The 2024 MLS season is under way, and the field is more open than ever. There’s no clear front-runner in the race for the MLS Supporters’ Shield, and no clear favorite to take home silverware at the end of the campaign.
Reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew are flying, as are defending Supporters’ Shield victors FC Cincinnati. Inter Miami, meanwhile, look better than ever with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez leading the way in a tight Eastern Conference. Then there are the wildcards: New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps, all of whom have had blistering starts to the season.
With eight matchdays out of the way, which club leads the pack, and who is falling short of expectations? GOAL presents the latest MLS Power Rankings…
29San Jose Earthquakes
What can you say about the Earthquakes? Seven losses out of eight matches to begin the year, with just one win under their belts. A 3-0 pummeling by the Rapids at the weekend only added to the disappointment.
28New England Revolution
The Caleb Porter-era has not gotten off to as quick a start as either party would want — at 1-1-5 through seven matches, they’re bottom of the Eastern Conference after being blanked by NYCFC on the road at Yankee Stadium 2-0 in week eight.
27FC Dallas
Winless in seven-straight matches, FCD are nearing free fall. Not one player has scored more than one goal this season, and their latest 0-0 draw with the Sounders only adds to their shocking start to the season. Despite Dallas investing nearly $13m in Petar Musa, the Croatian has yet to find his feet, while U.S. international Jesus Ferreira hasn’t found his shooting boots, either.
26Nashville SC
A week eight bye brought a much-needed break, but Nashville are now nearing early-season panic mode under Gary Smith. Knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Inter Miami, defeated 5-0 by LAFC and with only one win on the season, they have a long way to go.
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25Toronto FC
Their third-straight defeat and fourth in their last five matches, a disappointing 3-2 loss to Charlotte FC haunted TFC in week eight. They’ve conceded 10 goals in three games, and are looking lifeless without an injured Lorenzo Insigne.
24Austin FC
Matchweek eight their two-game winning streak ended by a rough 1-0 loss on the road to St. Louis City SC. After an incredibly poor start to the campaign, they bounced back, but are still trailing behind the power curve.
16Chicago Fire
The Fire had a 0-0 draw against the league-leaders New York Red Bulls on the road in week eight, meaning they have lost just one of their last five games. It was an impressive, resilient performance, but they’re still lacking goals. If they can get new DP Hugo Cuypers firing, they’ll be fine.
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3New York Red Bulls
For the Red Bulls, it was a disappointing draw in front of their fans in week eight as they ended things scoreless with the Fire. At 4-1-3 through eight matches, though, they’ve been must-watch. Sandro Schwarz is doing a remarkable job, with his team level on points with Inter Miami and only trailing via goal-differential.
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2Inter Miami
The Herons, and a bit of Lionel Messi magic, pulled off a remarkable result in week eight in front of more than 70,000 fans vs Sporting KC at Arrowhead Stadium. The Argentine netted a goal and provided an assist to take three points on the road in a 3-2 thriller. A great response from Tata Martino’s side after their embarrassing CCC exit to CF Monterrey.
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1Los Angeles Galaxy
The Galaxy are back, baby. MLS’ most storied franchise, they look reinvented in 2024. Riqui Puig and Joseph Paintstil created genuine magic on the pitch in week eight, combining for two late goals over second-placed Whitecaps in a Western Conference showdown. The Spaniard is an early MVP favorite, while the Ghanaian winger is surely one for Newcomer of the Year.
