The 10 Best MLS Teams Ranking

You’ve all got your favorite MLS teams, but who are the best MLS teams? In many ways, the first 18 games of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season have thrown up a fair share of surprises — enough to make ranking the best teams a challenging task. Remember that form is temporary and class is permanent, so the MLS teams currently ranked as the best need to prove they’re worthy of their rankings in the long term.  

The Best MLS Teams Ranking Process

We’ve based this ranking of the best teams in the MLS on the following contributing factors and statistics to arrive at a points total for each league team. Some results may surprise you, but the stats don’t lie, although they may lean slightly toward current form. You can understand the results better by considering:

• The 2025 MLS power rankings from before the season’s start.
• Each team’s goals scored and conceded after the  2025 season’s completed MLS games. 
• The passing accuracy percentages of every team during the current campaign.
• Every team’s goal conversion percentage and the shots they’ve individually taken.
• The total number of passes made and the fouls committed by each club in the current MLS season. 
• The points accumulated by each team at this stage of the 2025 season.
• Each MLS team’s historical success, which counts double for the assessment.

According to their rankings, every team received between one and 30 points per section. When teams shared identical assessment totals, we evenly divided the positional ranking points between them for greater accuracy.  

The Best MLS Teams Ranked 

Team rankings are often subjective, so we’ve sought a balance between current form and historical performances to provide an all-around idea of the best MLS teams at the present moment. You’ll notice that some top power-ranked sides like Atlanta United and the Los Angeles Galaxy miss out. With both these teams sitting in the nether regions of their respective conferences, even their preseason favor and esteemed histories cannot make up for their poor current form. Here are the best MLS teams in the league according to the included statistics.                 

10. San Jose Earthquakes (179 points)

A charter member of the MLS, the San Jose Earthquakes played the very first MLS match, beating D.C. United 1-0. The Earthquakes franchise has won the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield twice each, with its last trophy coming in 2012. With ex-American stars Chris Wondolowski, Landon Donovan, Eric Wynalda and Eddie Lewis all playing their part in San Jose history, it’s no wonder the Earthquakes make this list. 

MLS legend Bruce Arena took over as head coach for 2025 after San Jose’s disappointing last-place overall finish last season. With Arena’s arrival supplemented by Cristian “Chicho” Arango, a Colombian striker with 56 American league and cup goals in 98 appearances, the Earthquakes’ team is a much-improved eighth in the Western Conference. A miserly and disciplined defense means the chances of losing players to ill-discipline are low. A good power ranking, a reputable history and improved 2025 on-field stats qualify the San Jose Earthquakes for this list.

9. San Diego FC (179.5 points)

San Diego FC is having an excellent 2025 MLS campaign. Lying only two points off Vancouver’s lead in the Western Conference, the MLS debutants show that consistency and teamwork can make up for a lack of league experience. Although San Diego’s power ranking was low before the season’s start, the team’s points total, goal difference, shot count, conversion rate and passing stats all rank in the MLS upper echelons.

Danish international right winger Anders Dreyer has 16 MLS goal contributions thus far and tops the club’s goal scoring charts. With the experienced Mexican Hirving Lozano ably supporting the Dane, the latest MLS expansion team’s 33 goals contribute significantly to its immediate success. With 15 nationalities in the squad, San Diego FC substantiates Dutch great Marco Van Basten’s quote that soccer unites everyone. The team’s early performances show a united club worthy of its high ranking in this list.

8. Chicago Fire FC (186 points)

The franchise, named after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, was one of the first expansion teams in the MLS. Chicago Fire achieved what many thought impossible by winning the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in its debut season. It claimed another three of the latter and a Supporters’ Shield in the following eight years. Recently, an MLS’s highest overall position of 17th in 2019 means that its formidable history and 10th spot in the 2025 power rankings account for its high position on this list.

The Fire has significantly improved its backroom and playing staff since last season. Ex-LA Galaxy head coach Gregg Berhalter took charge, with Ivorian international Jonathan Bamba becoming the new designated player. Dane Philip Zinckernagel arrived from Club Brugge with loanee Rominigue Kouamé joining from Cádiz. These players are contributing to an improved performance from the team that finished 28th overall last season — the Chicago Fire is 10th in the MLS Eastern Conference, and winning its game in hand could push it up to seventh position.

7. Orlando City SC (188 points)

Orlando City is well-positioned in the MLS Eastern Conference in 2025, holding fifth position. Only rated 18th in the preseason power rankings, some clean, attractive attacking soccer has seen the side move into the top third of the best MLS teams rankings. Orlando has scored 32 goals this season with a +10 goal difference, mainly due to nine strikes from its designated player, Argentinian Martin Ojeda. 2025 signing, ex-Borussia Dortmund player, Marco Pašalić, has backed Ojeda up with 10 goal involvements. 

Pašalić has proved a busy addition on the right wing. Although he might not be among the greatest athletes of all time yet, at 24, the Croatian’s active presence could be a long-term asset in Orlando. Although unfancied at the beginning of the season, signs are that Orlando City has the makings of a team that will challenge in years to come, justifying its high current ranking. 

