MLS Cup Playoffs 2022: How Nashville SC can clinch a postseason spot in Week 33

Drake Hills
Nashville Tennessean

Two games remain in the 2022 Major League Soccer season and Nashville SC sits in playoff position with home-field advantage entering its final home game Sunday against the Houston Dynamo (7:30 p.m., MyTV30).

Houston (9-17-6, 33 points) comes to Geodis Park having already been eliminated from playoff contention, but Nashville (12-9-11, 47 points) is 4th in the Western Conference and can clinch a home playoff spot. But the third-year MLS club may need help.

Here's how Nashville can clinch 2022 playoff berth in Week 33:

Nashville playoffs clinch scenario 1

  • Nashville wins vs. Houston

Assuming Nashville, the LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers and Minnesota United all win their respective games, the West standings (from fourth-eighth place) after Week 33 would look like this going into the final day of the regular season, Oct. 9:

  • 4. Nashville (12-9-11, 50 points)
  • 5. LA Galaxy (14-12-7, 49 points)
  • 6. Portland (12-8-13, 49 points)
  • 7. Minnesota (14-13-6, 48 points)
  • 8. Real Salt Lake (or Seattle Sounders FC/Vancouver Whitecaps FC if they win)

But if LA and Portland tie their games, the West standings after Week 33 would look like this:

  • 4. Nashville (12-9-11, 50 points)
  • 5. Minnesota (14-13-6, 48 points)
  • 6. LA (13-12-8, 47 points)
  • 7. Portland (11-8-14, 47 points)
  • 8. Real Salt Lake (11-11-11, 44 points)

Nashville playoff clinch scenario 2

Aug 21, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA;  Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) plays for the ball against FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges (24) in the second half of the match at Geodis Park.
  • Nashville ties Houston
  • Portland ties (or loses) vs. LAFC
  • RSL loses (or ties) LA Galaxy

After Week 33, if Portland ties LAFC and Nashville ties Houston, the West standings would look like this:

  • 4. LA Galaxy (14-12-7, 49 points)
  • 5. Minnesota (14-13-6, 48 points; if they win)
  • 6. Nashville (12-9-12, 48 points)
  • 7. Portland (11-8-14, 47 points; if they tie)
  • 8. RSL, Seattle Sounders or Vancouver Whitecaps

Current MLS Cup Playoffs pictures

The top seven teams from the East and West qualify for the MLS playoffs. LAFC, Austin FC and FC Dallas have already punched their tickets to the 2022 postseason as the top three teams in the West. Cascadia rivals Seattle and Vancouver are on the brink of elimination, sitting five points below the line. LA, Portland, Minnesota and RSL are within four points behind Nashville in the West and remain in playoff contention.

Western Conference

(1) LAFC gets a first-round bye, (2) Austin FC vs. (7) Minnesota United, (3) FC Dallas vs. (6) Portland Timbers, (4) Nashville vs. (5) LA Galaxy.

Eastern Conference

(1) Philadelphia Union gets a first-round bye, (2) CF Montréal vs. (7) Inter Miami CF, (3) New York Red Bulls vs. (6) Orlando City SC, (4) New York City FC vs. (5) FC Cincinnati.

What 2022 playoffs mean for Nashville

Nashville clinching a third playoff berth in its first three years of MLS existence would be historic for the league.

The only teams in MLS history that made the playoffs in their first three seasons in the league are Seattle (2009-11), LAFC (2018-20), Atlanta United (2017-19) and the Chicago Fire (1998-2000).

If Nashville clinches this year, only seven teams could say they were playoff-bound 2020-22: Philadelphia, NYCFC, NYRB, Orlando, Portland and Minnesota and Nashville. Just two of those teams won playoff games in 2020-21, Nashville and NYCFC, who is the reigning MLS Cup champion.

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.