orlando but it had to be a win with the 2-0 lead they held. The midfield has turned to a negative and the backline just isn't there anymore. Adilson Malanda is rumored to PSV but Charlotte doesn't want to let him go. This has easily been Malanda's worst year in Charlotte and even though fans do not want to see him go, it's probably smartest financially to make that move now. Charlotte is probably waving a playoff spot goodbye and cannot get a consistent lineup on the pitch.

21. REAL SALT LAKE (+4) | 3-2 W STL

Real Salt Lake squeaked past St. Louis and Diogo Goncalves is playing the best soccer he has since arriving at RSL. Willy Agada still isn't scoring but he provided the assist and was productive in attack. Noel Caliskan managed to score for both teams in the win. RSL isn't a very talented team without Diego Luna off with the United States, though they're not the worst the league has to offer and can still make a run at the play-in.

22. AUSTIN FC (-) | N/A

Austin will host New England next Saturday after having their game postponed.

23. COLORADO RAPIDS (-2) | 2-1 L SKC

Colorado is an embarrassment. Djordje Mihailovic put his penalty off the post then took another shot from distance which hit off the inside of the post and out. He was great otherwise, but no one was ablet o help him out. Rafael Navarro took the second earned penalty of the match, but it was too little, too late. Nico Hansen had a rough go in net with Zack Steffen still out. Cole Bassett actually looked much healthier when he came in off the bench, so that would be a nice injection if he can stay on the field and start for the rest of the year. The Rapids are staring a third bad run of form this season in the face.

24. TORONTO FC (-1) | 3-1 L NYC

At long last, it's over. Toronto FC dumped Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. It's a weight off the shoulders that the era has come to an end. Now, Toronto can rebuild with all the resources in the world, but absolutely no base to build around. Theo Corbeanu has been their most valuable player, but he's just on loan. Outside of that, TFC has a whole lot of work to do. There are very few players that deserve to remain on the roster. Richie Laryea is getting back to playing minutes, which could help.

25. FC DALLAS (-1) | 2-1 L MIN

FC Dallas is back in the loss column for a third straight time. Lucho Acosta has actually been pretty good during that stretch, but it doesn't really matter. Petar Musa and Logan Farrington created the goal, which just came too late to mean anything. The core of the team is weak and Dallas just does not have much going for it. The midfield is not good enough to defeat opposing MLS midfields. It seems that Leo Chu is forcing his way out, and it's not surprising.

26. CF MONTREAL (-) | 4-1 L MIA

At least Prince Owusu can say he was assisted by Messi. Owusu did it all for Montreal in creating four chances as well. It's too bad there's nothing else good about this team. What a wild fall from grace it's been from Caden Clark over the last few years. Montreal sells more players than any other team in the league, except they refuse to sign any good ones.

27. DC UNITED (-) | 0-0 D ATL

Predictable nil-nil. Two teams that offer nothing went ahead and offered nothing. Christian Benteke came back to win his share of aerial duels. They attempted two shots on target and ceded one. Riveting stuff.

28. ATLANTA UNITED (-) | 0-0 D DC

It has now been 100 days since Emmanuel Latte Lath scored a goal. Stating that he has scored five goals this season makes it sound better than it is, he scored in three straight games and scored a brace in his debut earlier on. What a failure. Atlanta United should be ashamed of everything they've done over the last year, it's truly just pathetic. Anyone who watched the abomination of a matchup should be compensated financially.

29. LA GALAXY (+1) | 3-0 W VAN

Finally, some proof that this isn't the worst team in the league. There's just no way. Joseph Paintsil scored a brace after Matheus Nascimento scored two minutes in. It was LA Galaxy from kickoff all the way to fulltime. The opponent? The possibly best team in the league. Defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 would be a pivot point if 21 games were not already down with just two wins. Everyone is starting to figure it out, including Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec. It's not technically impossible with again how bad the Western Conference is, but man it would take one of the most spirited runs ever.

30. ST. LOUIS CITY SC (-1) | 3-2 L RSL

Poor Marcel Hartel. Another seven chances created, at least he got an assist this time around. Joao Klauss scored again, but it's a lost cause. It would be surprising if St. Louis did not claim the Wooden Spoon in 13 games' time. After amassing eight points in the opening four games of 2025, they have since earned seven in the most recent 16.