Whitecaps Are the Real Deal

Week 4 of the 2025 MLS

season was another exciting one, highlighted by Lionel Messi

and Inter Miami CF

exorcising some demons in Atlanta on Sunday.

Meanwhile, some of the hottest teams in the league stumbled this past weekend, while others continued their steady rise to the top of their conferences.

Here are GIVEMESPORT’s Power Rankings following Matchday 4.

1

Inter Miami

Last week: 1 (-)

Result: 2-1 win at Atlanta United

Up next: Saturday, March 29 vs Philadelphia Union (7:30 pm ET)

Lionel Messi

scored a fantastic goal and then

pulled out of the Argentina squad
with an injury. Inter Miami CF

will get a full two weeks to recover and continue their campaign to repeat as Supporters’ Shield winners. Right now, it doesn’t look like anyone in the East can keep up with them.

2

Vancouver Whitecaps

Last week: 5 (+3)

Result: 1-0 win at FC Dallas

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs Chicago Fire (10:30 pm ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps

got a solid 1-0 win on the road against Dallas, but more importantly knocked Monterrey out in a midweek Concacaf Champions Cup upset. They’re doing this all without Ryan Gauld, making their unlikely form even more impressive. Jesper Sorensen has done a fantastic job so far.

3

Charlotte FC

Last week: 8 (+5)

Result: 2-0 win vs FC Cincinnati

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 pm ET)

Charlotte FC

got yet another win at home, and their defense remains their strong suit. They have less ideas in attack, but were able to capitalize on a poor Cincinnati mistake and Patrick Agyemang’s individual brilliance. They’re one of the hardest teams to play against in all the league.

4

Columbus Crew

Last week: 6 (+2)

Result: 1-1 draw at San Diego FC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs NYCFC (7:30 pm ET)

The Columbus Crew SC

played really well for most of their 1-1 draw in San Diego, but Malte Amundsen’s early red card made it really tough to hold onto a lead, eventually conceding an equalizer. Their defensive depth will be tested against NYCFC, with Amundsen suspended and several others injured.

5

Philadelphia Union

Last week: 2 (-3)

Result: 3-1 loss vs Nashville SC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs St. Louis City (7:30 pm ET)

The Philadelphia Union

are unbeaten no more, losing to Nashville SC at home for the first time in their history. Nashville played well, but the Union were also the victim of a couple controversial penalty decisions that made the loss even more frustrating. Up next week is Bradley Carnell’s first match against his old club, one that he’ll surely have circled on the calendar.

6

Seattle Sounders

Last week: 3 (-3)

Result: 1-0 loss at St. Louis City SC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs Houston Dynamo (10:30 pm ET)

The Seattle Sounders

had a brutal week. They crashed out of the Concacaf Champions Cup midweek, and lost Paul Arriola to a torn ACL that should keep him out for the rest of the year. On Saturday, they lost 1-0 to a really tough St. Louis side. Their depth is about to really be tested.

7

San Diego FC

Last week: 7 (-)

Result: 1-1 draw vs Columbus Crew

Up next: Sunday, March 23 at Austin FC (4:00 pm ET)

San Diego FC

were really tested by Columbus, struggling to stay organized defensively against the Crew’s possession-based approach. They held on, though, taking advantage of a red card and grabbing a late equalizer. It wasn’t a perfect performance from the expansion side, but one they can be proud of.

8

Minnesota United

Last week: 8 (+1)

Result: 3-3 draw at Sporting KC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs LA Galaxy (4:30 pm ET)

At face value, a draw on the road is never a bad result in MLS. But, uh, blowing a three-goal lead against a bad SKC side is certainly a result Minnesota United

will want back. They dominated the first 60 minutes and got a goal of the year contender from Hasani Dotson, but that won’t help this result sting any less.

9

FC Cincinnati

Last week: 4 (-5)

Result: 2-0 loss at Charlotte FC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs Atlanta United (2:30 pm ET)

Pavel Bucha’s ill-advised back pass doomed FC Cincinnati

to a road loss, and to make matters worse they lost Miles Robinson to injury and Gilberto Flores to a red card. Saturday against Atlanta looks like a massive test, as well as a chance to make a statement.

