* The Western Conference in Major League Soccer is super crowded, with teams like the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers, and Minnesota United all very close in the standings. This means every game is really important for them to make it to the playoffs.
* New players joining teams in the summer can really change how well a team plays, and this is happening right now as teams get ready for the playoffs. Also, playing games at home and how well teams do there can make a big difference in who gets a better spot in the playoffs.