The 2025 MLS season is now firmly underway, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 2 to come up with this week’s order of all 30 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 2
No Lionel Messi, no problem. With the Argentine absent from Miami’s test on the road, the Herons collected a 4-1 win against Houston. Luis Suárez was a star, collecting a goal and three assists. Newly signed 21-year-old Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia scored a brace, bringing his season total to three. Fellow new addition Tadeo Allende scored a gorgeous goal that he helped set up. They’ve got the talent and the depth to do big things.
Previous ranking: 16
Philly’s frontline is putting in work. The Union scored four goals in their second straight game after beating FC Cincinnati 4-1 on Saturday. Israeli striker Tai Baribo scored a hat trick and is leading the Golden Boot race with five goals. Club-record signing Bruno Damiani scored in his debut. They’ve got plenty to pan out, but that’s a strong starting statement from the Union.
Previous ranking: 3
It took an 86th-minute strike from the ever-reliable Ryan Hollingshead for LAFC to beat NYCFC 1-0. That’s their second straight 1-0 win, and while they haven’t been overly impressive, it’ll do for now as they search for their next level.
Previous ranking: 11
Vancouver has two impressive wins to start the season after beating last year’s champions, the LA Galaxy, 2-1 on Sunday. Left back Sam Adekugbe opened the scoring in the second minute with his second goal in as many games, and New Jersey-born striker Brian White sealed all three points in the 87th minute.
Previous ranking: 6
Twenty-two-year-old Canada striker (and MLS Next Pro star) Jacen Russell-Rowe scored the game-winning goal for Columbus in a 1-0 victory at New England Revolution. The Crew’s two wins haven’t come against the toughest opposition, but a win is a win as Columbus transitions into a new year with lots of changes.
Previous ranking: 25
Bruce Arena is off to a strong start with the Quakes. San Jose beat Kansas City 2-1 despite going down to 10 men in the second half. Newly signed striker Josef Martínez scored the decisive goal, marking his 117th all time, level with Bradley Wright-Phillips for sixth most in MLS history. It’s early days, but as one of just five teams to win both of their games so far this season, the Quakes deserve their early perch toward the top of the rankings.
Previous ranking: 10
Charlotte’s newly signed DP Wilfried Zaha scored in his MLS debut as Charlotte beat Atlanta 2-0. Saturday’s win was much improved from Charlotte’s opening draw against Seattle, with Zaha’s introduction making a massive impact. Charlotte fans should have high hopes this year.
Previous ranking: 1
We’re in the topsy-turvy part of the season as far as power rankings go. FCC deserved their first-place perch after Matchday 1, but after losing to Philly 4-1 on Saturday, they earned a dip for Week 2. They’ve still got the stuff to make magic this season. Fans shouldn’t fret just yet.
Previous ranking: 5
The Loons collected their first win of 2025 by beating Montreal 1-0 with a goal from 24-year-old striker Kelvin Yeboah, who registered 12 goal contributions in 12 appearances last season. They outshot Montreal 6-0 on target and could have gotten even more from this one, but they deserved the win.
Previous ranking: 13
Emil Forsberg sealed a 2-0 win against Nashville with a brilliant strike from outside the box in the 30th minute. That’s the type of magic from their star Swede that could get the Red Bulls far this year.
Previous ranking: 14
Orlando recovered from a 4-2 loss to Philly in its first week by collecting a 4-2 win against Toronto in Week 2. Heavy caveats abound, but with six goals from five players in their first two games, the Lions have shown they’re a team that can score. (One of the biggest caveats? They’ve also allowed six goals against.)
Previous ranking: 7
After scoring a brace in his MLS debut last week, the MLS-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath couldn’t conjure the magic against Charlotte in a 2-0 loss on the road. The Five Stripes will head home next week to recover against the Red Bulls.
Previous ranking: 17
In possibly the most entertaining game of the weekend, Dallas trailed Colorado 2-0 on the road, then came back with three beautiful goals before allowing an equalizer. Dallas walked away with a 3-3 draw, marking another strong road performance to start the year. Petar Musa and Luciano Acosta showed their skill and combined well. There’s reason to hope for Dallas.
