The 2025 MLS
season is barely three weeks away! Ahead of the league’s 30th year, we’re moving full steam ahead into prediction season. Starting with the Western Conference today and the Eastern Conference, GIVEMESPORT‘s Ben Wright makes his predictions for the final standings.
Note: these predictions are as of January 31, 2025. With the transfer window still in full swing, a lot can change before the first ball is kicked.
15
FC Dallas
2024 finish: 11th
FC Dallas
have essentially gutted their roster. Gone are Jesús Ferreira
, Paul Arriola
, Alan Velasco
and Nkosi Tafari
. They’ve made a few signings, but overall haven’t come close to replacing the exodus of key players from last year. It looks set to be a long season in Eric Quill’s first season in charge.
14
San Diego FC
2024 finish: N/A
It’s typically hard to judge expansion teams before they’ve ever played a match. San Diego FC
are no different. Some of their moves have been intriguing, like the additions of DP wingers Hirving Lozano
and Anders Dreyer
. There are still plenty of question marks, though, like how Mikey Varas will fare in his first season as a senior head coach. At the end of the day, it’s just really hard to be good as an expansion team.
13
Portland Timbers
2024 finish: 9th
The Portland Timbers
have a ton of questions heading into the season. For starters, will Evander
be back? The 2024 Best XI midfielder ended last season publicly frustrated at the club, and seems like a prime candidate for the league’s new Cash Trade rule. If Evander leaves, Portland’s ceiling falls into the basement.
12
Sporting Kansas City
2024 finish: 13th
Sporting Kansas City
are another team who’ve had a major exodus of players this winter. Johnny Russell, Tim Melia
, Alan Pulido
and Fontàs
may have been past their primes, but they were all key players for Sporting, and haven’t been replaced so far this winter… sike! Signing Dejan Joveljic
from the Los Angeles Galaxy
as the first cash trade in league history is a huge move that brings them one of the best goal-scorers in MLS, and immediately raises their ceiling.
11
Vancouver Whitecaps
2024 finish: 8th
The Vancouver Whitecaps
are another team with major question marks. Are you sensing the trend here? Vanni Sartini was fired after the 2024 season. The club was put up for sale. Fafà Picault
left in free agency, and Stuart Armstrong
has been sold to Sheffield Wednesday
. There are more questions than answers this point, and while the ‘Caps have been on the bubble of being a contender for the last several seasons, 2025 feels like it has the potential to sour quickly.
10
San Jose Earthquakes
2024 finish: 14th
How quickly can Bruce Arena turn around one of the worst teams in MLS history? That’s the big question for the San Jose Earthquakes
, and honestly one of the biggest questions of the 2025 season. The ‘Quakes were awful in 2024, finishing last in the Supporters’ Shield standings, losing a record 25 matches, and conceding a record 78 goals. They’ve been wildly active in the transfer market, signing Josef Martínez
and Cristian Arango
, as well as bolstering several other areas. Arena has a history of getting production quickly, but will it be enough to get them into the playoffs?
9
Austin FC
2024 finish: 10th
Austin FC have overhauled their Designated Players, signing their three current DPs ( Osman Bukari
, Brandon Vázquez
and Myrto Uzuni
) in the last two windows. Sebastián Driussi
is gone, transferred out as Nico Estévez comes in to manage a new-look roster. They don’t have much depth at any position, though, and there are real questions about who is going to create the chances for Vázquez and Uzuni to finish.
8
Houston Dynamo
2024 finish: 5th
Hector Herrera and Adalberto Carrasquilla
are gone. Can Houston Dynamo
still play Ben Olsen’s possession-based style without them? The Dynamo led MLS with 59.3 percent possession last year but scored the seventh-fewest goals. They need to figure out who is going to control the game for them while also hoping Ezequiel Ponce
takes a big step forward in year two. Don’t be surprised if they take a step back in 2025.
7
Real Salt Lake
2024 finish: 3th
It’s Diego Luna
‘s team now. With Chicho Arango traded, Real Salt Lake
have moved on to a new chapter. Diogo Gonçalves
wears the number 10, but I suspect Luna will carry the weight of chance creation for an RSL side that should be in the playoffs, but will have trouble challenging at the top of the table.
6
Colorado Rapids
2024 finish: 7th
The Colorado Rapids
might not have the highest ceiling in the West, but under Chris Armas they’ve proved to have a very high floor, especially if Djordje Mihailović
is able to stay healthy for a full season. Chidozie Awaziem
was savvy pickup from Cincinnati, and he should improve a defense that was decent-if-suspect last year.
5
St. Louis City SC
2024 finish: 12th
St. Louis CITY SC
have had a quiet winter window, but that’s because they did most of their business in the summer. Marcel Hartel
and Cedric Teuchert
look like stars, and Timo Baumgartl
should be a fantastic addition at the back. They’re one to watch, and one of my two dark horse picks in the West this year.
