We’re now into the last week of the regular season and the MLS playoff picture should be coming into focus, yet it remains extraordinarily muddled, with four closely linked teams battling for the final two playoff spots. Washington Post Soccer Insider Steven Goff breaks down the possibilities that would any combination of Chicago, Los Angeles, Kansas City or Colorado make qualify for the post-season.
Chicago will advance if it beats L.A., as will Kansas City if it beats FC Dallas. Colorado will advance if it beats Real Salt Lake, Kansas City loses to Dallas and there’s a winner in the match between Chicago and L.A. (there are other scenarios). If Kansas City ties, it will still likely advance because Colorado would need to beat RSL by three goals, but it needs a winner in the match between L.A. and Chicago.
Chicago, meanwhile, can advance with a tie if L.A. fails to beat New York and either Colorado fails to win against RSL or Kansas City loses to Dallas. It can also advance with a loss, although it needs L.A. to lose to New York and one of the other two to lose, too. L.A. can automatically advance by winning both of its remaining games, but a win against New York and a tie against Chicago would mean it needs RSL to beat Colorado or KC to lose against FCD. There are also more possibilities; to see them…