Herons’ draw gives Supporters’ Shield edge to Philadelphia
Inter Miami can still post the league’s best record, but Los Garzas need the Union to lose one of its final two matches.
Tadeo Allende scored Inter Miami’s only goal in a 1-1 tie Saturday in Toronto. CREDIT: Major League Soccer
Inter Miami could have all but clinched a second-straight Supporters’ Shield trophy by winning its last five matches of the regular season. A 1-1 draw Saturday in Toronto didn’t eliminate the Herons’ chances, but now they’ll need a little help.
The Supporters’ Shield is presented each year to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record. Inter Miami won the award in 2024 with a league-record 74 points.
Perhaps more important than the trophy, winning the Shield guarantees home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs.
Inter Miami (16-6-8, 56 points) trails Eastern Conference- and Major League Soccer-leading Philadelphia by seven points. The Union (19-7-6, 63 points) host New York City FC on Saturday and play at Charlotte on Decision Day, Oct. 18, the last day of the MLS regular season.
Los Garzas have four matches remaining, including three straight at home: Chicago (Tuesday), New England (Saturday) and Atlanta United (Oct. 11). Miami finishes on the road at Nashville (Oct. 18).
If the Herons win out, they’ll finish with 68 points (victories are worth three points, draws one). That’s a point short of the Union’s potential 69 points. For Miami to win the Shield, it needs Philadelphia to lose one of its final two.
The Union and Herons aren’t the only squads with a chance to finish atop the league. As of this writing, the following teams were still in the hunt (with current points, games remaining, and potential points possible):
FC Cincinnati (58, 3, 67)
Vancouver Whitecaps (57, 3, 66)
LAFC (53, 4, 65)
San Diego (57, 2, 63)
Orlando (51, 4, 63)
The Herons’ packed match schedule resumes Tuesday when Miami hosts the Chicago Fire (48 points), which will secure the ninth and final Eastern Conference postseason position with a win. Kickoff at Chase Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. CT.