Most MLS teams played two matches this week, so a good bit of movement in this week’s rankings. Additionally, I’ve made a slight tweet to the formula to bring points per game up to the full 30% of the model. Prior editions of the rankings erroneously had them lower, and while the change didn’t actually impact any team’s positioning, it does change the total score numbers.
As a reminder, here’s how the OPI (Overall Performance Index) model works:
- Points per game – 30%
- Goal difference – 15%
- Form in last five games – 15%
- Expected goal difference – 12.5%
- Strength of schedule – 12.5%
- Home and away form – 12.5%
- Goals added – 2.5%
Matchday 17 Power Rankings
| RANKING | TEAM | SCORE | MOVEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Cincinnati | 25.88 | +2 |
| 2 | Nashville SC | 25.63 | -1 |
| 3 | LAFC | 25.32 | -1 |
| 4 | ST. Louis CITY SC | 23.41 | +1 |
| 5 | Philadelphia Union | 23.08 | +1 |
| 6 | Seattle Sounders | 19.77 | -2 |
| 7 | Columbus Crew | 18.70 | — |
| 8 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 16.50 | — |
| 9 | New England Revolution | 15.00 | — |
| 10 | Atlanta United | 14.93 | — |
| 11 | DC United | 14.04 | +1 |
| 12 | FC Dallas | 12.20 | -1 |
| 13 | Orlando City SC | 11.96 | 3 |
| 14 | Minnesota United | 11.21 | — |
| 15 | New York Red Bulls | 9.31 | -2 |
| 16 | San Jose Earthquakes | 9.19 | -1 |
| 17 | New York City FC | 6.15 | — |
| 18 | Austin FC | 4.86 | +4 |
| 19 | Toronto FC | 4.59 | +1 |
| 20 | Portland Timbers | 4.18 | +1 |
| 21 | Chicago Fire | 3.71 | -2 |
| 22 | Houston Dynamo | 3.08 | -4 |
| 23 | Real Salt Lake | 2.42 | +2 |
| 24 | Charlotte FC | 1.85 | -1 |
| 25 | LA Galaxy | 1.15 | +1 |
| 26 | Sporting KC | 0.60 | +3 |
| 27 | Colorado Rapids | -0.09 | — |
| 28 | CF Montréal | -0.43 | — |
| 29 | Inter Miami CF | -1.44 | -5 |
FC Cincinnati take over the top spot after holding the top spot in the Supporters’ Shield race for weeks. They got another single-goal win at home over Chicago Fire at the weekend, but the real push for them was a dominant 3-1 win on the road against New York City FC, giving them an ever-so-slight edge over Nashville and LAFC.
Nashville SC drop to second, playing just one game this weekend, a 2-1 win on the road against FC Dallas. They haven’t lost a league match since April, unbeaten in eight and just behind Cincinnati for the best form in MLS.
Pushing into the top five is Philadelphia Union, who won home games against Charlotte FC and CF Montréal to move within a point of Nashville in the table. They’re firmly in the Supporters’ Shield race, and have shaken off their CCL hangover from earlier in the year.
Lastly, Inter Miami CF drop five spots into last place. They lost two home games this week, each by a single goal and having a man sent off in each, while firing head coach Phil Neville in between. Things aren’t looking good in south Florida, although until Lionel Messi officially signs somewhere else, their supporters have some faint hope to cling to.
I’ll do a much more in-depth halfway point breakdown next week, but wanted to touch on
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