By. Keagen Briggs

It’s been awhile, but I AM BACK with the MLS posts that nobody asked for! If you’re that casual fan thinking “Maybe this is the year I start to watch MLS, but I’m still not ready to stop complaining about the quality on the pitch”, then this post is for you! What better way to get into the MLS than by using this cheat sheet to make sure you are watching the teams worth watching! If Sparknotes, and Google Search was what got you through high school, then this post is for you! All 24 teams ranked based on watchability for the common soccer fan!

It is worth noting how I came up with these rankings. This ranking is not a “power ranking” of any sort. You will see that some of the more talented teams drop in this list, and some of the lacking teams find themselves higher than expected. To create this list, I used a mixture of quality of soccer by team, the atmosphere of the stadiums (when televised), the 2018 average home attendance rankings, offseason moves, and *a healthy dose of opinion*

Must Watch:

There isn’t much to say when it comes to the Top Five. This is the easiest group for me personally. Basically, if these teams are on television and playing at home. you should take the time to watch. If they’re playing each other, you should really take the time to watch. These teams all display a high quality of soccer on the pitch, and their atmosphere in their respective stadiums.

Atlanta United Los Angeles FC D.C. United Seattle Sounders Portland Timbers

Worth Checking Out:

The second group may raise a few questions. Let me explain, RBNY play a great style of pressing soccer, but while playing at home, the crowds don’t have the atmosphere, they’re capable of pushing them into the Top 5. While SKC could easily make a case for top 5 must watch on this list, I am not ready to put them above any team in the top 5 just yet. If it wasn’t for Toronto FC, LA Galaxy would be the most underachieving team of 2018. If it wasn’t for Zlatan, the Galaxy may find themselves much deeper in this list. NYCFC have had some small but major turnover, but their home crowd presence keeps them within the top 10 for the time being. Biggest question: How do you replace David Villa? In both on the field and as a brand and marketing approach, he has been NYCFC up until now. The biggest test they have faced yet, will be keeping fans in the seats of Yankee Stadium. The Union are a team I suspect to start to become the dominant team they showed signs of last year. Philly at times, looked like they were one player away last season. With the addition of Marco Fabian, the product on the field should massively increase which should begin to start to fill seats. When Philly traded away MLS veteran striker C.J. Sapong, that signaled to me that they’re happy with the group they have and are ready to take the next step.

New York Red Bulls Sporting Kansas City LA Galaxy NYCFC Philadelphia Union

Up in the Air:

“If you build it, they will come.” This middle of the pack is a group of teams that are quite unpredictable. Toronto FC had maybe the biggest let down of a season in 2018 after hoisting the MLS Cup in 2017. I had to give TFC respect and leave them within the Top 16 (due to being Top 3 in attendance 2018). But losing Giovinco, releasing a top defender after he allegedly got into a physical altercation with Head Coach Greg Vanney, getting spanked by a USL team in a scrimmage, and being dominated in the opening leg of CONCACAF Champions League, I would not be surprised if they significantly drop in the rankings. The expansion side FC Cincinnati is higher than most common fans would predict, but Cincy would have averaged 4th in MLS Average Attendance if they were playing in the MLS last season. Opposed to the overall consensus of MLS pundits, I have high hopes for Cincinnati, and at the very worst, at least their stadium will still be packed. Don’t count out Cincinnati to climb the rankings and be a must watch team by the end of the season.

The other four teams in this section’s ranking heavily depend on if they have a significant improvement from last season (Which I suspect will happen). The Montreal Impact have not been able to make the playoffs, or consistently fill Saputo Stadium, since the departure of world legend Didier Drogba. They ended the season as one of the hottest teams in the MLS after digging their own grave for the first three months of the season. If they commit to sitting in and defending and then countering fast and aggressively. It isn’t always pretty but it is worth watching. Colorado was bad last year. There is no way around it, and in my ten plus years of watching the MLS, I don’t think I have ever seen their stadium filled. Next, you have Minnesota. A club I find to be ready to make a big push on the watchability ranking. They have their stud in Darwin Quintero and signed one of the top CDMs in MLS history in Ozzy Alonso. As they move into their new stadium, I predict the Loons faithful will take it up a notch, and the atmosphere of that stadium will be something the league will be taking note of. Finally, Vancouver could have a very rough season. The offseason seemed like it was a sign of a rebuild project on it’s way. Will they be able to stay in the top 10 of average attendance if the results aren’t there?

Minnesota United FC Cincinnati Colorado Rapids Montreal Impact Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps

Good team but empty stadium:

I wanted to keep this section very self-explanatory. Soccer is nothing without fans. It is worth noting Columbus Crew, it pains me to drop them this low. If this was a Power Rankings, or prediction for a team’s season Columbus would easily be within the Top 10. They played some of the most advanced and enjoyable soccer we have had in the past few seasons. Only problem is they averaging only 12,000 people per game in attendance. I can never get past this when it comes to the Crew. You wanted your team saved, and you got that. If nobody is attending games no matter how good the product on the field is, I don’t know why they were saved in the first place. Prove me wrong please Columbus fans, and start filling the Mapfre. The story is quite the same for FC Dallas, they were one of the top teams in the MLS throughout the season. This offseason saw them move on from some established veterans, and move into a direction of a squad filled with young homegrown academy talent. Look for them to climb the rankings quickly. As for the other teams, they all sing a similar song: Good teams, somewhat exciting, but if they are the home team in a fixture, the match usually feels quite dull. I will note, with the addition of Charles Gil, the New England Revolution could make a push and climb the rankings. That being said, as long as the Revs are still playing in Gillette Stadium, don’t expect the atmosphere of their games to really turn any heads for the time being.

Columbus Crew Real Salt Lake FC Dallas NE Revolution Chicago Fire

Need a Few Prayers:

It pains me to put Orlando this low. They have a beautiful stadium, passionate fans, and had a respectful 23,902 seats filled on average last season. Only problem is that all those fans in those seats were watching a complete dumpster fire of a roster, which on paper looked promising. Now with the addition of Nani, the Orlando front office saved face with fans and probably will keep people in seats, but I don’t think it is enough to turn this franchise around. Houston after making it to the Western Conference finals in 2017, their 2018 campaign was quite the disappointment. On the field will be able to climb their way out of this ranking, but they are a team (similar to Colorado) that I have never seen with a filled stadium. San Jose’s biggest move this offseason was for manager Matias Almeyda, who comes from Liga MX side Chivas Guadalajara. I am very big on this move, I think he is a coach who will stress the importance of culture and will have the Quakes playing with a new identity. Unfortunately, he does not have the talent to really turn the Quakes around. But stay tuned, the Quakes are sure to be on the rise.

Orlando City FC Houston Dynamo San Jose Earthquakes