The MLS Playoffs are no strangers to underdog stories, as the New York Red Bulls were a prime example of how a team can sneak into the playoffs and found themselves in the MLS Cup Final with a realistic chance of winning the Cup.
Though they failed, they set the blueprint for this season. Inter Miami and Columbus were both top teams that fell to underdogs in the first round. This year’s playoff could open up an underdog playoff for a whole new group of teams. The question is what teams could make a run.
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What Dark Horse can make the Biggest Impact
Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers have been in a curious position all season long. They have been good enough to stay out of the play in-game, but haven’t been able to jump up the table and compete with the rest of the field.
That has made them a huge underdog going into the Western playoffs. They have also been inconsistent all season long in terms of their play on the pitch.
They have only suffered one loss since the beginning of September, but they may not be winning or setting the league on fire. They have been playing up to other playoff teams and sticking in games late.
The Timbers may not be the best dark horse that will be mentioned on this list, but they are the best option in the West due to the conference not having a lot of depth. The Timbers will need to finally finish in big moments if they want to make any kind of run, something they haven’t done all season.
Orlando City
Orlando City was once at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, but new teams rising in the standings caused Orlando to drop all the way to seventh.
A win early in the season against Inter Miami proved that they have the talent to compete with a stacked roster. Orlando was surpassed by Nashville, which peaked during the dog days of summer.
Once the fall weather kicked in, it was Charlotte who suddenly became the hottest team in the league with a win streak that nearly broke records. Two clubs that were on the back end of the playoff hunt jumped past Orlando.
This forced Orlando to the seventh seed and on the brink of the playoff game. They weren’t the only team to have suffered from this. Columbus and Inter Miami also fell in the standings thanks to teams getting out in unexpected moments.
Orlando has also struggled to find goal production from the top of their formation, as the midfield has been the biggest producer of goals this season.
Orlando can become a true dark horse and make a run if they can create goal production from unexpected spots in their formation.
Opponents know that Orlando depends on their midfield and Fullbacks to make impact plays into the final third. If they can find a way to finish these chances, Orlando can become a true contender like they were expected to be.
Columbus Crew
Sometimes, all you need to do to get hot in the playoffs is to get healthy at the right moment. Columbus is hoping that it can happen as they have one of the more talented rosters.
The injuries forced the Columbus Crew into a free fall from a Supporters’ Shield contender to a team that was just trying to stay in the playoff hunt. They are the ninth and final seed of the playoffs as they have fallen into the play-in game, something they hoped to avoid.
With Diego Rossi back in the lineup after a hamstring injury a few weeks ago, the Crew hopes that it is enough to get back into their proper form as they march into the playoffs.
The Crew may be one of the best play-in teams that we have seen since the rapid expansion of the MLS over the past decade and a half.
The Crew has the potential to defeat Philadelphia if they can survive the desperate and passionate play of the Chicago Fire, a team that has been waiting eight years to be back in the playoffs.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date16.09.2025