In a new annual tradition, we are once again looking at the predictions made by the Major League Soccer punditry, and documenting how they think the 2026 table will look at the end of the season.
The number of pundits has expanded dramatically since we did this last year. In 2025, we recorded the table predictions made by seven pundits — or, to be more exact, six pundits plus the collective opinion of MLSsoccer.com. MLS published the predictions of 15 of Apple TV’s on-air talent, which brings our grand total to 23 predictions. Because of the sheer volume of predictions, we divided the tables into two and gave the Apple TV analysts their own chart.
Just like last year, we will check back at the end of the regular season to see how they did: We are keeping the receipts.
At the risk of making a prediction about predictions, they rarely prove to be accurate — at the start of 2025, nobody prophesied the rise of Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC, or Vancouver Whitecaps. Likewise, nobody saw the fall of Atlanta United, LA Galaxy, or Red Bull New York coming. The most accurate pundit in 2025 was Tom Bogert, who correctly placed five out of 30 teams, and was accurate within one place for another 10 teams. But even he picked Philadelphia to finish in 9th Place, and Vancouver in 14th.
Bogert didn’t predict a table this year. Instead, the eight pundits are Andrew Clausen, Matt Doyle, Joseph Lowery, MLSsoccer.com, Brian McKay, Ben Steiner, and Ben Wright.
2026 MLS Predictions | The Punditry
Andrew Clausen
Matt Doyle
Joseph Lowery
MLS
Brian McKay
Jeff Reuter
Ben Steiner
Ben Wright
Backheeled
Tactics Free Zone
Backheeled
mlssoccer.com
Backheeled
The Guardian
Sports Illustrated
Backheeled
1.
Nashville SC
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miani
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
2.
Inter Miami
Nashville SC
Nashville SC
FC Cincinnati
Nashville SC
Nashville SC
FC Cincinnati
Nashville SC
3.
Orlando City
New York City FC
Chicago Fire
Nashville SC
Orlando City
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire
4.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
FC Cincinnati
Nashville SC
Columbus Crew
5.
Charlotte FC
Philadelphia Union
Charlotte FC
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
Charlotte FC
Columbus Crew
Philadelphia Union
6.
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
Charlotte FC
FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew
Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC
7.
Chicago Fire
Charlotte FC
Philadelphia Union
Columbus Crew
New York City FC
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati
8.
New York City FC
New England
Orlando City
New York City FC
Charlotte FC
Orlando City
New York City FC
Orlando City
9.
Red Bull New York
Columbus Crew
New York City FC
Orlando City
Columbus Crew
Toronto FC
Orlando City
New England
10.
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Toronto FC
New England
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
11.
Columbus Crew
Orlando City
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
Toronto FC
New York City FC
12.
Toronto FC
Atlanta United
Toronto FC
New England
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
13.
New England
Toronto FC
New England
Toronto FC
New England
New York City FC
DC United
CF Montréal
14.
CF Montréal
DC United
DC United
DC United
DC United
DC United
CF Montréal
Toronto FC
15.
DC United
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
New England
DC United
1.
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
Vancouver
LAFC
2.
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver
Seattle Sounders
LAFC
Vancouver
3.
Vancouver
Vancouver
San Diego FC
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
4.
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
Vancouver
Houston Dynamo
San Diego FC
5.
San Jose
LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy
Houston Dynamo
Minnesota United
Seattle Sounders
LA Galaxy
6.
LA Galaxy
FC Dallas
Minnesota United
Austin FC
San Jose
Austin FC
Austin FC
San Jose
7.
FC Dallas
San Jose
Real Salt Lake
Minnesota United
LA Galaxy
San Jose
LA Galaxy
FC Dallas
8.
Portland Timbers
Minnesota United
San Jose
Portland Timbers
Austin FC
Real Salt Lake
FC Dallas
Minnesota United
9.
Minnesota United
Portland Timbers
Austin FC
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
LA Galaxy
San Jose
Colorado Rapids
10.
