The September international window may bring MLS to a near pause, but when things get back up and running, it’s a frantic sprint to the finish with several teams chasing the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup Playoff seeding.
In some seasons, it can be relatively obvious which teams are clear of the rest, and the Supporters’ Shield race could be all but over by the time the September window rolls around.
That is far from the case in 2025. With most teams having between six and nine games to go, the Supporters’ Shield race is more tense than ever, with nine teams, including the Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC, FC Cincinnati, Minnesota United, Nashville SC, Charlotte FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Orlando City SC and Inter Miami in the race to take the title.
But which teams are best positioned to take the title? For that, examines the top five teams ranked by points per game, utilizing RotoWire's Strength of Schedule model, which assigns higher ratings to indicate an easier schedule, among other considerations.
