Inter Miami achieved a 2-2 draw against Cincinnati on the penultimate round of the MLS regular season, while Orlando City, led by Antoine Griezmann, maintained its position at the top of the Eastern Conference after a duel with the Chicago Fire. The match at Inter Miami showed a balanced game, with Inter opening the scoring in the second half thanks to a powerful shot by Luis Suárez, who scored his sixteenth goal of the season. The Reds, however, responded with two goals before Brazilian RiquelmeFillipi equalized in the 90th minute, securing the one-point victory.
In the Orlando City game, Griezmann was the key piece. He scored and assisted in the same game, contributing with a goal and an assist that allowed him to maintain the lead in the Eastern Conference. Colombian Iván Angulo also scored for Orlando, while Chicago Fire forward Lewandowski was one goal away from the woodwork, leaving the team with an unchanged result in its table position.
Charlotte FC and the Philadelphia Union sealed their qualification for the playoffs on the same day. Charlotte won 4‑0 over the Montreal Impact, while the Philadelphia Union drew 0‑0 against Nashville SC, securing the last direct spot in the Eastern Conference. With these results, there is only one direct position left in the East, which is still occupied by Orlando City.
In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps took advantage of the defeat of DallasFC to consolidate their leadership, winning 4‑1 over the San DiegoGulls with a goal from Ecuadorian Bruno Caicedo. The Salt Lake City Sounders came back 1-2 against Austin FC, while Minnesota United beat Kansas City Twitch 3-1, with goals from Mauricio González and the Chilean Gonzalo Tapia.
New York City FC and the Columbus Crew are also seeking the last direct spot in the Eastern Conference. The first won 2-1 over Atlanta United, with Nicolás Fernández scoring the first goal of the season, and the Crew beat DallasFC 2-0, with goals from Santiago Rodríguez and Gonzalo Tapia. With Orlando City remaining on top, the next phase of the season is shaping up to be a challenge for the teams still in the playoff race.