10

St. Louis City SC

Last week: 13 (+3)

Result: 1-0 win vs Seattle Sounders

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at Philadelphia Union (7:30 pm ET)

Eduard Lowen is a great midfielder, and a freekick artist as well! His peach of a goal gave St. Louis CITY SC

a great win over a shorthanded Seattle team, and they keep up their form as one of the hottest teams to start the year.

11

Colorado Rapids

Last week: 12 (+1)

Result: 2-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs Portland Timbers (9:30 pm ET)

Zack Steffen had one of the best games of his career, making 12 saves to keep San Jose at bay and give the Colorado Rapids

a valuable win on the road. They don’t get a ton of hype, but they’ve quietly had a solid start to the year.

12

New York City FC

Last week: 14 (+2)

Result: 2-1 win vs New England Revolution

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at Columbus Crew (7:30 pm ET)

After spotting the Revs a one-goal lead, New York City FC

took control at home and cruised to a 2-1 victory, getting another match-winner from Alonso Martinez. Pay attention to Jonny Shore. The 17-year-old is for real.

13

LAFC

Last week: 10 (-3)

Result: 1-0 loss vs Austin FC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at Sporting KC (8:30 pm ET)

Cengiz Under looked really good in his first start, but Los Angeles FC

’s midfield still really struggles to progress the ball, particularly against a team like Austin who seemed only interested in absorbing pressure.

14

New York Red Bulls

Last week: 11 (-3)

Result: 2-2 draw vs Orlando City

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET)

The NY Red Bulls

gave up so much space in behind to Orlando. It’s an inherent risk to playing such an aggressive system, and shows what happens if you play a high line but can’t pressure the ball. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting opened his account, though.

15

Nashville SC

Last week: 19 (+4)

Result: 3-1 win at Philadelphia Union

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs CF Montreal (8:30 pm ET)

Nashville SC

made it two wins in a row, going to Philadelphia and handing the Eastern Conference-leaders their first loss of the season. BJ Callaghan is making his mark on this club, who have a very winnable match at home this weekend.

16

Chicago Fire

Last week: 17 (+1)

Result: 2-1 win at Toronto FC

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 pm ET)

The Chicago Fire FC

have won two on the bounce, getting yet another goal from No. 9 Hugo Cuypers. Up next is a family reunion, with head coach Gregg Berhalter facing off against Vancouver and his son, starting midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

17

Austin FC

Last week: 22 (+5)

Result: 1-0 win at LAFC

Up next: Sunday, March 23 vs San Diego FC (4:00 pm ET)

Austin FC

went to LAFC and picked up a very valuable 1-0 win. Their attack is still struggling to get on the same page, though, without a real playmaker to get the ball to Myrto Uzuni or Brandon Vazquez.

18

Atlanta United

Last week: 15 (-3)

Result: 2-1 loss vs Inter Miami

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at FC Cincinnati (2:30 pm ET)

The Five Stripes weren’t bad in a loss to Miami, but this side has really struggled to consistently create chances. It’s still very early, but it’s a worrying trend for Atlanta United

, who spent upwards of $30 million in the winter to overhaul their attack.

19

Orlando City

Last week: 20 (+1)

Result: 2-2 draw at New York Red Bulls

Up next: Saturday, March 22 vs DC United (7:30 pm ET)

Oscar Pareja was tactically flexible in Orlando City SC

’s 2-2 draw with the Red Bulls, getting goals from Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic. It’s hasn’t usually been pretty from this Orlando side, but boy can they grind out results with the best of them.

20

San Jose Earthquakes

Last week: 16 (-4)

Result: 2-1 loss vs Colorado Rapids

Up next: Saturday, March 22 at Charlotte FC (7:30 pm ET)

The San Jose Earthquakes

were a bit unlucky to leave their match against Colorado without a point, absolutely bombarding Zack Steffen for most of the match. That’s two tough losses in a row for Bruce Arena’s side, although their performances haven’t been as bad as the results would indicate.