MLS Playoff picture: Nashville SC can clinch home-field advantage Sunday — but needs help

• Nashville SC can secure a home-field advantage in the MLS Cup Playoffs, but will need to beat No. 1 overall seed Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
• With a Nashville win, the LA Galaxy must lose or tie its game at Houston Dynamo FC.
• Nashville SC won each of its home playoff games in 2020 and 2021, its first two years as an MLS franchise.

Nashville SC can score home-field advantage in the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win Sunday at Los Angeles FC — but needs help from the team that spoiled its regular-season home finale one week ago.

To secure home-field advantage in round one, Nashville must win its final game at LAFC (4 p.m., MyTV30) and hope the LA Galaxy ties or loses to the playoff-eliminated Houston Dynamo, which beat Nashville last Sunday, 2-1, at Geodis Park. Heading into MLS Decision Day, fifth-place Nashville (12-10-11, 47 points) trails the fourth-place Galaxy by one win (13-12-8, 47 points) in the Western Conference standings. Total wins is the first tiebreaker if point totals are level.

MUKHTAR'S GOALS:Why Nashville SC is handing out vinyl albums of Hany Mukhtar's goals this season

PLAYOFF BERTH:Nashville SC clinches 2022 MLS playoff berth

The top four teams in each conference host in the first round of postseason games. LA can catch third-place FC Dallas (13-9-11, 50 points) with a Dallas tie or loss. But so can Nashville, which needs to beat LAFC and see Dallas lose to eliminated Sporting Kansas City.

Here is the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference picture heading into Decision Day:

Western Conference playoff picture

1. LAFC (21-8-4, 67 points, Supporters' Shield winners)

The Supporters' Shield is awarded to the team with the best overall regular-season record.

Decision Day: vs. Nashville SC (12-10-11, 47 points, fourth)

Playoffs - Round One: Clinched, bye

2. Austin FC (16-10-7, 55 points)

Decision Day: vs. Colorado Rapids (11-13-9, 42 points, 10th)

Playoffs: Clinched, vs. Minnesota United FC

3. FC Dallas (13-9-11, 50 points)

Decision Day: vs. Sporting Kansas City (11-15-7, 40 points, 12th)

Playoffs: Clinched, vs. Portland Timbers

4. LA Galaxy (13-12-8, 47 points)

Decision Day: at Houston Dynamo (10-17-6, 36 points, 13th)

Playoffs: Clinched, vs. Nashville SC

5. Nashville SC (12-10-11, 47 points)

Decision Day: at LAFC (21-8-4, 67 points, first)

Playoffs: Clinched, at LA Galaxy

6. Portland Timbers (11-9-13, 46 points)

Decision Day: at Real Salt Lake (11-11-11, 44 points, eighth)

Playoffs: IF clinched, at FC Dallas

Clinching scenarios: Portland clinches a playoff berth with a win or tie at RSL (4 p.m., ESPN2).

7. Minnesota United FC (13-14-6, 45 pts.)

Decision Day: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (12-14-7, 43 pts.; ninth)

Playoffs: IF clinched, at Austin FC

Clinching scenarios: Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with a win or tie vs. Vancouver (4 p.m., MLS LIVE on ESPN+)

In the hunt

8. Real Salt Lake (11-11-11, 44 points)

Decision Day: Portland Timbers (11-9-13, 46 points, sixth)

Clinching scenarios: RSL clinches a playoff berth with a win vs. Portland (4 p.m., ESPN2) and a Minnesota tie or loss to Vancouver.

9. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (12-14-7, 43 points)

Decision Day: at Minnesota United FC (13-14-6, 45 points, seventh)

Clinching scenarios: Vancouver clinches a playoff berth with a win at Minnesota (4 p.m., MLS LIVE on ESPN+).

Eliminated from playoff contention

10. Colorado Rapids (11-13-9, 32 points)

11. Seattle Sounders FC (12-17-4, 40 points)

12. Sporting Kansas City (11-15-7, 40 points)

13. Houston Dynamo FC (10-17-6, 36 points)

14. San Jose Earthquakes (8-15-10, 34 points)

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.