MLS Power Rankings: Union skyrocket as unbeaten streak reaches 11 games

It's Monday, another weekend of action is in the books, and it's time for the latest edition of ESPN's MLS Power Rankings.

1. Nashville SC

Previous ranking: 1

In one of the most important matches of their end-of-season schedule, Sam Surridge scored in the fourth and 91st minutes to help secure a 2-2 draw against Miami. With the point, Nashville is winless in three (two draws, one defeat) but still in a position to break Inter's Supporters' Shield record with nine games to go.

2. St. Louis City SC

Previous ranking: 2

Nashville further tightened their grip on the Supporters' Shield with a 3-0 win over Chicago on Saturday. A dominant first-half display mixed with some savvy transition attacking in the second half saw all three of the club's designated players find the back of the net.

3. Vancouver Whitecaps

Previous ranking: 3

The Whitecaps took care of business against Salt Lake by a 3-0 scoreline, thoroughly outplaying their hosts. Few teams in the league can match Vancouver for attacking difference-makers, with summer signing Yadaly Diaby making his first league start and notching two goal contributions.

4. Inter Miami CF

Previous ranking: 4

Inching closer to full health, star left back Sergio Reguilón saw the field in the second half as Miami played to a 2-2 draw with San Diego. While the attack still lacks balance without a threat coming down the wings, even a partially hampered Inter Miami squad still boasts some of the sport's best-ever attackers. Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both found the back of the net Sunday.

5. New England Revolution

Previous ranking: 8

Riding the high of his first call-up to the U.S. men's national team, Peyton Miller bagged a brace in the Revolution's 4-2 victory over Orlando on Saturday. With his sizzling speed and developing goal threat, the 18-year-old did well to help lead New England in the absence of the injured Jack Harrison.

6. Philadelphia Union

Previous ranking: 13

Can anyone stop the Union? Despite falling into a three-goal hole on the road in Kansas City, Philadelphia scored four goals in a nine-minute span in the second half to claim a 4-3 win. They've now gone 11 straight games without a loss in league play.

7. LAFC

Previous ranking: 6

Despite taking a 2-0 lead over San Jose in the California Clásico, a 10-man LAFC couldn't hold on for all three points against their in-state rivals. Two second-half concessions, including one late in stoppage time, turned three points into one in a 2-2 draw.

8. Charlotte FC

Previous ranking: 11

Allan Saint-Maximin opened his Charlotte account with a goal in a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday. If coach Dean Smith can tap into the former Newcastle man's one-on-one dribbling and his goal threat, Charlotte FC will be a difficult postseason out.

9. Houston Dynamo

Previous ranking: 10

For more than 45 minutes of action, it looked as if Mateusz Bogusz's penalty conversion had sealed a win for the Dynamo over Cincinnati. However, late in second-half stoppage time, the Polish attacker conceded a penalty that allowed the visitors to equalize at 2-2.

10. Orlando City

Previous ranking: 12

Missing Antoine Griezmann because of a thigh injury suffered in their midweek U.S. Open Cup semifinal defeat, Orlando fell 4-2 to New England. Outside of Lionel Messi, there might not be a player more important to his team's trophy chances than the Frenchman.

11.  Chicago Fire

Previous ranking: 9

A 3-0 loss to Nashville marked seven straight games across all competitions for the Fire without a win. While Robert Lewandowski's scoring record has been positive since he arrived in MLS, it looks as if Chicago's major shift up top has destabilized so much of what propelled them in the spring.

12. New York City FC

Previous ranking: 7

Life has been a slog for New York City lately. A series of poor results over the past two months was extended to include a 1-0 defeat Friday at the hands of their biggest rivals: Red Bull New York. While they created enough chances to win, conversion in front of goal lagged for NYCFC.

13. FC Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 5

Cincinnati left it late but managed to earn a 2-2 road draw against the Dynamo. Kévin Denkey's penalty in the 97th minute rescued the trip, though that doesn't change the fact that Pat Noonan's team has gone five games without a victory.

14. FC Dallas

Previous ranking: 14

After three consecutive victories before this weekend, Dallas played Austin to a 0-0 draw Saturday. Though they created the better chances, Brad Stuver's impressive goalkeeping limited the home side to a solitary point.

