Red Bull New York, New York City FC, Toronto FC, San Diego FC, Austin FC and Atlanta United failed to qualify for the 2026 MLS Cup playoffs after finishing 22nd through 27th in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Red Bull New York finished 22nd and did not qualify. Teenagers Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti earned U.S. men’s national team call-ups. Matthew Dos Santos became a key contributor. Ronald Donkor, 21, delivered veteran-level performances. The club’s youth development system remains among the league’s strongest. But the attack generated almost no threat outside high-press transitions. Adding creative players in the attacking half is the top offseason priority — a challenge given Red Bull GmbH’s historical spending restraint.
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New York City FC finished 23rd and missed the playoffs. Nicolás Fernández scored 16 goals with 11 assists in his first full MLS season. However, the team won just two matches after July 31 and was mathematically eliminated before Decision Day. Injuries depleted the squad, prompting a late-season signing of Matt Miazga to stabilize the defense. With NYCFC’s new stadium opening next summer, building reliable depth beyond its top-tier players is now urgent.
Toronto FC finished 24th and did not qualify. When Josh Sargent, Djordje Mihailovic and Niklas Dorsch played together, the team looked cohesive and promising. Injuries affected the roster all season. Toronto went 3 wins, 3 draws and 11 losses on the road. Sargent recorded 10 goals and four assists in his first MLS season north of the border. To maximize his impact, Toronto must add a second creative force behind him and overhaul its defense.
San Diego FC finished 25th and missed the playoffs. Anders Dreyer contributed 14 goals and 14 assists. Midseason signing Elias Achouri showed flashes of quality. But San Diego allowed 29 goals during a nine-game winless streak beginning in early September and received eight red cards — undermining momentum. Investing the $5 million received from Stoke City for Luca Bombino’s transfer into the back line is the top defensive priority.
Austin FC finished 26th and failed to qualify. Eighteen-year-old homegrown midfielder Ervin Torres earned a starting role by late summer and displayed passing range that could anchor the club for years. But Austin lost its first nine matches and struggled at both ends of the field. A fan boycott followed the ejection of a supporter wearing an "abolish ICE" shirt — compounding on-field dysfunction. With Khaled El-Ahmad as chief soccer officer and Jim Curtin as head coach, Austin must upgrade its entire roster quickly.
Atlanta United finished 27th and missed the playoffs. Breel Embolo scored four goals with one assist in 11 appearances after arriving from Europe — a rare bright spot amid expensive European signings that underperformed. Atlanta had moments in slow, deliberate matches but collapsed when the pace increased — a flaw incompatible with MLS competition. President of soccer Mauricio Culebro, hired from Tigres UANL in March, must align chief soccer officer Chris Henderson and manager Tata Martino behind a single, executable vision.
The 2027 MLS regular season begins February 19, 2027.
More: MLS · Soccer · Red Bull New York · New York City FC · Toronto FC · San Diego FC · Austin FC · Atlanta United FC
