MLS Power Rankings After Matchday 3: Western Fireworks and Eastern Grit

Blimey, what a belter of a weekend in MLS! The Western Conference is flexing hard with San Diego FC, San Jose Earthquakes, LAFC, and Vancouver Whitecaps all keeping their 100% win records intact. Vancouver shipped their first goal of the season but still came out on top – a minor hiccup for Thomas Müller and his mates, but they're flying high in 2026.

Over in the East, Lionel Messi crept closer to that magical 900 career goals mark with the decider in Inter Miami's gritty 2-1 scrape past D.C. United. Chances were thinner than a striker's excuses after a miss, but three points are three points. Here's how the latest Sports Illustrated power rankings shake out after matchday 3, with the movers and shakers stealing the show.

Bottom Feeders to Mid-Table Scraps (30-11)

The trapdoor's wide open at the bottom: Sporting Kansas City prop up the table at 30, with New England Revolution (29), Atlanta United (28), and CF Montréal (27) not far behind. St. Louis CITY SC (26) and D.C. United (25) are nursing wounds, while Toronto FC (24), Colorado Rapids (23), FC Dallas (22), and Austin FC (21) scrap for survival.

Climbing into the teens, you've got Orlando City (20), Real Salt Lake (19), Portland Timbers (18), LA Galaxy (17), Minnesota United (16), Philadelphia Union (15), Columbus Crew (14), Chicago Fire (13), Houston Dynamo (12), and Charlotte FC (11). Steady as she goes, but no one's safe in this league.

Big Movers: Blips, Wake-Up Calls, and Sounder Solidity (10-7)

Red Bull New York tumble to 10 📉 (from 7) after Ethan Horvath let in three in a shocking 3-0 loss to bottom-dwellers CF Montréal. Michael Bradley's young guns stuck to the plan but couldn't create chances or avoid daft errors. A proper reality check – sort it on the training pitch, lads, or it'll haunt you.

Seattle Sounders slip to 9 📉 (from 8), grinding out a 1-0 vs. St. Louis. Andrew Thomas is a rock in goal, Jesús Ferreira chipped in with an assist, but Osaze De Rosario's blunt up top is worrying with Jordan Morris sidelined. Two clean sheets in three? Not bad, but Cascadia derby vs. Vancouver next in Champions Cup – bring it!

San Jose Earthquakes rocket to 8 🆙 (from 10) with a 1-0 smash of Supporters' Shield champs Philadelphia. Timo Werner, subbed on last week, bossed the second half with a peach of an assist for Ousseni Bouda's winner. Prove-it time aced – fancy a start vs. Seattle, Timo?

FC Cincinnati drop to 7 📉 (from 6), stunned 1-0 at home by Toronto's first-ever goal there. Evander's back (16 mins), but Kévin Denkey can't conjure magic solo. Over-reliance on the Brazilian? Pat Noonan might need a rethink if titles slip away.

Elite Pack: City Domination and Messi's Edge (6-1)

New York City FC surge to 6 🆙 (from 9) with a 5-0 demolition of Orlando. Maxi Moralez (39!) bagged a goal and two assists after Maxime Crépeau's daft red for handling outside the box. Agustín Ojeda, Nicolás Fernández, and Keaton Parks (brace) piled on in a 32-minute blitz – Yankee Stadium erupted!

Inter Miami hold 5, surviving a 2-1 thriller vs. D.C. United in Baltimore. Rodrigo De Paul and Messi raced to a 2-0 lead, but Tai Baribo clawed one back. xG was meh at 0.95, but Javier Mascherano's lot hung tough. Nashville in Champions Cup next – Messi's 900th vs. them? Dreamy.

The top four? Nashville SC steady at 4, with the West's unbeaten quartet (likely San Diego, LAFC, Vancouver, and chasers) dominating. Vancouver's first goal conceded? Small beer in their rampage. MLS 2026 is a cracker – who's stopping the West?

(Rankings adapted from SI Soccer's matchday 3 update)