Columbus sign Arfsten to contract extension
The Columbus Crew have signed midfielder Max Arfsten to a multi-year contract extension. The 23-year-old's new deal runs through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. Arfsten is in his second season with Columbus, having originally joined the club as a first-round pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Decision Day is going to be more important for some than others.
Of course, we already know the four teams having a mud fight at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for the Wild Card spots need a win. We also know the LA Galaxy need a point to avoid potentially blowing their lead atop the Western Conference.
But what about everyone else? Hereās who has the most to play for on Saturday.
Columbus and LA play for a shot at hosting MLS Cup
Columbus head into Saturdayās match at the New York Red Bulls (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass) on 63 points. They obviously canāt catch Inter Miami CF in the standings, but they can bypass the LA Galaxy and outlast LAFC. Remember, the team with the higher regular-season points total hosts MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 7. With a win and a Galaxy draw, the Crew can finish second in the overall standings and ensure theyāll host MLS Cup (in back-to-back seasons) if they get there. Thatās a big incentive for a team thatās made every final possible over the last year.
Itās also another incentive for LA to take care of business on Saturday night when visiting a Houston Dynamo side fighting to hold onto the fifth spot in the West (9 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). But if they pull out a win, theyāll finish ahead of the Crew. And that would mean theyāre at home for the entirety of the playoffs unless they meet Supportersā Shield winners Inter Miami in MLS Cup. Thatās great news for a team thatās undefeated at Dignity Health Sports Park this season.
Seattle try to avoid LAFC
Iām not saying the Seattle Sounders should lose on Saturday against the Portland Timbers (9 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). Iām also not not saying that.
Theyāre the hottest team in the league post-Leagues Cup. Theyāve been on a 2.38 points-per-game pace since then. In fact, theyāve been on that pace since the halfway mark of their season. Only Inter Miami have been on a better pace in that span.
The only thing they havenāt handled over the last few months is matchups with LAFC. They straight-up canāt beat these dudes. They've faced them four times this season in three competitions and theyāve come up short each time. In 2024, the aggregate score is 9-1 LAFC.
You can go even further than that, though. Seattle havenāt beaten LAFC in their last 10 tries. LAFC have eight wins in those 10 games. Something doesnāt click for Seattle against them and the playoffs arenāt typically when these things change.
So, maybe ā just maybe ā Seattle should be scoreboard-watching on Saturday. Ok, Iām not actually suggesting they throw their matchup with Portland. But still, maybe the best outcome is whatever keeps them from a potential meeting with LAFC in the Conference Semifinals. If they can at least avoid them until the Conference Finals, itās probably for the better. If they can avoid them until someone else takes care of them, even better. The rest of the West feels beatable for this group. LAFCā¦ well, Seattle can definitely beat them. They just havenāt proven it in a long, long while.
A Rocky Mountain Cup Round One
This isnāt really about whatās best for either team. But thereās a chance we get a special matchup in Round One.
If the Colorado Rapids take care of business at Austin FC on Saturday (9 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), they could get a Rocky Mountain Cup series vs. Real Salt Lake. That means potentially three playoff games between arch-rivals that are both having fantastic seasons.
The Rapids are in the middle of their fourth-ever season with 50-plus points. A win on Saturday would give them their third-most points in a season. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake are a point away from tying their best-ever points total (57) in a season.
Honestly, Iāve got my fingers crossed on this one. Both teams score in bunches and give up a ton of goals. They faced each other three times this year already and all three delivered. Colorado won two of those meetings, and RSL won the other. The aggregate over those games came out to Colorado - 8, RSL - 8.
Technically the most important decision of Decision Day
Thereās a more obvious scenario we at least need to talk through. The most notable decision on Decision Day will be who gets the final home playoff spot in the East.
Orlando City SC are two points ahead of fifth-place New York City FC. The Lions just need a win over Atlanta United to ensure they clinch fourth place (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). With a loss, things suddenly get interesting. Thereās no guarantee NYCFC pull out a win at a streaky CF MontrĆ©al side (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), but the odds are still in NYCFCās favor.
If youāre Orlando, you better go ahead and see this through. Not just because it would seal a home playoff spot, but because a win or a draw would ensure Atlanta United miss the playoffs. There are long-term rivalry bragging rights at stake.
Philadelphia sign Rafanello to contract extension: The Philadelphia Union have signed homegrown midfielder Jeremy Rafanello to a contract extension through 2026 with options for 2027-28. Rafanello, 24, has 0g/1a in 15 all-competition appearances with the Union.
Good luck out there. Be prepared for success.