We are less than two months from what Sounders FC hopes will be its seventh appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in as many seasons.
The 2015 postseason format includes four single-elimination games with an expanded field of 12 teams. If the season ended today, Seattle would finish as the sixth seed in the West and battle third-seeded FC Dallas for a spot in the Conference Semifinals. Sounders FC is currently tied with the San Jose Earthquakes on points, but the Rave Green hold the tiebreaker with more total wins.
The Knockout Round fixtures are scheduled to be played on October 28-29, just three or four days after Seattle’s regular-season finale against Real Salt Lake. There’s still a chance the Rave Green could earn a bye to the Conference Semifinals, however, especially since the club’s final six matches are against teams from the West.
No team from either conference has been eliminated from playoff contention yet, and no team has clinched a spot in the postseason. The LA Galaxy would win the Supporters’ Shield if the season ended today, although Vancouver Whitecaps FC is one point behind them with a game in hand. The New York Red Bulls own the league’s highest points-per-game average (1.68) with a 12-7-6 record.
Here is a look at the current standings in both conferences and how the playoff bracket would appear if the season ended today.
Knockout Round: 3) FC Dallas vs. 6) Sounders FC
Knockout Round: 4) Sporting Kansas City vs. 5) Portland Timbers
Conference Semifinals: 1) LA Galaxy vs. lowest ranked remaining seed
Conference Semifinals: 2) Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. highest ranked remaining seed
Knockout Round: 3) Columbus Crew SC vs. 6) Orlando City SC
Knockout Round: 4) Toronto FC vs. 5) New England Revolution
Conference Semifinals: 1) D.C. United vs. lowest ranked remaining seed
Conference Semifinals: 2) New York Red Bulls vs. highest ranked remaining seed
