FC Dallas has been on the brink of clinching a playoff spot for a couple weeks and yesterday, with Sporting KC's draw against the LA Galaxy, Oscar Pareja's side has officially clinched a 2016 MLS Cup Playoff spot!
Currently on 52 points, FCD could be caught by seventh place Seattle Sounders FC who can earn a maximum 53 points and sixth place Sporting KC with a maximum of 52 points, but with RSL playing both SKC and Seattle in their last four matches, all three of SSFC, SKC & RSL could not mathematically catch FC Dallas meaning that the playoffs will be reached by FCD for the third straight season.
FC Dallas, winners of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, have made the playoffs every season under Oscar Pareja and now turn their attention to securing home field throughout the post-season. Here are the standings and scenarios:
| # | Team | Points | Record | Games Rem. | Goal Diff. | Max Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Dallas | 52 | 15-8-7 | 4 | 8 | 64 |
| 2 | LA Galaxy | 48 | 11-4-15 | 4 | 17 | 60 |
| 3 | Colorado Rapids | 47 | 12-5-11 | 6 | 5 | 65 |
| 4 | Real Salt Lake | 44 | 12-10-8 | 4 | 0 | 56 |
| 5 | Portland Timbers | 41 | 11-11-8 | 4 | 0 | 53 |
| 6 | Sporting KC | 40 | 11-12-7 | 4 | 0 | 52 |
| 7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 35 | 10-13-5 | 6 | -3 | 53 |
Clinch top four
The top four teams in the Western Conference are guaranteed to host at least one playoff game, with third and fourth seeds hosting sixth and fifth respectively in the knockout round.
FCD will clinch a top four seed with any of the following this weekend(there are about a million scenarios but these are the simplest):
-Win vs RSL or
-Portland & SKC don't win their matches
Clinch top two
Getting a top two seed in the West is huge for FCD because it would mean skipping the knockout round and hosting a second leg in the Western Conference semifinal. FC Dallas cannot clinch a top two seed this weekend, but would clinch a top two seed if they beat Los Angeles at Toyota Stadium next Saturday, October 1st and win one more game this season.
Clinch #1 seed
Securing the #1 seed will depend on two things: If FCD can win two of their four remaining games and if Colorado drops points along the way. The Rapids currently sit five points behind FC Dallas at 47 points, but with two games in hand, their maximum point total is 65 points. However, three of Colorado's six remaining games are on the road where they have won just three times this season.