MLS Power Rankings

Power Rankings updated every Wednesday

WEEK 5    May 26, 2021

1.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS:  Even the best has blemishes.  Still unbeated, but they did draw at home to Atlanta.  An Atlanta team closer to their one championship level than last year.  Seattle hosts Austin FC on Sunday night, so they should remain undefeated going into the first international break of the season.
​Previous = 1 (no change)
2.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION:  The leaders in the East move up one spot to the #2 overall in our power rankings.  Revs have 14 points and looked destined to make a run in the playoffs, even this early in the season.  The one concern might lie on the road as the Revs have been outscored 3-5 in that mark.  To help solve that this Memorial Weekend, they travel to FC Cincinnati.
Previous = 3 (+1)
3.
LA GALAXY:  Red cards matter.  And against a Portland team finally coming around, receiving a red card was a death blow for the Galaxy last week.  Still, they find themselves in the Top 3 of our Power Rankings.  Saturday they look to get back to their winning ways as they host a now-sputtering San Jose Earthquakes squad.
Previous = 2 (-1)
4.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY:  Sporting KC still might not be up in the Seattle conversation but they are on the Sounders heels.  Sporting is 4-2-1 thus far and just as dangerous to score on the road as they are at home.  KC hosts Houston this weekend, which the Dynamo can't win on the road, so this might be a celebration weekend as well.
Previous = 4 (no change)
5.
ORLANDO CITY SC:  Orlando City continued their unbeaten and winning ways last weekend with yet another 1-0 victory over Toronto.  Major credit must be given to Pedro Gillese.  Without some key big saves late, the Lions would have lost.  Scoring more than 1 goal a game still remains a challenge.  Will Dike return after the international break?
Previous = 6 (+1)
6.
COLORADO RAPIDS:  A rough road loss to LAFC drops the Rapids one spot down, but still respect throughout the league is starting to be shown for Colorado.  FC Dallas comes to the Mile High City.  The two met on Match Leg 1 in Dallas to a 0-0 draw.  Expect more goals this time around.
Previous = 5 (-1)
7.
NASHVILLE SC:  Nashville continues their unbeaten record as they recorded on their 2nd win of the season last Sunday night, with a 1-0 over Austin FC.  Nashville is now 2-0-4 heading into their toughest road match yet, at Atlanta United.  This might be the end of their unbeaten streak.
Previous = 14 (+7)
8.
ATLANTA UNITED:  A huge 1 point was earned last Sunday!  Yes, celebrating a draw.  Earning even a single point in Seattle will be tough for 26 teams to accomplish.  Now the 5-Stripes return home to the 404 and welcome Nashville.  Atlanta currently sits in 5th in the East, looking to move up.
Previous = 10 (8)
9.
PHILADELPHIA UNION:  Their style might not be pretty to watch by the average fan, but results are finally starting to come in.  Philadelphia, with their most recent victory, now sits in the top half of the East.  Sunday they host Portland in what could be a very entertaining match of two Top 10 teams.
Previous = 12 (+3)
10.
PORTLAND TIMBERS:  With a 3-0 victory over the Galaxy last weekend, the Timbers are this week's biggest jumpers moving 10 spots north.  After a slow start, Portland finds themselves in the top half of the Western Conference.  Now, they fly east to Philadelphia for a Memorial Weekend explosion.
Previous = 20 (+10)
11.
HOUSTON DYNAMO:  Winners of 2 of their last 3 matches, the Dynamo find themselves on the brinks of entering the top 10.  They are not there yet and it won't be easy for Houston either as they travel to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.  Winning on the road still seems to be a major obstacle for the Dynamo.
Previous = 13 (+2)
12.
NEW YORK CITY FC:  Falling four spots is the team from the Bronx.  Outside of their game against FC Cincinnati, the Pigeons have only scored 6 goals in 5 games.  Something that will need to be addressed sooner than later.  And two late goals against sent NYCFC packing last weekend.
Previous = 8 (-4)   
13.
REAL SALT LAKE:  What started as a very promising start of the season, RSL has now hit hard times just before the international break.  They still sit in the top half of the West, just only one win in the last three weeks.  Rubio Rubin continues to impress.  RSL hosts Minnesota in a return match from Match Day 2.
