The MLS is headed to the last few months of the season, with playoff seeding getting set, and the front-runners are separating themselves from the rest of the pack. There is only one cup that will find its conclusion at the end of the season.
The Supporters shield race has been competitive despite being dominated by Easter conference teams for more than half of the season.
A few teams have had the edge, while others have just hoped to be in consideration for the shield. Three teams are in a dead heat for the Supporters’ Shield, with the rest of the league chasing far behind.
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San Diego FC
San Diego is the newest team to join the MLS this season, and many thought that they would be like the typical expansion team and fail to compete for their first few seasons. That hasn’t been the case.
San Diego leads not just the Western Conference in their first season but the Supporters Shield race as well. This team did a spectacular job bringing in strong Designated players from abroad who have elevated the team’s play.
They have also invested in a youth program that provides education and housing for players to train. This builds a foundation for the future and makes parents pick San Diego over other MLS clubs.
Some original teams have invested less in DPs and their youth system compared to San Diego.
This new club leads the way this year; every game matters for San Diego as they are in a tie for the top spot with the next team mentioned.
FC Cincinnati
FCC has fought tooth and nail to be at the top of the standings for the shield. For Cincinnati, winning against Columbus is one of if not the biggest, goals for the club outside of the MLS Cup.
Winning the Supporters would be the biggest honor that the FCC would have achieved since becoming an MLS team all those years ago.
This season, they had to fight through the middle of the pack just to catch up to Philadelphia a few weeks ago. They now have a slight lead over the Union, but can’t manage to earn sole possession of first place. Having Evander as their star player also doesn’t hurt, as the former Portland Timber has been an MVP candidate this season.
The real question for the FCC is whether they can continue their good form and take a solid lead from Philadelphia and San Diego.
Only time will tell for Ohio’s second-oldest team: will they fight to be on top, or will they start to slide down the standings?
Philadelphia Union
The Union have been in the conference for the shield since the very start of the season. They have fallen to third in the race due to the emergence of San Diego and the FCC.
The Union has built its team by selling its stars and replacing them with developmental players that they build up through their youth system. The Union has kept itself afloat over the years thanks to the top-tier youth system that allows it to retool every year.
Philadelphia was defending the shield from Cincinnati, which was on their tail for most of the season. San Diego blindsided them a few weeks ago, then dropped to third after the FCC got into a stalemate with the expansion team from California.
With a strong, disciplined roster, there is no reason to think that Philadelphia can’t jump past the two leaders within the last seven games of the season.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO/Icon Sportswire
Recording Date 16.08.2025