Real Salt Lake
Austin FC
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
Minnesota United
St Louis City
Minnesota United
Austin FC
11.
Austin FC
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
Real Salt Lake
Portland Timbers
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
12.
St Louis City
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
Real Salt Lake
Houston Dynamo
13.
Houston Dynamo
Real Salt Lake
St Louis City
St Louis City
Real Salt Lake
Portland Timbers
Colorado Rapids
Real Salt Lake
14.
Colorado Rapids
St Louis City
Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
St Louis City
Colorado Rapids
Sporting KC
St Louis City
15.
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
St Louis City
Sporting KC
The Apple TV experts are Andrés Agulla, Marcelo Balboa, Max Bretos, Steve Cangialosi, Daniel Chapela, Miguel Gallardo, Michele Giannone, Tony Husband, Sacha Kljestan, Kaylen Kyle, Lori Lindsey, Dax McCarthy, Sammy Sadovnik, Bruno Vain, and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
There is some near-consensus among the punditry — not surprisingly, it’s at the top and the bottom of the tables. All but one pick Inter Miami to finish at the top of the Eastern Conference, and all but two pick LAFC to finish first in the Western Conference. Likewise, almost everybody picks DC United and CF Montréal will sit at the bottom of the East, and Sporting Kansas City at the bottom of the West.
But things get muddy in the middle, with Houston Dynamo and New York City FC enjoying the least consensus among the punditry: NYCFC are picked to finish as high as 3rd Place, and as low as 13th.
Here are five observations about the MLS punditry’s 2026 predictions.
Note: Both prediction tables are included as PDFs at the bottom of this post.
2026 MLS Predictions | Apple TV
Andrés Agulla
Marcelo Balboa
Max Bretos
Steve Cangialosi
Daniel Chapela
Miguel Gallardo
Michele Giannone
Tony Husband
Sacha Kljestan
Kaylyn Kyle
Lori Lindsey
Dax McCarty
Sammy Sadovnik
Bruno Vain
Bradley Wright-Phillips
1.
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
FC Cincinatti
Inter Miami
Inter Miami
2.
Charlotte FC
FC Cincinatti
FC Cincinatti
FC Cincinatti
Columbus Crew
Nashville SC
FC Cincinatti
Chicago Fire
Charlotte FC
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinatti
FC Cincinatti
Columbus Crew
FC Cincinatti
Columbus Crew
3.
Nashville SC
Nashville SC
Orlando City
New York City FC
FC Cincinatti
FC Cincinatti
Nashville SC
Nashville SC
Nashville SC
FC Cincinatti
Nashville SC
Chicago Fire
Inter Miami
Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinatti
4.
New York City FC
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
FC Cincinatti
Red Bull New York
Charlotte FC
Atlanta United
Philadelphia Union
Atlanta United
Orlando City
Red Bull New York
5.
FC Cincinatti
Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC
Nashville SC
Atlanta United
Chicago Fire
Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
New York City FC
Nashville SC
Chicago Fire
Nashville SC
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
New York City FC
6.
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
Nashville SC
Columbus Crew
Nashville SC
Atlanta United
New York City FC
New York City FC
Chicago Fire
New York City FC
Philadelphia Union
Charlotte FC
Chicago Fire
Red Bull New York
Charlotte FC
7.
Orlando City
New York City FC
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
Orlando City
Orlando City
Orlando City
Charlotte FC
FC Cincinnati
Orlando City
Red Bull New York
New York City FC
Nashville SC
Columbus Crew
Philadelphia Union
8.
Philadelphia Union
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Red Bull New York
Charlotte FC
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
Orlando City
Philadelphia Union
New England
Orlando City
New England
Orlando City
Nashville SC
New England
9.
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
Toronto FC
Charlotte FC
New York City FC
Red Bull New York
Charlotte FC
Columbus Crew
New England
Atlanta United
Charlotte FC
Orlando City
Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC
Chicago Fire
10.
