It’s been awhile, huh?
After seven weeks away to enjoy the greatest soccer competition on the planet (no, I’m not talking about the U.S. Open Cup), MLS’s World Cup break ends this week, even if the tournament itself hasn’t quite. If you’re anything like me, dear reader, your memory isn’t always the best. Perhaps you’re asking yourself, what on earth was going on around MLS before the break? Or, perhaps you’re tuning into MLS for the first time on the back of the biggest World Cup ever.
Either way, you’re in luck! I’m here to fill you on what’s gone down across the league this season.
Let’s go through all 30 teams to examine what’s gone right and wrong in 2026, starting at the bottom of the Supporters’ Shield standings and working our way to the top.
Joseph Lowery
Philadelphia Union
What’s gone right: Homegrowns Cavan Sullivan and Frankie Westfield have been really good when they’ve been on the field, and Milan Iloski looks to be settling into the Union’s system and becoming a real danger man.
What’s gone wrong: Quite literally everything else. They were the Supporters’ Shield winners last year, but now they sit dead last and on pace to set a new record low points total in MLS’s 34-game regular season era. To really put an exclamation point on things, reigning MLS Coach of Year Bradley Carnell was fired during the break.
