Storylines | Your guide to Decision Day 2024

Ah, Decision Day – what a glorious event. For some, it's the start of a win-or-win journey to MLS Cup; For others, it is the short end of a journey that will have to wait at least a year. Hearts are broken, hands are frozen and the playoff field is finally determined. Huzzah!

For Minnesota United, only place in the playoffs remains at stake on this year's decision day. I took the trouble to do the math (it's so much fun) and figure out all the possible finishing positions the Loons could occupy in this year's standings. I believe I have discussed all the possible best and worst outcomes on this crucial day; Read on so you know what to look out for.

This little slice of the Western Conference is all I really care about this weekend. Sure, the Loons' first opponent will be higher in the standings if they avoid falling into the Wild Card match, but we'll get to that later – one thing at a time! For now, all you need to know is that the club won't be able to finish outside of this window. In fact, none of these teams can escape this small group, with the gap between fourth and fifth being five points and the gap between ninth and tenth being seven points.

Your Loons could finish anywhere between fifth and eighth in the Western Conference. I've divided this little guide into three categories, each with two subcategories, to give a complete picture. Call me Van Gogh if you like, I won't fight you. The first category is the club's result from Saturday. Based on whether MNUFC wins/loses/draws, we can examine the second category: the best and worst scenario results in the league.

• Loons win
  • Finish the season with 52 points (one shy of the club record of 53 set in 2019).
  • Best case scenario: fifth place
    • If both Houston and Colorado lose or draw, the Loons would overtake both in the standings and finish in fifth place, setting up a first-round matchup with number four (Seattle or RSL, depending on the results of each decision day).
  • Worst case scenario: seventh place
    • If both Colorado and Houston win, the Loons would retain seventh place and face the No. 2 seed in the first round (that would be LAFC, unless the Galaxy lose and LAFC win by a margin large enough to beating them on goal difference). .
• Loons tie
  • Finish the season with 50 points
  • Best case scenario: seventh place
    • A loss, a draw or a one-goal win for Vancouver would keep them behind MNUFC.
  • Worst case scenario: eighth place
    • The Loons would fall to eighth place behind Vancouver if the Caps manage to overcome a few different tiebreakers. First they would have to win their own game and draw level with MNUFC on 50 points. Then they would also be tied in terms of games won. The second deciding factor is goal difference, where the Loons currently have a two-goal advantage. If the Caps win by three goals, they will jump to seventh place. If they win by two points, they would still need to score at least four goals to beat the Loons in the third tiebreaker, so goals for. Basically, we don't want Vancouver to win, okay?
• Loons lose
  • Finish the season with 49 points
  • Best case scenario: seventh place
    • A loss in Vancouver would allow the Loons to retain seventh place.
  • Worst case scenario: eighth place
    • Should Vancouver beat RSL, the Loons would slip to eighth place. Even if Portland wins and MNUFC ties with 49 points, the black and blue will come out on top and win the first tiebreaker.

Eighth place means Portland would go to Minnesota for the wild card match, that's for sure. With seventh place, the Loons would face one of the LA teams, likely LAFC. The fifth or sixth place finisher would make an appointment with RSL or Seattle depending on the results of each decision day. This means your Loons will be facing one of Portland, LAFC, LA Galaxy, RSL or Seattle to kick off their playoff journey.

So basically you have to find a way to watch at least Four games at the same time this Saturday. Every Western Conference game begins at 8:00 p.m. So turn on each of your screens and pay close attention to the three games listed below. If you have more space, you can easily tune in to every Western Conference game except FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City. Right now they're just playing for fun; Sorry, guys.

• Houston Dynamo FC vs LA Galaxy
• Austin FC vs. Colorado Rapids
• Real Salt Lake vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC

All of the play-off spots in the West have already been taken, but with so much still up in the air regarding the seedings and first round matches, this weekend is going to be absolutely huge. Rest this week, fans; This Saturday there will be a lot going on at eight o'clock.