MLS NEXT Pro Matchweek 28 includes playoff-clinching scenarios for 11 clubs and playoff-elimination scenarios for six clubs. Four Western Conference clubs can clinch postseason berths, while two can be eliminated. In the Eastern Conference, seven clubs can clinch and four can be eliminated.
The scenarios below use shootout win (SOW), shootout loss (SOL) and point-total conditions. The listed results determine whether each club clinches a postseason spot or is eliminated from contention.
Western Conference clinching scenarios
- Los Angeles Football Club 2: Clinches with one or more points; if North Texas SC earns one point or fewer; or if San Jose Earthquakes II earns two points or fewer.
- Tacoma Defiance: Clinches with a win; a shootout win and San Jose Earthquakes II earning two points or fewer; a shootout win and a North Texas SC loss; a shootout loss and San Jose Earthquakes II earning one point or fewer; or a San Jose Earthquakes II loss.
- North Texas SC: Clinches with a win and San Jose Earthquakes II earning one point or fewer; or with a shootout win and a San Jose Earthquakes II loss.
- MNUFC2: Clinches with a win and San Jose Earthquakes II earning one point or fewer.
Western Conference elimination scenarios
- Real Monarchs: Is eliminated if RSL earns two points or fewer; or if North Texas SC earns at least one point and MNUFC2 earns at least two points.
- San Jose Earthquakes II: Is eliminated with a loss, North Texas SC earning at least two points and MNUFC2 winning; or with a shootout loss, Tacoma Defiance earning at least one point, North Texas SC winning and MNUFC2 winning.
Eastern Conference clinching scenarios
- Atlanta United 2: Clinches with one or more points; if NYCFC II earns two points or fewer; if Philadelphia Union II earns two points or fewer; if Orlando City B earns a shootout loss; or if Orlando City B loses and New England Revolution II earns two points or fewer.
- Columbus Crew 2: Clinches with one or more points; if Philadelphia Union II earns a shootout loss; if Chicago Fire FC II earns a shootout loss; if Orlando City B earns a shootout loss; or if Chicago Fire FC II loses and NYCFC II earns two points or fewer.
- Red Bull New York II: Clinches if it earns at least two points; earns a shootout loss and Orlando City B earns a shootout loss; earns a shootout loss and NYCFC II earns two points or fewer; earns a shootout loss and Philadelphia Union II earns two points or fewer; earns a shootout loss, Orlando City B loses and New England Revolution II earns two points or fewer; or if Philadelphia Union II earns a shootout loss. It also clinches if Chicago Fire FC II earns a shootout loss; Chicago Fire FC II loses and NYCFC II earns two points or fewer; Chicago Fire FC II loses, Orlando City B loses and New England Revolution II earns one point or fewer; or Philadelphia Union II loses, Orlando City B loses and New England Revolution II earns one point or fewer.
- Connecticut United FC: Clinches with at least two points; with a shootout loss and Chicago Fire FC II earning two points or fewer; or with a shootout loss, Philadelphia Union II losing, Orlando City B losing and New England Revolution II earning one point or fewer.
- New England Revolution II: Clinches with a win; a shootout win and Chicago Fire FC II earning a shootout loss; a shootout win and Philadelphia Union II earning a shootout loss; or a shootout win, Chicago Fire FC II losing and NYCFC II earning two points or fewer. It also clinches with a shootout loss, Chicago Fire FC II losing, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer, Toronto FC II earning one point or fewer and NYCFC II losing; or with a shootout loss, Chicago Fire FC II earning a shootout loss, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer, Toronto FC II earning one point or fewer and NYCFC II earning one point or fewer.
- New York City Football Club II: Clinches with a win and Orlando City B earning a shootout loss; a win and Philadelphia Union II earning two points or fewer; or a win, Orlando City B losing and New England Revolution II earning two points or fewer. It also clinches with a shootout win, Philadelphia Union II earning a shootout loss, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer and Toronto FC II earning one point or fewer; the same result with Orlando City B losing; the same result with New England Revolution II losing; a shootout win, Philadelphia Union II earning a shootout loss, Orlando City B losing and New England Revolution II losing; or a shootout win, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer, Orlando City B losing and New England Revolution II losing.
- Orlando City B: Clinches with a win, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer, Chicago Fire FC II losing and New York City Football Club II losing; or with a win, Huntsville City Football Club earning two points or fewer, Chicago Fire FC II earning a shootout loss and New York City Football Club II earning a shootout loss.
Eastern Conference elimination scenarios
- Huntsville City Football Club: Is eliminated with a loss; a shootout loss and a Philadelphia Union II win; a shootout loss and Orlando City B earning at least two points; a shootout loss and Toronto FC II winning; a shootout win, New England Revolution II earning at least one point, Orlando City B winning and New York City Football Club II earning at least one point; or a shootout win, New England Revolution II earning at least one point, Orlando City B winning and Philadelphia Union II earning at least one point.
- Chicago Fire FC II: Is eliminated with a loss; or with a shootout loss, New England Revolution II earning at least one point and Orlando City B winning.
- Philadelphia Union II: Is eliminated with a loss, New York City Football Club II earning at least one point and Orlando City B earning at least two points; or with a shootout loss, New York City Football Club II earning at least two points, Orlando City B winning and New England Revolution II earning at least one point.
- Toronto FC II: Is eliminated with a loss and New York City Football Club II earning at least one point; or with a loss and Philadelphia Union II earning at least one point.
The Matchweek 28 scenarios cover playoff-clinching and elimination possibilities in both MLS NEXT Pro conferences. The outcomes depend on each club’s result as well as results involving teams in the surrounding playoff race.
Source: Original report