Matchday 32 is in the books.
What did we learn? Did the games confirm what we already knew, or did they change the complexion of the league?
Let’s dive into some key takeaways from another weekend of MLS action.
Was there any doubt, really, that Nashville SC would lay claim to the Supporters’ Shield this past weekend? After a one-week delay following a hard-fought road draw in San Jose on Matchday 31, the ‘Yotes traveled to Montréal and put both hands on a trophy after a 2-0 win cemented their status as 2026’s best regular-season team. They’re officially in model club territory.
While Nashville didn’t run rampant over Montréal to begin Saturday’s affair, they turned on the jets in the second half. The result? A goal apiece for the two members of B.J. Callaghan’s front two: Sam Surridge, who nabbed the first, and Hany Mukhtar, who sealed the deal.
Mukhtar, of course, embodies Nashville SC. He was the club’s first-ever DP signing ahead of their expansion season in 2020 and has become one of the league’s all-time greats. Surridge, for his part, was unlocked in MLS by Callaghan’s arrival on the sidelines. With Nashville’s coach switching to a 4-2-2-2 attacking structure that allowed the Englishman to attack the channels rather than play through the middle with his back to goal, Surridge morphed into a fearsome forward.
Nashville SC’s mixture of the best from their arrival in MLS earlier this decade and the lessons they've learned along the way saw them lift the Shield. Those things might see them break the points record, too, before the regular season is out.
In what was perhaps the brightest performance of the weekend across the league, Red Bull New York’s 2-0 win over Inter Miami did wonders for their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes. With the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati — RBNY’s chief competition for the Wild Card places out East — both winning this weekend, that Red Bull took care of business against star-studded Miami was crucial.
Of course, Inter Miami missed Lionel Messi in their starting lineup. But even when the greatest player of all time joined the fray 10 minutes into the second half, Michael Bradley’s outfit remained unfazed.
With a mixture of impressive high-pressing and dedicated deeper defending, Red Bull New York completely stymied Miami’s attack. Ceding 66% of the ball, the hosts outshot their guests 19-13 en route to more than tripling their xG tally, as per FotMob.
Anchored by a trio of tremendous performances in central midfield, Ronald Donkor and Mohammed Sofo thrived, buzzing around the field defensively and progressing the ball forward quickly in possession. So, too, did Adri Mehmeti shine at the base of midfield. His ball control, even up against a stacked Inter Miami midfield, was something to behold.
If Red Bull can continue to dominate the center of the field and knife forward quickly in transition, they’ll not only make the postseason, but they’ll be a difficult out once they get there.
When it comes time to move a player around the cover for an injury or an absence, most often you would think of shifting a veteran player into a different role. With years of experience, those players know how to adapt. That’s the conventional wisdom, anyway. But New England Revolution manager Marko Mitrović has taken a different approach with Peyton Miller.
With starting left back Will Sands nursing an injury, Mitrović moved Miller — who made his entrance into MLS as a left back and earned his first US men’s national team appearance in that position, too — from the wing to the backline on Saturday. It paid off in his side’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union, one that snapped their hosts’ unbeaten run that stretched back to the resumption of play following the World Cup break.
It may just be that Miller’s best long-term role is the left back position, where he can use his blazing speed to overlap and provide late service into the box. For New England this year, however, the 18-year-old has thrived in a more advanced role. He has seven goals and seven primary assists in league play.
Even playing as a defender against the Union, Miller still managed a goal involvement. He earned an effortful assist on New England’s opener:
Whether playing as a left back, as a left winger, or as a right winger, Miller has been consistently impactful in 2026. It’s no wonder Mitrović feels so comfortable using him in different roles.
The Colorado Rapids may have put in their most dominant performance since April on Saturday in their 1-0 home win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Though the margin of victory was small, the Rapids ran the show against the top team in the Western Conference. In doing so? They maintained a two-point cushion above the playoff line, even with Real Salt Lake pushing for a Wild Card berth.
In the first half, Colorado used the ball to almost completely control the game, more than tripling Vancouver’s shots in the opening period and allowing no real chances of consequence along the way. In the second half, the Rapids were more transitional than possessive — but the same outcome followed: they allowed precious few chances on Nicholas Hansen’s goal and threatened the other way.
Fittingly, it was summer Designated Player signing Morgan Whittaker who found the game-winning goal in the 81st minute. The ex-Middlesbrough man’s arrival has added another dimension of tactical flexibility to Matt Wells’ team, one that’s made them even more difficult to stop.
While consistency has been lacking for Colorado in 2026, if they can replicate this kind of performance in the postseason, they’ll be a nightmare draw for a higher-seeded Western Conference outfit.
"I want to kill this team, and I don't know. I score so many goals against them and I love it,” Denis Bouanga said after a frenetic clash between LAFC and the LA Galaxy on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire ended in a 2-2 draw.
When you have one of the biggest stars in MLS coming out with a quote like that after a rivalry match, you know there’s venom between the two sides.
Truly, no rivalry in MLS delivers like El Tráfico these days. Goals galore and drama aplenty are seemingly guaranteed when the two Los Angeles outfits meet. After the Galaxy pushed to a 2-0 lead on Sunday, LAFC stormed back to make it 2-2 in the second half — and nearly won it late before the offside flag waved off an emphatic winner. Still, even in a wild affair, both teams showed some of the threat that could make them dynamic playoff outfits later on this year.
Of course, the Galaxy reaching the postseason isn’t guaranteed. Though they currently hold the final Wild Card spot out West, Real Salt Lake trail them by just two points and have a game in hand. The Galaxy still control their fate, though, with a Decision Day clash with RSL looming on November 7. It was winger Joseph Paintsil’s blazing speed that made Greg Vanney’s team so difficult to deal with on Sunday. Injuries have limited the attacker’s impact in 2026, but his brace may be a sign of what’s to come before this year is out.
LAFC, for their part, are still working out the kinks after a managerial change has left interim manager Xavi Tamarit leading things on the sidelines. But there’s no questioning the team’s attacking talent: Bouanga snagged a goal and newcomer Leo Walta scored his second in as many games to equalize after the hour mark.
This season hasn’t gone according to plan for either side of the El Tráfico rivalry. Still, if Sunday night is anything to go by, both of these teams have something left to give.
