MLS: Did Müller, Vancouver just leapfrog the league's best?

1 month ago 30

Jon ArnoldSep 15, 2025, 10:55 AM ET

The 2025 MLS play continues to chug along, which means it's clip for ESPN's Power Rankings.

Who's climbing the table, and who's successful escaped fall? Our writers studied the enactment from crossed Matchday 33 to travel up with this week's bid of each 30 teams successful the league. Let's dive in.

1. Philadelphia Union

Previous ranking: 1

The Union had a lucifer to forget, falling 7-0 to Vancouver connected the road, yet keeping the apical spot successful these rankings with astir of the contention besides falling level this weekend. Philly fans volition anticipation that the biggest decision successful nine past was the effect of the squad simply being much focused connected this week's U.S. Open Cup semifinal.

2. San Diego FC

Previous ranking: 2

The precocious metrics liked what San Diego did against Minnesota (2.16 xG compared to 0.5), and SDFC passed the oculus test, too. They didn't get overmuch past Dayne St. Clair, however, with the MNUFC goalkeeper making a twelve saves arsenic San Diego fell 3-1 to the Loons.

3. FC Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 5

Welcome back, Brenner. The Brazilian scored his archetypal extremity since returning to Cincinnati, getting an assistance from countryman Evander for the opener successful a 2-1 triumph implicit Nashville. The second scored too, notching a stoppage-time winner, but he's been truthful ascendant this play that it astir felt similar a given.

4. Seattle Sounders

Previous ranking: 3

The Sounders scored a brace of first-half goals and looked to beryllium connected cruise power but ended up with conscionable a constituent from a 2-2 gully with the Galaxy. Seattle conceded successful the past 5 minutes of some halves, letting that aboriginal pb gaffe away.

5. Charlotte FC

Previous ranking: 6

Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina stopped a Jordi Alba changeable early, past kept his nervus and denied a Lionel Messi panenka attempt. From there, it was each Charlotte, with Idan Toklomati registering a chapeau instrumentality successful a 3-0 triumph for the hosts. It's 9 victories successful a enactment and 10 matches undefeated for Charlotte.