Five games you must watch in MLS this weekend 🍿 | OneFootball

Your regularly scheduled MLS programming returns once again this weekend, with the postseason calendar just around the corner and all thirty clubs in action Saturday night.

Things remain tight across the board in both the East and the West, with clubs fighting for prime conference real estate as additional drama continues to unfold across the race for the Supporters' Shield.

Here are our five must-watch matches to tune in for this weekend, in what should prove to be another wild ride.

Charlotte vs Inter Miami

While it would not be an MLS matchday without some sort of ode to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, this one could be all about a Charlotte outfit that are in some of their best form of the 2025 season.

Blitzing the East of late, the Crown are pushing for one of the top two spots in the conference while the Herons must be wary of slipping further behind the head of the pack despite enjoying four matches in hand on those around them.

With Charlotte boasting one of the best home records in MLS, Javier Mascherano's men could certainly come out on the wrong side of a result that could prove damaging come the conclusion of the regular season.

Cincinnati vs Nashville

It's been rough going for both Cincinnati and Nashville of late, with both outfits laboring to just four and three points respectively in their last five MLS outings.

Despite their struggles, 2025 will hardly be defined with the recent minefield navigation, as Cincy and Nashville are still in with every chance of finishing in coveted positions in the table.

And it's been a tricky fixture for both sides too, with a head-to-head record of 3-8-3 and little separating the pair in the table overall. This should be entertaining regardless of the outcome, but will it be Evander or Sam Surridge to get it over the line for either side?

Colorado vs Houston

Hardly a glamorous fixture by MLS standards, both Colorado and Houston have it all to play for in every fixture from here on out until the conclusion of the season.

The Rapids, for the time being, stand positioned to potentially reach the MLS Cup Playoffs via a wild card slot, but continue to look over their shoulder with multiple clubs, including the Dynamo, breathing down their neck and within striking distance.

The contest between the two is heavily skewed in Colorado's favor on historical terms, however, and with the bonus of a home clash, they'll certainly fancy their chances against a Houston side who, while hard to beat, have only banked a single win in recent outings.

Vancouver vs Philadelphia

Vancouver's pathway across the 2025 season has largely been one to remember for Canada's leading club, but hopes of capturing the Supporters' Shield are a distant memory from earlier months.

However, home clash against league-leading Philadelphia still offers a headline fixture on Saturday night.

The Union sit top of the league pile and look back at their best after securing consecutive wins in recent weeks while enjoying a five-point cushion in the East. They'll look to steal a march on a Whitecaps side in need of maximum points if they have any chance of guaranteeing home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

San Diego vs Minnesota

Rewind to the beginning of the 2025 season, and few, if any, would have thought both San Diego and Minnesota would be two of the most formidable sides in MLS.

But after months of compiling evidence, it is hard to argue that either club are not the real deal, with league newcomers SDFC fighting for top honors in the West and in the Supporters' Shield, while the Loons have turned into a neutral fan-favorite in their own right.

Led by new league star Anders Dreyer, San Diego could have the edge in the matchup after Minnesota frontman Tani Oluwaseyi jumped at the chance to join Villarreal. No longer boasting a striker who topped the club goals and assists charts, Loons fans will be hoping their dark horse push into the postseason doesn't flame out with a whimper.

📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Kiyoshi Mio | 2025 Aug 31 - Imagn Images