Stars delivered Decision Day drama to earn their spot in the Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.
Full team (3-4-3, left to right)
Starters: Andrew Thomas (SEA) - Mihail Gherasimencov (VAN), Lukas MacNaughton (STL), Zach Booth (RSL) - Albert Rusnák (SEA), Kaick Ferreira (DAL), Braian Ojeda (ORL), Cavan Sullivan (PHI) - Sam Surridge (NSH), Gonzalo Tapia (CLB), Liel Abada (CLT)
Coach: Pablo Mastroeni (RSL)
Bench: Brian Schwake (NSH), Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (RBNY), Patrick Yazbek (NSH), Adri Mehmeti (RBNY), Nectarios Triantis (MIN), Kristoffer Velde (POR), Cheikh Sabaly (VAN), Quinn Sullivan (PHI), Robert Lewandowski (CHI)
Team highlights
Nashville SC broke the MLS single-season points record on Saturday, pushing their Supporters' Shield-winning total to 77 points with a 2-0 victory at FC Cincinnati, courtesy of a brace from star striker Sam Surridge.
Teenage phenom Cavan Sullivan also netted twice while drawing a penalty in the Philadelphia Union's 4-1 win over Toronto FC to cap his own record-breaking regular season.
Summer signing Gonzalo Tapia helped provide the heroics for the Columbus Crew in their rollercoaster 4-3 triumph over Chicago Fire FC, scoring a pair of equalizers as the Crew went on to clinch seventh place in the Eastern Conference and avoid the Wild Card match with the win.
Finishing a point behind Columbus in the table, Braian Ojeda ensured Orlando City will host the Wild Card match at Inter.co Stadium with a powerful volley that secured the 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
Seattle Sounders FC did the same in the Western Conference, clinching their playoff berth and hosting privileges in the Wild Card match as Albert Rusnák scored and assisted in a 2-1 win against LAFC, backstopped by seven saves from goalkeeper Andrew Thomas.
Their opponents in the Wild Card match, Real Salt Lake, punched their postseason ticket as Zach Booth scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the LA Galaxy, maintaining their perfect record of playoff qualification each year under head coach Pablo Mastroeni (since 2021).
Engaged in a battle for home-field advantage with Houston Dynamo FC in the West, Lukas MacNaughton came up clutch with a 97th-minute winning goal on the counterattack to lock up St. Louis CITY SC's third-place position with a 1-0 win.
Above them, Kaick provided the equalizing assist and winning goal for second-place FC Dallas in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids, while top-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps FC ensured second priority for hosting MLS Cup presented by Audi (behind Nashville) as Mihail Gherasimencov scored in a 2-0 victory at CF Montréal.
Concluding the final TotM of the 2026 season, Liel Abada notched a brace to spark Charlotte FC's stunning 3-3 comeback draw at Inter Miami CF and finish fifth in the East.