6. Inter Miami CF (189.5 points)

The David Beckham and Mas brothers-owned franchise is only in its sixth MLS season this year. Inter Miami has received plenty of press since, firstly, with the acquisition of world-class players like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez of Uruguay. With the help of these and others — Spain’s Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba among them — Inter ended in the MLS’s top position, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2024. Recently, the Miami-based team pulled off something of a coup by beating European side Porto at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Although Inter is currently only sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference, it can move up to second place by winning its two games in hand. Messi has scored 10 goals in 13 league games, with his compatriot Tadeo Allende contributing a further six. As the MLS top goalscoring team with the highest conversion rate, Inter could eclipse its power ranking of third. Inter Miami may not be among the world’s best teams, but it is undoubtedly one of the most popular MLS teams and close to one of its best.

5. Seattle Sounders FC (192 points)

The Seattle Sounders’ two MLS Cup wins and four U.S. Open trophies bear much weight in the high ranking on this list, coupled with a handy sixth place in the 2025 Western Conference standings. The Sounders’ high 2025 power ranking and some sound passing stats also contribute, with a second-place conference finish last season making pundits take notice. The signing of the United States’ international goalscoring machine Jesús Ferreira from FC Dallas further bolstered 2025 expectations.

Ferreira is taking time to adjust to his new environment. In 16 appearances, he has scored only a single goal for Seattle, with finding the net left to Albert Rusnak and Danny Musovski, who have 12 goals between them. The Seattle Sounders hope Ferreira and record scorer Jordan Morris will find scoring form over the remainder of the season to justify the club’s high ranking among the MLS’s best teams.

4. Los Angeles FC (196.5 points)

Valued at $1.5 billion, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) is the richest club in the MLS. This wealth allowed the club to sign experienced French internationals, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Olivier Giroud, in 2024. However, despite their presence, LAFC has been unable to reach the 2022 MLS Cup-winning heights, although it did win the Western Conference last season.  The Los Angeles franchise finds itself fifth in the conference this season, but winning its games in hand could see it move up to third position.

LAFC sold 15-goal striker to Mexico’s Cruz Azul in the off-season. While new signing Jeremy Ebobisse has found the net eight times, Giroud’s continuous misfiring means the team is finding scoring goals tough. LAFC’s season remains on par for a cup win, unlike its local rivals, the LA Galaxy — one of the best MLS teams of all time and the defending MLS Cup champion, which is enduring a nightmare 2025 and finds itself ranked a lowly 15th in the current best MLS  team rankings. 

3. New York Red Bulls (204 points)

As one of the MLS founder members, the New York Red Bulls has a storied league history, winning three Supporters’ Shields and topping the Eastern Conference six times. However, despite having international legends like Lothar Matthäus and Thierry Henry among its ex-players, the Red Bulls franchise still hasn’t won the MLS Cup. With a sixth-place 2025 power ranking after reaching the MLS Cup final last time out, hopes were high in 2025. 

Unfortunately, despite acquiring star player Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the New York team only lies 8th in the MLS Eastern Conference after 18 games. Conversion rates are noteworthy, but the team needs more shots during games to make these count. Choupo-Moting does have 10 goals, but with only 1.6 goals per match, he’s fighting a lone battle up front. On the weight of its long and relatively successful history and reasonable current form, the New York Red Bulls ranks third on this list. 

2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (211.5 points)

A Canadian team tops the list of the best MLS teams in 2025. Three-time defending Canadian Championship winners and recent runners-up in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup to Mexico’s Cruz Azul, the Vancouver Whitecaps have experienced a season to remember. Currently leading the MLS Western Conference by two points from San Diego FC with a game in hand, the Whitecaps are strong contenders for a first MLS Cup triumph in 2025. 

Capably led by Scottish attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld, Vancouver has been particularly miserly in defense, with Japanese goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka in splendid form. Up front, American Brian White provides most of the goals, with 16 in only 22 appearances in all competitions. The preseason power rankings saw the Vancouver Whitecaps down in 17th position, but the 2025 season’s showing sees them snatching the second spot as the MLS’s best team.

1. Columbus Crew (241 points)

As one of the original 10 MLS teams, the Columbus Crew has experienced its fair share of ups and downs. Some of those highs have been the franchise’s three MLS Cup wins, with its most recent coming with a 3-1 victory over LAFC in 2023. After two poor seasons in 2021 and 2022, the Crew ended its subsequent two campaigns in third and second place overall, respectively. 

Pundits fancied the Columbus Crew as an outside chance for the 2025 MLS Cup by ranking it 9th in the power rankings, with the loss of Christian Ramirez and the highly rated Cucho Hernández. Uruguayan winger Diego Rossi’s nine league goals have helped Columbus to fourth position in the MLS Eastern Conference, only two points off second place. Columbus Crew tops the MLS in passing percentages and concedes fewer fouls than any other team, contributing to its first-place ranking.

Who Will Be the Best MLS Teams Come the Season’s End?

According to the included stats, the above teams qualify as the top 10 teams in the league at this point in the current MLS campaign. A poor run by some of these teams and an improvement in form by others could mean an entirely different picture come the end of 2025. Watch your favorite MLS teams and the conference tables, and attempt to predict who the best teams will be when the season closes. Doing so is anything but easy.