Previous ranking: 23
Seattle handed RSL a bit of a gift by conceding an own goal in the eighth minute, but the hosts did well to hold off the Sounders and produce some quality chances as they walked away with a 2-0 win.
Previous ranking: 9
STL have two points from two games after collecting another 0-0 draw, this time against San Diego. They produced far less in this one (taking only two shots, compared to 17 against Colorado) but it’s a solid start to their third year in the league. They haven’t scored yet this season, but they haven’t conceded either.
Previous ranking: 15
Matt Freese‘s five saves weren’t enough to clinch a point against LAFC, after Ryan Hollingshead sealed a 1-0 loss in the 86th minute. Two games on the road against Miami and LAFC is a tough way to start the year for a team with a lot of questions. New York has shown its ability, but allowed late goals in both games to fumble a few points.
Previous ranking: 21
The Rapids fumbled a 2-0 lead at home, allowing three consecutive goals from Dallas before Rafael Navarro salvaged a point with his second goal of the game. Colorado’s 3-3 draw with FCD was high-value entertainment, but the Rapids are a little bit all over the place to start the year.
Previous ranking: 20
Portland’s new No. 10 David Da Costa scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute against Austin. The Timbers left it late, but Da Costa’s elite free kick is the type of impact you love to see from a new DP.
Previous ranking: 12
Austin fans will be disappointed not to get anything from a 1-0 loss to Portland. The team had a few quality chances, but James Pantemis‘ four saves kept Austin FC scoreless and a moment of brilliance from David Da Costa handed them defeat.
Previous ranking: 8
The 2024 MLS Cup champs are missing key players to injury (Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig), but a second straight loss — this time a 2-0 loss to a respectable Vancouver side — is a shaky start.
Previous ranking: 4
Seattle started with an own goal in the eighth minute and were unlucky from there. They had a few big chances and fired off as many shots as RSL, but left Utah with a 2-0 loss. There’s plenty of time to find their footing, but things aren’t clicking for the Sounders just yet.
Previous ranking: 22
They fired off 10 shots (including two on target) in a 2-0 loss to the Red Bulls. Nashville needs to improve the quality of those chances before it starts notching goals this season.
Previous ranking: 26
San Diego outshot St. Louis City 15-2 in a 0-0 draw, but only one of those was on target. With four points from two games, the league debutantes can be happy with the shared spoils as they work on their precision for next week. Something for fans to fret over, though: Mexican DP Hirving “Chucky” Lozano left the pitch in the first half with an injury.
Previous ranking: 18
Gregg Berhalter was this close to clinching his first victory as Chicago’s manager, but Jacob Murrell‘s 96th-minute bicycle kick ended the Fire’s clash with D.C. United 2-2 instead. Luckily for the former USMNT boss, Brian Gutiérrez will be back next week.
Previous ranking: 28
There’s nothing quite like a 96th-minute bicycle kick to steal a point on the road. Twenty-year-old Jacob Murrell‘s goal-of-the-week-worthy wonder clinched another 2-2 draw for United, this time against the Fire. Two weeks in, and D.C. has two points from two games, but a whole lot left to sort out.
Previous ranking: 19
Jonathan Sirois‘ five saves weren’t enough in a 1-0 loss to Minnesota, as Montréal held 65% of possession but failed to put a single shot on target.
Previous ranking: 30
The Revs hung on for a point against Austin on Matchday 1, but fell just short of another in a 1-0 loss to Columbus on Matchday 2. It’s not the beautiful game, but they’ve shown some ability to hang on so far.
Previous ranking: 27
Toronto has some potential and were solid in a 2-2 draw Week 1, but after losing to Orlando 4-2 in their opener, the Reds have allowed six goals in two games now. That’s tied with three other clubs (including Orlando) for the most in the league.
Previous ranking: 29
SKC lost 2-1 to San Jose despite the Quakes being down to 10 men for most of the second half. They’re now winless in their first two tests of ’25. Silver lining: new signing Dejan Joveljic (who scored 15 goals for LA Galaxy last season) scored his first goal of the year from the penalty spot.
Previous ranking: 24
Defensive discombobulation continues for the Dynamo, and turning the ball over in the sixth minute is a tough way to afford Inter Miami their first goal in what turned into a 4-1 loss. The Dynamo are one of just four teams yet to collect a point this season.