Chicago Fire
Orlando City
Columbus Crew
Orlando City
Chicago Fire
New York City FC
Atlanta United
Atlanta United
Columbus Crew
Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
Red Bull New York
New York City FC
Nashville SC
11.
Red Bull New York
Toronto FC
Atlanta United
Atlanta United
Red Bull New York
New England
Red Bull New York
Red Bull New York
Atlanta United
Columbus Crew
New York City FC
Red Bull New York
DC United
Atlanta United
Toronto FC
12.
New England
New England
New York City FC
Toronto FC
DC United
Charlotte FC
Toronto FC
New England
Orlando City
Red Bull New York
CF Montréal
Atlanta United
New York City FC
Toronto FC
Orlando City
13.
DC United
Philadelphia Union
New England
New England
Toronto FC
Toronto FC
New England
Toronto FC
Toronto FC
DC United
Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC
DC United
Atlanta United
14.
Toronto FC
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
New England
DC United
DC United
DC United
CF Montréal
Toronto FC
DC United
DC United
New England
CF Montréal
DC United
15.
CF Montréal
DC United
DC United
DC United
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
DC United
CF Montréal
New England
CF Montréal
CF Montréal
New England
CF Montréal
1.
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
San Diego FC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
LAFC
2.
Vancouver
Vancouver
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
San Diego FC
Vancouver
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver
Vancouver
LAFC
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver
3.
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver
San Diego FC
Vancouver
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
Minnestoa United
San Diego FC
4.
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
Austin FC
San Diego FC
Houston Dynamo
Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders
LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver
Vancouver
LA Galaxy
San Diego FC
Seattle Sounders
5.
Austin FC
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
Portland Timbers
LA Galaxy
Austin FC
Austin FC
San Diego FC
San Diego FC
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers
Austin FC
San Diego FC
Austin FC
LA Galaxy
6.
San Diego FC
Austin FC
Minnestoa United
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders
LA Galaxy
Minnestoa United
Austin FC
Austin FC
Austin FC
LA Galaxy
Minnestoa United
Minnestoa United
Vancouver
Austin FC
7.
Minnesota United
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
Minnesota United
Minnesota United
Portland Timbers
LA Galaxy
San Jose
Portland Timbers
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Minnesota United
8.
Portland Timbers
Colorado Rapids
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
FC Dallas
St Louis City
Portland Timbers
Minnestoa United
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
Austin FC
Houston Dynamo
Austin FC
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
9.
Real Salt Lake
Portland Timbers
FC Dallas
Colorado Rapids
San Jose
San Jose
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
Minnesota United
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
FC Dallas
San Jose
Houston Dynamo
St Louis City
10.
FC Dallas
Minnestoa United
Real Salt Lake
Austin FC
Portland Timbers
Minnestoa United
Real Salt Lake
St Louis City
St Louis City
Real Salt Lake
Minnestoa United
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
LA Galaxy
Portland Timbers
11.
San Jose
FC Dallas
St Louis City
Real Salt Lake
Austin FC
Real Salt Lake
San Jose
FC Dallas
FC Dallas
Minnestoa United
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Colorado Rapids
Real Salt Lake
FC Dallas
12.
Sporting KC
Real Salt Lake
LA Galaxy
San Jose
Real Salt Lake
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
San Jose
San Jose
Colorado Rapids
San Jose
Houston Dynamo
St Louis City
San Jose
13.
Colorado Rapids
St Louis City
Colorado Rapids
St Louis City
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
St Louis City
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
St Louis City
St Louis City
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
San Jose
Real Salt Lake
14.
Houston Dynamo
San Jose
San Jose
Houston Dynamo
Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
San Jose
St Louis City
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
Sporting KC
15.
St Louis City
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
St Louis City
Houston Dynamo
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
Sporting KC
St Louis City
Sporting KC
Colorado Rapids
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