4
LA Galaxy
2024 finish: 2nd
Remember that MLS Cup
-winning roster? Yeah… it’s dismantled. Aside from the fact that Riqui Puig
will miss most of the 2025 season, Gastón Brugman
, Jalen Neal
, Marky Delgado
and now Dejan Joveljic
are gone. With the Galaxy up against cap constraints, they haven’t really been able to reload, although Joveljic’s sale should give them a bit of wiggle room. They should be able to make a couple of additions, but having them in fourth feels like a risk.
3
Minnesota United
2024 finish: 6th
Minnesota United
maybe shouldn’t count as a dark horse, but I’m calling them one. Kelvin Yeboah
looked like a Golden Boot-caliber No. 9 in his half season, Robin Lod
remains one of the best and most overlooked playmakers in the league, and Eric Ramsey has built a solid system to maximize his players’ potential. Count on the Loons finishing towards the top of the Western Conference table.
2
Seattle Sounders
2024 finish: 4th
The Seattle Sounders
quietly had one of the best winter windows in MLS. Re-signing Albert Rusnák
and João Paulo
was excellent business, Paul Arriola
will raise their level in multiple positions, and Jesús Ferreira
is a proven MLS goal-scorer who hasn’t even reached his prime. Pair that with an all-time elite defense and you have a winning formula. The Sounders were just minutes away from making MLS Cup in 2024, and no one should be shocked if they make it all the way in 2025.
1
LAFC
2024 finish: 1st
Los Angeles FC
are another side that have made tons of changes this winter. Their midfield, in particular, has been completely gutted, with Timothy Tillman the only returning midfielder from 2024. Normally, this would be a massive red flag. But John Thorrington has build up a lot of credit with six seasons of exceptional roster building, endlessly able to replace players at a high level and always good for one massive summer move. Even with the changes, they still have loads of talent in this squad, an MVP-caliber attacker in Denis Bouanga
, and the ability to go out and add a game-changing DP in the summer. It’s the blueprint they’ve followed for years, and it always seems to work.
![MLS_Transfer Needs](https://i0.wp.com/static0.givemesportimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/mls_transfer-needs.jpg?resize=3000%2C1500&ssl=1)
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As we look ahead to the 2025 MLS season, the Western Conference is shaping up to be as competitive as ever. With talented teams and star-studded rosters, fans can expect an exciting race for the playoffs.
Here is a preview of the top teams in the Western Conference and my prediction for the final standings:
1. LA Galaxy: With a strong core of players and a proven track record of success, the Galaxy are poised to finish at the top of the conference. Led by key players like Chicharito and Jonathan dos Santos, they have the talent and experience to make a deep playoff run.
2. Seattle Sounders: The Sounders have consistently been a powerhouse in the Western Conference and I expect them to be right in the mix again in 2025. With a balanced roster and strong coaching, they will be a tough team to beat.
3. Portland Timbers: The Timbers have a solid roster and a passionate fan base that always gives them a boost at home. With key players like Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco leading the way, they should be in contention for a playoff spot.
4. FC Dallas: Dallas has a young and talented roster that has been steadily improving in recent years. With a focus on developing their own talent through their academy, they have the potential to surprise some of the more established teams in the conference.
5. LAFC: After a disappointing season in 2024, LAFC will be looking to bounce back and regain their status as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. With Carlos Vela leading the way, they have the firepower to compete with anyone in the league.
6. Real Salt Lake: RSL may be flying under the radar, but they have a solid core of players and a strong team culture that could propel them into playoff contention. With a well-rounded roster and a hard-working mentality, they could be a dark horse in the conference.
7. Vancouver Whitecaps: The Whitecaps have made some key additions to their roster in the offseason and should be a team to watch in 2025. With exciting young players like Ryan Gauld and Lucas Cavallini, they have the potential to surprise some of the more established teams in the conference.
8. San Jose Earthquakes: The Earthquakes have struggled in recent years, but they have made some key acquisitions in the offseason that could help them improve in 2025. With a revamped roster and a new coaching staff, they will be looking to make a statement in the Western Conference.
Overall, the Western Conference is shaping up to be highly competitive in 2025, with several teams vying for playoff spots. While the Galaxy may be the favorites to finish at the top, there are plenty of talented teams that will be looking to challenge them for supremacy. It’s sure to be an exciting season ahead for MLS fans.
Tags:
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- Key Matchups in the 2025 MLS Western Conference
- Top Contenders in the 2025 MLS West Conference
- MLS Western Conference Standings Forecast 2025
- Expert Predictions for the 2025 Western Conference
- 2025 MLS Western Conference Season Preview & Analysis
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