📈 MLS Power Rankings: LAFC on the rise, Seattle join the fray
The 2025 MLS is almost a third of the way complete, and top-10 power rankings is truly taking the shape.
While our league leaders remained the same, we still had plenty of movement in the rankings.
Let's dig in.
10. Seattle Sounders (🆕)
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The Seattle Sounders are getting hot as the 2025 MLS regular season presses on, and fans will certainly be sitting a bit more comfortably at Lumen Field.
On the back of a resounding 4-1 win over visiting St. Louis City at the weekend, the Sounders are undefeated in their last four (3-1-0) while boasting the second-best record in the Western Conference in that period. Look for them to potentially keep rolling along.
9. San Diego FC (🆕)
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San Diego FC's brilliant story continues to turn heads in their inaugural MLS season, and their recent 5-0 thumping of FC Dallas shows just how deadly they can be under Mikey Varas.
With Hirvin Lozano and Anders Dreyer leading the charge for SDFC, their previous three-match losing run came to an end and they sit fourth in the conference and just two points off second-sitting Minnesota United.
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If they can get back to a consistent run of positive results, something special could be brewing in SoCal.
8. Charlotte FC (👎)
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One of the clubs that made waves in the early doors of the current season, Dean Smith's Charlotte FC has hit a wall in recent weeks on the back of consecutive losses to the New England Revolution and Columbus Crew.
Despite having to once again kick-start the motor, the Crown is still very much in the hunt for finishing in the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference, and the recent loan addition of Canadian international Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty could add further quality in depth to help them sustain a possible deep push throughout the 2025 season.
7. LAFC (👍)
📸 Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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Largely and justifiably viewed as one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference and a possible contender for MLS Cup honors, LAFC is slowly building momentum after their win against Houston Dynamo last time out.
Now on a four-match undefeated run (2-2-0), Steven Cherundolo's Black and Gold are within striking distance of further gains in the West after scoring over half their goals this season during their four-match push. But is this sustainable?
6. FC Cincinnati (👎)
📸 Mark Smith-Imagn Images
So much praise has been dispatched in the direction of FC Cincinnati, and it certainly is not unfounded as Patrick Noonan's side is one of the most entertaining clubs in MLS on their day.
After a recent four-match tear saw them at the very top of the East, Cincy was brought back down to earth in a loss against NYCFC, being blanked in the process during a 1-0 loss.
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Not without plenty of attacking power on paper, Cincy has a chance to get back to business next time out against Austin FC and a possible push back up the rankings.
5. Minnesota United (👍)
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With just one loss in their last five, while putting together a brilliant 2025 MLS season to date, Minnesota United has begun to believe that they can have a real say across the West and the league as a whole.
Though they trail pace-setters Vancouver Whitecaps by seven points, the Loons are a competent side at both ends, but it's a defensive core anchored by shot-stopper Dayne St. Clair that has helped them climb the table in the West.
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While they may not be in the top five in the Supporters' Shield standings, their consistency in picking up points deserves proper recognition here.
4. Philadelphia Union (👍)
📸 David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Three wins on the spin for the Philadelphia Union once again Bradley Carnell's outfit closing ranks with the Columbus Crew for who can claim Eastern Conference supremacy in the regular season.
With an upcoming clash against the Crew in their next league meeting, the Union will take confidence from their best start to a season in their history, and that comes despite losing key midfielder Dániel Gazdag.
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Having allowed just two goals in their last five outings, you'd bet your house that they will be among the top sides in MLS come post-season time.
3. Inter Miami (👍)
📸 Megan Briggs - 2025 Getty Images
It has been an interesting season for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in 2025 to date, with so much talk seemingly avoiding the Herons despite the likelihood that they will remain in the conversation across league and post-season play.
Two frustrating draws against Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire, and a 4-3 loss against FC Dallas - matches they should arguably be winning - puts them into a position to chase the leading pack, but with a match in hand, mailing in three points would potentially have them right back at the top of the East.
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Currently fourth in the conference but boasting the second-best goal tally as well as goal difference, data dictates that they will continue to climb.
2. Columbus Crew (no movement)
📸 Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Columbus Crew is beginning to fire on all cylinders under fan-favorite manager Wilfried Nancy, making good on much of the pre-season talk that saw many place them as the team to beat in the East.
Sitting at the top of the table ahead of a critical MLS weekend in the wake of their 4-2 home win over a credible Charlotte outfit, Lower.com Field has become a venue where the club is not afraid to put their opposition to the sword, and their second-best home points total in the East is a key reason why they're sitting atop the pile and on the tail of Vancouver for best record in MLS.
1. Vancouver Whitecaps (no movement)
📸 Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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Top of the West and top of the Supporters' Shield; Vancouver is right where they belong, and Jesper Sørensen's outfit is truly enjoying themselves in 2025 thus far.
Posting a rate of return in points that some of the elite sides across MLS history have managed to muster, current evidence would be hard to ignore regarding just how far the club can go this season.
Thirteen from a possible fifteen points in their last five matches has them dictating terms to the rest of the pack, and a league-leading 22 goals shows they are where they are entirely on merit.
📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea | 2025 May 3-Imagn Images
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