2025 (Southeast) MLS Staff Predictions
Welcome to our Southeast Soccer Report staff predictions for the 2025 MLS season, which starts today! Calum (Covers Atlanta), Forrest (Atlanta), Ronan (Nashville), Alex (Charlotte), and Ken (Miami) give their takes for both the clubs they cover and the league overall! Feel free to yell at how wrong our guesses are in the comments, as some of these are very bold
Credit Charlotte FC
Predictions for the Southeast Clubs
These highlight predictions of standings, awards, and trophies for the clubs we cover.
Inter Miami - 1st Place in the East (3 Votes), 2nd Place in the East (2 Votes)
Lionel Messi MVP (5 Votes), Golden Boot (2 Votes)
Eastern Conference Champions (Alex)
MLS Cup Champions (Ken)
Atlanta United - 3rd Place in the East (3 Votes), 4th Place (2 Votes)
Ronny Delia Coach of the Year (2 Votes)
Emmanuel Latte Lath (2 Votes)/Miguel Almiron (Ronan) Newcomer of the Year
Eastern Conference Champions (Calum)
Charlotte FC - 7th Place in the East (2 Votes), 3rd Place (1 Vote), 5th Place (1 Vote), 6th Place (1 Vote)
Kristijan Kahlina GK of the Year (Calum)
Wilfred Zaha Newcomer of the Year (Alex)
Patrick Agyemang Golden Boot (Alex)
Dean Smith Coach of the Year (Alex)
Nashville SC - 9th Place in the East (2 Votes), 10th Place (2 Votes), 6th Place (1 Vote)
US Open Cup Champions (Ronan)
Charleston Battery - US Open Cup Champions (Forrest)
Overall Predictions
These include standings, award winners, and trophy winners. The bold predictions that don’t involve the Southeast clubs can be found here.
Calum:
East: Miami (Supporter’s Shield), Cincinnati, Atlanta, Columbus, Charlotte, Orlando, New York Red Bulls, Chicago, NYCFC, Nashville SC, Montreal, New England, Philadelphia, DC United, Toronto
West: Seattle, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Austin, San Diego, Minnesota, Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Colorado, Houston, San Jose, St. Louis, Sporting Kansas City, Portland, Vancouver
MVP: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Golden Boot: Kevin Denkey (FC Cincinnati)
Newcomer of the Year: Myrto Uzuni (Austin FC)
GK of the Year: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
Coach of the Year: Mikey Varas (San Diego FC)
Open Cup: Minnesota United
Leagues Cup: Club America
Eastern Conference: Atlanta United
Western Conference: LA Galaxy
MLS Cup: LA Galaxy
Ken:
East: Cincinnati, Miami, Columbus, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte, New York Red Bulls, NYCFC, Nashville SC, Chicago, New England, Montreal, Philadelphia, DC United, Toronto
West: LA Galaxy, Seattle, LAFC, Real Salt Lake, Austin, Minnesota, Houston, San Jose, Portland, Sporting KC, Colorado, St. Louis, Dallas, San Diego, Vancouver
MVP: Lionel Messi
Golden Boot: Lionel Messi
Newcomer of the Year: Emmanuel Latte Lath
GK of the Year: Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United
Coach of the Year: Ronny Delia, Atlanta United
Open Cup: Orlando City
Leagues Cup: FC Cincinnati
Eastern Conference: Inter Miami
Western Conference: Seattle
MLS Cup: Inter Miami
Ronan:
East: Miami, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Columbus, Orlando, Nashville, Charlotte, NYCFC, Chicago, New England, Red Bulls, Montreal, DC United, Philadelphia, Toronto
West: LAFC, Seattle, Colorado, Minnesota, LA Galaxy, St. Louis, San Diego, Kansas City, Austin, San Jose, Houston, RSL, Portland, Vancouver, Dallas (defense is going to be a sieve imo)
MVP: Lionel Messi
Golden Boot: Lionel Messi
Newcomer of the Year: Miguel Almiron
GK of the Year: Roman Celentano
Coach of the Year: Ronny Deila (honorable mentions to Brian Schmetzer, BJ Callaghan and Mikey Varas)
Open Cup: Nashville SC
Leagues Cup: FC Cincinnati
Eastern Conference: FC Cincinnati
Western Conference: Seattle Sounders
MLS Cup: Seattle Sounders
Alex:
Eastern Conference: Miami, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Atlanta, Columbus, NYCFC, Orlando, D.C., Nashville, NYRB, Montreal, Chicago, New England, Toronto, Philadelphia
Western Conference: Seattle, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Houston, Salt Lake, Portland, Minnesota, Colorado, San Jose, Austin, Dallas, Kansas City, Vancouver, St. Louis, San Diego
MVP: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Golden Boot: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC)
Newcomer of the Year: Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC)
GK of the Year: Stefan Frei (Seattle)
Coach of the Year: Dean Smith (Charlotte FC)
Open Cup: Seattle
Leagues Cup: Colombus
Eastern Conference: Miami
Western Conference: Seattle
MLS Cup: Seattle
Forrest:
East: Columbus (Supporter’s Shield), Miami, New York Red Bulls, Atlanta, Cincinnati, DC United, Charlotte, Orlando, NYCFC, Nashville SC, Montreal, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, New England
West: LAFC, Seattle, Real Salt Lake, Houston, LA Galaxy, Minnesota, St. Louis, San Diego, San Jose, Austin, Dallas, Colorado, Portland, Vancouver, Sporting Kansas City
MVP: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Golden Boot: Cristian “Chicho” Arango (San Jose)
Newcomer of the Year: Emmanuel Latte Lath (Atlanta)
GK of the Year: Stefan Frei (Seattle)
Coach of the Year: Wilfried Nancy (Columbus)
Open Cup: Charleston Battery! You read that correctly! This is the year USL breaks the streak.
Leagues Cup: Cruz Azul
Eastern Conference: Columbus Crew
Western Conference: LAFC
MLS Cup: Columbus Crew