MLS News Roundup: Decision Day, Guzan retires and Son transfer rumours

Tom Weber

• 17 Oct 2025 14:30 CDT
• 5 min read

News

The 2025 Major League Soccer regular season is heading into its final matchday on Saturday.

Decision Day is coming up, and although the Philadelphia Union have already clinched the Supporters' Shield, there is still plenty at stake. In addition to playoff seeding in both conferences, there are still two spots up for grabs in the West.

FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes can all still get into the playoffs in the Western Conference, with the first two currently occupying the so-called Wild Card positions.

Dallas play away at the Vancouver Whitecaps, who need just a point to beat San Diego to top spot in the West. However, a point will not be enough for the Texans if RSL and the Rapids win their respective games against St. Louis and LAFC.

Should Dallas lose, they could even get overtaken by San Jose. If results go the Quakes' way and they defeat Austin, they could finish as high as eighth because the tiebreaker for teams on equal points is wins, not goal difference. They are currently on 10 victories, as are Dallas.

The two teams that ultimately finish eighth and ninth will then play each other to determine who will face the top seed in the first playoff round. Last year, Supporters' Shield winners Miami were famously knocked out by Atlanta in the first round.

Speaking of Miami, they travel to Nashville in a bid to pip FC Cincinnati to second place in the East. The Herons' opponents, meanwhile, are hoping for a win (and good results elsewhere) to finish fourth and secure home advantage in round one.

Charlotte, who play the Union, and NYCFC, who host the Sounders in the only interconference game, are currently better placed than Nashville to get fourth. In fact, the Open Cup winners could still get overtaken by Orlando and Chicago and drop into a Wild Card spot.

Messi leads golden boot race

Decision Day will also determine this year's Golden Boot winner. Lionel Messi, who is expected to become the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards, is currently in the lead with 26 goals. LAFC's Denis Bouanga is on 24, while Nashville's Sam Surridge is on 23.

Unlike in other leagues, the MLS Golden Boot can't be shared. If two or more players finish on the same number of goals, assists determine the winner. This means that Bouanga and Surridge will have to outscore Messi, as he is the league's joint-assist leader with Anders Dreyer on 18.

Messi still has a slim chance of equalling (or even eclipsing) Carlos Vela's record of most goal contributions in a single season. He is currently on 44, while Vela notched 49 (34 goals and 15 assists) in 2019.

Guzan retires

In other MLS news, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan has joined Sergio Busquets, Darlington Nagbe and Jordi Alba in announcing his retirement after this season.

The Five Stripes did not get into the playoffs, so their clash with DC United could be his final game between the sticks. The 41-year-old has lost his place in recent times, but you would hope that he will be allowed to play and get a proper send-off.

The former Aston Villa shot-stopper has been playing for Atlanta since their 2017 expansion season. If he plays on Saturday, it will be his 262nd appearance for the 2018 MLS Cup winners.

Guzan is a three-time Gold Cup winner with the USMNT, having appeared in 64 games for his country. When he made his MLS debut for the long-defunct Chivas USA in 2005, MLS only had 12 teams. The league has 30 now.

Son to leave MLS in the offseason?

New LAFC recruit Son Heung-min has been an outstanding signing for MLS so far, scoring eight goals in nine appearances and recording three assists. The South Korean megastar has struck up a deadly partnership with Bouanga.

According to The Sun, Son could return to Europe in the offseason due to a 'David Beckham-style clause' in his contract that allows him to complete a short-term loan away.

Beckham previously joined AC Milan on loan during his time at the LA Galaxy, while Thierry Henry returned to Arsenal as a New York Red Bulls player. However, it is unlikely that Son will make use of this clause.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and South Korea having qualified, the 33-year-old is expected to spend the offseason getting rest ahead of the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

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