Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen several MLS teams get their hands on major silverware. Seattle Sounders conquered their first-ever Leagues Cup title and became the first MLS side to win all of the major soccer trophies in the United States after beating Inter Miami 3-0 in the final on August 31, Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Vancouver FC 4-2 in the Canadian Championship Final on October 1. That same day, Nashville edged Austin 2-1 in the U.S. Open Cup Final to secure their first-ever trophy in club history.
Since that defeat in Seattle, Miami have lost 3-0 at Charlotte before stringing together three-straight wins vs. Seattle, DC and New York City FC. However, a 1-1 draw at Toronto and a 5-3 home loss to Chicago would see them relinquish their chances of winning a second-straight Supporters’ Shield, with Philadelphia Union coming away with the best regular-season record in MLS. Miami would bounce back with a 4-1 victory against already-eliminated New England Revolution before demolishing Atlanta United 4-0 via goals from Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba – who has scored three in his last two – and a brace from Lionel Messi. As for Nashville, they followed up their historic win with a 1-1 draw in Montreal.
Saturday’s trip to Nashville contains strong emotional connotations as well as genuine real-life implications. It will be the final regular season match for both Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who will retire after the end of the 2025 campaign. Alba has staked his place in the pantheon of the game’s greatest left backs across a glamorous 16-year career for Spain, Valencia, Barcelona and now Miami, whilst Busquets has emerged as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe alongside the likes of Xabi Alonso, Diadie Samassekou and Casemiro. Of course, unlike in LaLiga and every other major soccer league, MLS doesn’t determine its champion via the regular season, but the postseason…something that Miami found out the hard way last year when, after achieving the best regular season points tally in MLS history, they were bounced by Atlanta in the first round across three legs.
Miami have not suffered a trophyless season since Messi, Alba and Busquets arrived in 2023, winning the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield, but if they are to end the 2025 season with a piece of silverware, they’ll have to do it the hard way by winning a first-ever MLS Cup title. In order to win their maiden national championship, it is of the utmost importance that they finish in the highest possible position in order to secure homefield advantage. Miami currently sit fourth in the MLS standings, level on 62 points with third-placed Cincinnati, one point behind Vancouver, and two points above San Diego FC. Whilst they are guaranteed to finish no lower than third in the East, they could very well sneak into the second if they can take care of business vs Nashville and if Cincy fail to get the job done vs. Montreal.
Whereas the higher-ranked opponent will host the first and third (if necessary) match of the first round of the playoffs, they will also host the only match of the Conference Semifinals, Conference Finals, and MLS Cup Final. And whilst Miami are the fourth-best home team in MLS with 11 wins and 3 draws in 17 matches, they are only the seventh-best away team with 7 wins and 5 draws from 16. They’ve won just one of their last six away matches, and they’ll be looking to end that streak on Saturday as they take on Nashville in Geodis Park.
