MLS Power Rankings Resume After World Cup Break, Highlighting Lewandowski’s Debut

ESPN’s analysts released a new MLS Power Rankings covering Matchday 18, the first set of evaluations since the league paused for the FIFA World Cup. The list reflects each team’s form in the weeks following the break, weighing recent results, injuries and new player integrations. Teams that secured wins or solid draws moved up, while clubs hampered by key absences slipped.

ESPN

Chicago Fire entered the rankings at ninth after a 3-1 defeat to New York City FC, despite the Polish striker’s second MLS appearance off the bench. ESPN noted that Lewandowski’s integration period is underway, indicating that his impact remains limited while the Fire struggled defensively in a 0-0 draw with Vancouver that featured only four shots inside Drake Callender’s box.

ESPN

LAFC continued its surge, highlighted by a 4-0 victory over Kansas City that underscored a widening gap between the league’s elite and its mid-tier clubs. Orlando City earned a 1-0 win over Nashville, with Antoine Griezmann and rookie Justin Ellis influencing the result. Conversely, Seattle Sounders extended a five-game losing streak, and Atlanta United fell 4-1 to New England Revolution, prompting concerns about depth and injuries across their squads.

ESPN

• LAFC’s 4-0 win marked the largest margin among the featured games.

ESPN

• Chicago’s 0-0 draw limited Vancouver to four shots on target inside the box.

ESPN

• New England’s 4-1 triumph over Atlanta featured goals from every starter on the forward and midfield lines.

ESPN

• Colorado’s fifth red card of the season came in a 1-0 loss to St. Louis, tying them for second in MLS red-card totals.

ESPN

The updated rankings suggest that clubs with new Designated Players—such as Griezmann in Orlando and Lewandowski in Chicago—are still calibrating their contributions. Teams that managed to avoid disciplinary setbacks and maintain a stable roster, like LAFC and New England, are positioned to contend for playoff spots, while those grappling with injuries and suspensions may need to adjust tactics to remain competitive through the summer stretch.

ESPN