Checking in on struggling Western Conference contenders

Something interesting is happening in the Western Conference as we approach the World Cup break. There are four teams that have separated themselves as the West's clear frontrunners so far in 2026. And in recent weeks, all four have fallen on hard times to some extent.

Here are some quick thoughts on what's been troubling the best in the West – and who has the best chance of coming out on the other side with their trophy dreams intact.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Record: 9W-2L-2D; 29 points (1st in the West)

What's gone wrong?

Vancouver have more or less picked up where they left off after their breakout season in 2025, skyrocketing back up to the top of the West with 29 points from 12 matches. They've cooled off considerably in May, though, settling for 1-1 draws against the Galaxy and San Jose, and taking a 1-0 loss at Houston over the weekend. They also had an unceremonious exit from Concacaf Champions Cup, getting run 5-1 on aggregate by Seattle in the Round of 16.

Can they fix it?

If you look at Vancouver's schedule, the relative downturn in form seems pretty explainable. They've been on the road for the entire month, which makes the Galaxy result acceptable and the San Jose result actively good. The Houston loss was bad, but it did occur after a red card to goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, which theoretically shouldn't be something that happens every week. For now, it seems like this can be chalked up to a congested, road-heavy portion of their schedule rather than cause for concern of a potential downfall.

San Jose Earthquakes

Record: 9W-3L-2D; 29 points (2nd in the West)

What's gone wrong?

The 'Quakes have been the surprise feel-good story of the season after coming into the year with low expectations from the outside. But they've had an even more difficult month of May than Vancouver, going 0-2-2 across their four matches. Marquee offseason acquisition Timo Werner has looked excellent when healthy, but has been sidelined by injuries multiple times already. Rising star No. 10 Niko Tsakiris is also out 3-4 months after groin surgery, which has clearly dealt a blow to the attack.

Can they fix it?

They've shown the ability to get results without Werner, but the injury to Tsakiris really hurts this team. The homegrown product was looking absolutely electric as the centerpiece for Bruce Arena's side, and looked headed for an All-Star caliber season. Having to play this long without him has me worried as to whether the attack can maintain its level while he's out. It's not out of the question, though. With Preston Judd apparently morphing into the second coming of Chris Wondolowski, the Quakes still have one of the league's hottest No. 9s, and a roster that's clearly got a good mix of youth and experience, led by an MLS guru in Bruce Arena. The question will be if they have enough explosiveness and creativity without Werner and Tsakiris to retain their status as a Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup frontrunner. That's an open question, but it should be noted that their offense has actually performed reasonably well in their last two losses at Seattle and FC Dallas – they scored multiple goals in both.

Real Salt Lake

Record: 8W-4L-1D; 25 points (3rd in West)

What's gone wrong?

RSL have been one of the most watchable teams this year, thanks in large part to their crop of demonic, rising homegrown academy stars that have looked hell-bent on taking over the league. That group is led by Zavier Gozo, who might be the best youth prospect we've seen in MLS since Alphonso Davies himself. Over the last month, though, the freight train has slowed down a bit, with RSL taking pretty bad losses at LA Galaxy and at FC Dallas. They also had a dud of a performance when they hosted Inter Miami last month, taking their first and only home loss of the season far, and missing an opportunity to make a statement that they can hang with a fellow MLS Cup hopeful. Of this group, RSL are the ones who have course-corrected the most in May, winning all their matches aside from the Dallas letdown. But their home/road splits are also something that shouldn't be ignored. They're 7-1-0 at America First Field, but 1-3-1 everywhere else, which is an indicator of a young team still learning how to win – and one that might see their inexperience catch up to them when the cards are on the table in a tournament or playoff game.

Can they fix it?

This team is still young, deep and exciting enough to make a run in any tournament they play, especially if they're hosting games. It's damn near impossible to beat them at America First Field. If they have home-field advantage in the playoffs, for instance, they'll have a phenomenal chance at making an MLS Cup run. The other big question is whether they'll be able to keep Gozo, who's already drawing heavy interest from Europe and is increasing his price by the week. Selling him would be a boon for the future, but might make contending more difficult in the present, given the integral role he's played in RSL's excellent start.

Seattle Sounders

Record: 7W-2L-3D; 24 points (4th in the West)

What's gone wrong?

Seattle got their best win of the season over San Jose last week, but that result was sandwiched between two letdown draws at Sporting KC and vs. San Diego, as well as a very bad loss to the LA Galaxy, which ended the undefeated streak at Lumen Field. A slumping offense has been a large culprit, with just two goals combined across the SKC, San Diego and Galaxy games, leading to plenty of No. 9 discourse. The defense hasn't been without blame, either, with multiple concessions on preventable giveaways that put the team behind the 8-ball.

Can they fix it?

If there's good news, it's that Pedro de la Vega will ostensibly be returning after the World Cup break. The Argentine has had a well-documented rough run with the injuries during his time in Seattle, but let's not forget the level he showed in 2025, when he actually made 26 all-competition appearances and showed his chops as one of the league's most talented attackers. If PDLV returns at full capacity, it'll hopefully create a ripple effect that can boost the whole offense. If that happens, Seattle's defense has also shown it can perform at a championship level, with their 10 goals conceded tied with Vancouver for the best mark in the West, even with the bad concessions in the last few weeks.