Breaking Down the MLS Playoff Races After the All-Star Break

Now that the excitement of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game is behind us, it’s time to get down to business.

Over the next three months, we’ll find out who is worthy of earning the six playoff positions in the Eastern and Western Conferences. 

Per the usual trend, the West is the more difficult of the two conferences once again in 2016. The West contains a few clear-cut MLS Cup favorites, while the East is still sorting itself out. 

Below we’ll take a look at the playoff picture in each conference, starting in the East, and predict which six teams we think will qualify for the postseason. 

Eastern Conference 

New York City FC are the surprise leaders heading into the final weekend of July. Patrick Vieira’s men have climbed into the top spot on 33 points thanks to a tremendous road record of 6-4-1. 

In order to continue their pace at the top, City must extend their road form into August, September and October, and they must also improve on their 3-3-5 home mark. 

Unlike a few other clubs in the East, NYCFC doesn’t have a long stretch of matches at, or away from, Yankee Stadium for the rest of the regular season, which may suit City based on their home and away records. The biggest concern for Vieira and company will be the play of their unsteady defense. 

Second-place New York Red Bulls face the most difficult balancing act of any of the teams in the tight East playoff race. Jesse Marsch’s men have a quartet of CONCACAF Champions League games to maneuver around league play. 

In addition to the midweek challenges of continental play, the Red Bulls still have road trips to LA and Vancouver left on the docket. But the good news for them is they play three of their final four games at home, two of which come against fellow contenders. 

Philadelphia has been the surprise team of the season in the East as the new organization in the front office, led by sporting director Earnie Stewart, has got the club out of a long rut. 

But in order to continue their terrific first-half start into the final three months, the Union will have to earn multiple results on the road. All but one of those road trips are to Eastern Conference stadiums, which should help the team fight against fatigue. They should also receive a boost at some point with the return of midfielder Maurice Edu. 

If Jim Curtin’s men can navigate their treacherous road fixture list and pick up all 18 points left at home, they should secure safe passage into the playoff field. 

Montreal re-announced its presence in the postseason fight in Week 20 with a 5-1 demolition of Philadelphia at Stade Saputo that was powered by Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba. 

The Impact should be able to secure their home fortress throughout the rest of the regular season since only two of their remaining seven matches at home are against teams currently above the red line. 

As long as the Impact pick up points at home like we suggested for the Union, they should also cruise into the playoffs. 

Toronto FC may be the most interesting team to watch in the East as the season dwindles down. Due to the construction at BMO Field, the Reds spent the majority of the early season on the road.

With nine home matches remaining, Greg …

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