Monday 24 October 2016 00:13, UK
The last day of the regular season can only mean thing in Major League Soccer. Decision Day.
After a gruelling 33 matches, play-off and title hopes are put on the line on Sunday, and it can mean everything; in 2015, Portland Timbers still had to clinch a play-off spot on the last day of the regular season before going on to win the MLS Cup.
For the first time in the league's history, all 20 MLS clubs will kick off at the same time, and it's sure to be a day of high drama. In the UK, that means 9pm, with the four most crucial matches live on Sky Sports.
The MLS Cup may take precedent over the Supporter's Shield across the season, but the title does indicate who is consistently the best team over the whole year.
The Shield is awarded to the team with the best record across both the Eastern and Western Conferences, and there are two teams in contention.
FC Dallas, who have enjoyed a consistent season, and surprise packages Colorado Rapids with former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and ex-Premier League striker Kevin Doyle, will battle it out on Sunday.
The 2010 MLS Cup winners Colorado will lift the Supporters' Shield for the first time in their history if they beat the West's bottom side Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas lose against LA Galaxy.
Dallas will lift the plate for the first time if they win or draw against a star-studded LA Galaxy, or if Colorado lose or draw against Houston Dynamo.
Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, New York City and New York Red Bulls have all qualified for the post-season.
The top six clubs from each of the two conferences qualify for the play-offs. In the West there are still three places up for grabs and just one spot remaining in the East.
It is worth noting that the bottom two play-off spots (fifth and sixth) of both conferences mean those teams have to play a one-game knockout round. Only three teams have clinched a knockout round bye; Colorado, Dallas and New York Red Bulls.
Play-off positioning is vital, so expect the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba to start on Decision Day.
There are six teams who have it all to play for on Decision Day:
New England Revolution will qualify if they win v Montreal AND Philadelphia lose v New York Red Bulls AND the margin of New England's victory plus margin of Philadelphia's defeat is 13 goals or greater.
Philadelphia Union will qualify if they win or draw v New York Red Bulls;
OR New England Revolution draw or lose v Montreal Impact;
OR Philadelphia lose v Red Bulls AND New England win v Montreal AND margin of New England victory plus margin of Philadelphia defeat does not exceed 11 goals.
Portland Timbers will qualify if they beat rivals Vancouver Whitecaps;
OR draw and Sporting Kansas City lose v San Jose Earthquakes;
OR Portland lose and Sporting Kansas City lose by two or more goals than Portland.
Real Salt Lake will qualify if they win or draw v Seattle Sounders;
OR Sporting Kansas City lose or tie v San Jose Earthquakes;
OR Portland Timbers lose or tie v Vancouver Whitecaps.
Seattle Sounders will qualify if they win v Real Salt Lake;
OR Sporting Kansas City lose or draw v San Jose Earthquakes OR Portland Timbers lose or tie v Vancouver Whitecaps.
Sporting Kansas City will qualify if they win v San Jose Earthquakes;
OR draw v San Jose AND Portland lose or draw v Vancouver Whitecaps;
OR Portland lose v Vancouver AND Kansas City lose by the same margin or by fewer goals than do Portland.
Kaka won't be involved in the play-offs this season, with his club Orlando joining Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps as those clubs not mathematically able to make the play-offs.
Last season's MLS Cup finalists Columbus Crew have also failed to qualify.
It is a two horse race between a player on the blue side and the other on the red side of New York, the Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips and City's David Villa.
Wright-Phillips' brace against Columbus Crew last weekend means he is now on 23 goals, one ahead of Spain's all-time top goalscorer going into the final day.
'BWP' has already become the first player in MLS history to score at least 20 goals in multiple seasons to further add to his remarkable list of achievements in MLS. He boasts a goal record of 68 goals in 106 appearances across three-and-a-quarter seasons.
You can watch four of the most decisive matches live on Sky Sports; LA Galaxy v FC Dallas is on Sky Sports 5, Seattle Sounders v Real Salt Lake on Sky Sports 4.
Colorado v Houston Dynamo and Vancouver Whitecaps v Portland Timbers are both on Sky Sports 4 Red Button.
All games kick off at 9pm on Sunday.