Previous = 9 (-4)
14.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES:  The Quakes have been shaky at best (see what I did there!) these last 3 weeks going 0-3-1 in that time frame.  Now, after a long home stand they travel to the Galaxy in what now feels like desperation to earn at least a point.
Previous = 7 (-7)
15.
COLUMBUS CREW SC:  Maybe now this whole name branding and logo thing is behind them.  Earning a much needed 3 points last week in New York helped the Crew jump back into the conversation.  A win against Toronto Saturday and Columbus could be back in the top half of the Eastern Conference heading into the first international break.
Previous = 19 (+4)
16.
LOS ANGELES FC:  A home win will always be a good thing.  Having Diego Rossi score two goals only makes it that much sweeter.  Still, they have a lot of work to be done, but momentum might be on their side this holiday weekend.
Previous = 18 (+2)
17.
CF MONTREAL:  The last minute road loss to Atlanta had hangover effects.  Now, put the Impact down in Ft. Lauderdale in the sun and exhaustion kicked in as they fell to FC Cincinnati in the final moments last week.  Having zero real home games and living in a hotel has taken it toll already.
Previous = 11 (-6)
18.
INTER MIAMI CF:  No one expected this squad to win the East this year, let's be clear about that.  But, we did expect goals every week.  And for that, so far this year has to be viewed as a disappointment.  With an all-star front half of a lineup, the results just aren't consistent. Inter Miami now hosts DC in a match where they must take the full three.
Previous = 15 (-3)
19.
AUSTIN FC:  The goal still remains, get to 8 points by the end of their 8 game road match run to start their season.  They've had some heartbreakers along the way.  Most recently this past Sunday with a 1-0 loss at Nashville where an off-sides penalty took back the tying goal.  The Oaks now travel to the Galaxy trying to earn at least a draw.
Previous = 16 (-3)
20.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS:  A road loss to Houston seemed destined in the Whitecaps cards last week.  The Whitecaps now get a full month off to hopefully rest up and maybe even return home.  Like, their real home  🍁  
Previous 17 (-3)
21.
NEW YORK RED BULLS:  No change in the rankings this week for the Red Bulls.  But a huge home matchup is set for this weekend as Orlando City comes a calling.  A third loss in a row to the Lions could crush what the Red Bulls are trying to accomplish.  On the road at the Revs proved to be too much for New York last week.
Previous = 21 (no change)
22.
MINNESOTA UNITED: How appropriate, their week off did not affect the Loons in the power rankings.  They now travel to RSL where this is a return match from match leg 1.  Minnesota looks to reverse the scores this time around.
Previous = 22 (no change)
23.
FC DALLAS:  Turmoil is in the midst in Dallas.  Supporters protesting the owners during the game.  This story will only get worse before better.  They might've held on to the 23 spot, but make no mistake, FC Dallas is trending down.
Previous = 23 (no change)
24.
TORONTO FC:  The Reds took a 1-0 loss to Orlando City last week.  A game where they could have easily won or at least drawn a tie.  Regardless, they fall further off the leaderboard.  Questions remain at the top, if they are not scoring, then why not play last summer's scoring sensation Ayo Akinola.  
Previous = 24 (+1)
25.
DC UNITED:  The Eagles might be under new management direction and there might be greater belief in the locker room, but for now, the results are about the same.  Losing followed by more losing.  DC needs to find some positives this weekend in Miami, a team with many questions, as well.
Previous = 24 (-1)
26.
CHICAGO FIRE:  Home win over Inter Miami!  Congratulations.  Although the Fire still find themselves near the bottom of the rankings.  Maybe that win will be the beginning of a streak of some sorts.  In a very winnable situation, the Fire host CF Montreal to kickoff Memorial Weekend.
Previous = 26 (no change)
27.
FC CINCINNATI:  A late road win in Ft. Lauderdale over CF Montreal was exactly what FC Cincy needed.  As far as the power rankings (and standings) go though, all the teams just above them, also won.  A real challenge lies ahead this weekend:  New England Revolutions.  But at least its at home in their new stadium with possibly thousands of fans supporting the cause.
Previous = 27 (no change)