15. LA Galaxy

Previous ranking: 17

It was hardly a dominant showing from the Galaxy, but Greg Vanney's team managed a comeback 3-2 victory on the road in Minnesota, with a makeshift front line that featured Chucky Lozano playing underneath the striker and fullback Harbor Miller back in the attack. Still, all three points count the same.

16. San Diego FC

Previous ranking: 16

Thanks to a brace from Anders Dreyer, San Diego earned a 2-2 draw with Miami on Sunday night. While the sophomore outfit still sits below the playoff line out West, they only trail the ninth-placed Portland Timbers by a single point.

17. San Jose Earthquakes

Previous ranking: 21

Though their summer slide saw San Jose tumble down these rankings, things have stabilized for the Quakes. Their 2-2 draw with LAFC on Saturday marked five straight results, and Timo Werner's return from injury made the outing all the brighter.

18. Real Salt Lake

Previous ranking: 15

Salt Lake were never truly in their match against Vancouver, allowing two goals in the first 30 minutes and failing to ever mount a convincing attack. With Diego Luna now expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, RSL's path to contention is murkier than at any prior point in the season.

19. Red Bull New York

Previous ranking: 20

Between his call-up to the U.S. men's national team and his goal to cap off a 1-0 win for Red Bull New York in the Hudson River derby against New York City, Julian Hall has had quite the week. Along the way, Michael Bradley's team defended well for much of Friday's game, which hasn't always been true of them in 2026.

20. Seattle Sounders

Previous ranking: 22

The Sounders' summer signings helped rescue a 3-3 draw in Colorado, with Dejan Joveljić and Caden Clark each nabbing a goal to see their new outfit equalize in Colorado. For a team that's still dealing with a slew of injuries, every point is crucial.

21. Austin FC

Previous ranking: 25

Don't look now, but Austin have managed seven straight results in league play. Most recently, they held Dallas to a scoreless draw thanks to some impressive goalkeeping and possession control. It's not flashy, but there's momentum building for 2027.

22. Colorado Rapids

Previous ranking: 27

The good? New winger Morgan Whittaker scored a brace in his first MLS start and looks the part of a superstar. The bad? The Rapids blew a multigoal lead to draw 3-3 at home with Seattle.

23. Columbus Crew

Previous ranking: 26

Laurent Courtois' return to Montréal went as well as the interim manager could've hoped. His Columbus team dispatched their hosts -- who double as the Frenchman's former employer -- by a 2-0 scoreline.

24. Minnesota United

Previous ranking: 18

Minnesota have dropped points from winning or even positions in each of their past five games, including Saturday's 3-2 home loss to the Galaxy. It's safe to say things have gone off the rails for the Loons.

25. Toronto FC

Previous ranking: 19

Every now and then, you come up against a team that puts you in your place. That's what happened for Toronto in their 3-1 loss to St. Louis. There's still a distance for Toronto to go before they're on the level of MLS's best.

26. Portland Timbers

Previous ranking: 24

The Timbers put up a valiant late-game effort and scored in the 93rd minute, but it wasn't enough to salvage a point in Texas as they stumbled to a 2-1 defeat to Dallas.

27. D.C. United

Previous ranking: 23

While they largely outplayed Charlotte, D.C. still fell 2-1. Even when the team plays well, results still aren't trickling into the nation's capital. D.C. United have just six wins this season, one more than bottom-feeders Montréal and Kansas City.

28. Atlanta United

Previous ranking: 28

There haven't been as many moments of Aleksei Miranchuk magic as Atlanta would've hoped for when they signed him from Atalanta, but the playmaker delivered Saturday. His goal made the difference in the Five Stripes' 1-0 road win over the Timbers.

29. Sporting Kansas City

Previous ranking: 29

What looked destined to be a second straight impressive victory for Kansas City turned into a disaster when the hosts conceded four goals in less than 10 minutes to Philadelphia to lose 4-3 on Saturday. Still, André Luiz dominating in the attack after joining this summer is a silver lining.

30. CF Montréal

Previous ranking: 30

Up against their old head coach, Courtois, Montréal fell 2-0 at home to the Crew. At least they're through to the Canadian Championship final?