Decision Day 2026 is finally here.
Prepare for the adrenaline to flow and blood pressure to spike with all 30 teams in action across about five hours of all-encompassing Major League Soccer mania as clubs compete for Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs qualification and positioning.
Whether you're tuning in to Apple TV's MLS 360 whiparound show or locked in on your favorite team's decisive finale, Decision Day's dual time slots will have your neck craning to catch all the drama.
Luckily, we've got you covered with the four must-watch matches on Saturday.
- READ MORE: Decision Day scenarios
- READ MORE: Every team that's in playoffs
- WHEN: Saturday, 4 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
Nashville SC visit FC Cincinnati as Supporters' Shield winners, having tied the MLS single-season points record (74, set by Inter Miami in 2024) via a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Red Bull New York last weekend.
Now, Nashville could set a new league points record with a win or draw. The stakes are massive for Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge & Co.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati remain focused on avoiding the Eastern Conference's Wild Card match. Seventh in the Eastern Conference entering Decision Day, the Evander-led Orange & Blue could finish anywhere from sixth to ninth place.
A win would guarantee Cincinnati qualify directly for Round One, while a loss or draw would require help to avoid dropping into the Wild Card positions.
As it stands, Cincinnati could even meet arch-rivals Columbus in the Wild Card match. Another playoff Hell is Real, anyone?
- WHEN: Saturday, 4 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
Clinging to the East's ninth and final postseason spot, Orlando City hope to climb up the table.
An eighth-place finish would give them hosting rights in the Wild Card match, while a seventh-place finish would allow Antoine Griezmann & Co. to avoid the Wild Card match entirely.
The Lions are winless in three, and are banking on a trademark Griezmann masterclass after the Newcomer of the Year candidate has produced 14g/8a in 17 matches since joining midseason.
The New England Revolution, on the other hand, are embroiled in a tussle for second in the East.
Despite losing 2-1 against Miami last weekend, the scenario remains simple for the Revs. Record a result better than the Herons on Decision Day, and New England will claim the No. 2 seed.
Club captain Carles Gil and USMNT youngster Peyton Miller will need to be at their best for the visitors to make their move.
- WHEN: Saturday, 7 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
These are the matches Decision Day is all about.
The LA Galaxy sit seventh in the Western Conference on 44 points. Real Salt Lake sit 11th on 42 points. Anything can happen.
As six teams jockey for the final three playoff spots in the West, scenarios can get complicated, but a few things are clear.
If the Galaxy win, they're in. If RSL lose, they're out. RSL would also clinch their postseason berth with a win and dropped points from either Portland, Colorado or Seattle.
Beyond that, strap in because things could get wild quickly as LA's Marco Reus and RSL's Sergi Solans look to outduel each other.
- WHEN: Saturday, 7 pm ET
- WATCH: Apple TV
Another team joining the Decision Day fray in the West will be Seattle Sounders FC, who are outside the playoff picture in 10th place and looking for a way in.
The simplest road for Seattle is a win over LAFC combined with dropped points from LA, Portland or Colorado. A draw would require further help, via results or tiebreaker.
If the Sounders come up short, it would be the second time in 18 seasons that the two-time MLS Cup presented by Audi champions have missed the postseason since they joined the league in 2009. Pressure is sky-high for head coach Brian Schmetzer's team.
LAFC are in a much more comfortable position, all but locked into their sixth-place spot in the West and awaiting their Round One playoff opponent.
But the Black & Gold would benefit massively from a Decision Day momentum boost, winning just once in five games (1W-1L-3D) since interim head coach Xavi Tamarit took over for the departed Marc Dos Santos.
Will we see Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min turn things around for LAFC?
