2019 CCL Spot Update: Pulling Away

With around 45 days of the MLS season left to play, it’s time to start paying attention to the standings. While the race for the Supporters’ Shield and playoff position in the East is important, perhaps the most important race is for the fifth spot in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. This spot will be awarded to the top American club in MLS with the most combined points over the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The spot was originally due to go to the winner of the 2017 MLS Cup, but Toronto FC are only allowed to qualify for this tournament through the Canadian Championship and have clinched that spot.

Spot 1: Sporting Kansas City (2017 U.S. Open Cup winner)

Spot 2: Toronto FC (2018 Canadian Champions)

Spot 3: 2018 U.S. Open Cup winner (Houston Dynamo or Philadelphia Union)

Spot 4: 2018 MLS Cup Champions (Non-Canadian)

Spot 5: Team with best aggregate record over the 2017 and 2018 MLS regular seasons (Non-Canadian)

Atlanta United are fully in the driver’s seat with just six matches remaining. They sit a full six points above both New York teams who are tied with 106 points each. Both clubs also have one less match to acquire points in. It’s been an extremely disappointing end to the season for NYCFC who have fell off considerably in the last month.

The Five Stripes play their final two matches against Western conference teams this week. On Wednesday, they conclude their four-match road trip with a meeting against the terrible San Jose Earthquakes, who just fired their manager. They then return home to play a pretty good RSL team who are current one of the most in-form teams in the league. The Red Bulls host a desperate Toronto FC side on Saturday and NYCFC travel to the always tough Montreal Impact.