The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season has now hit its key stretch of matches, which could propel some teams into the playoffs for good, and subsequently end the dreams of others.
There's only 33 days left until the playoff schedule gets underway, meaning every match from here on out is truly important in both conferences. Between North Texas SC and St. Louis CITY2's continuous fight to earn the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference to the congested table in the Eastern Conference, there is certainly a lot to play for over the next five weeks.
There will also be a new MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner this fall with David Poreba, Mykhi Joyner, and Taylor Calheira currently leading the race for the league's annual award.
Here is a closer look at the Top 5 Storylines to Watch as the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season comes into its final stretch:
1.) The Jampacked race for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 spot
Only three points separates first through fifth place in the Eastern Conference, meaning the race for the No. 1 spot could go any way.
FC Cincinnati 2, Philadelphia Union II, Columbus Crew 2, NYCFC II, and Crown Legacy FC are all in the mix to clinch the No. 1 seed come playoff time. Union II are tied for the most points earned at home in the East (24), while all five clubs are ranked in top-five when it comes to road records (FCC2 leads the way with 23 points earned away from home).
FCC2's back-to-back defeats have opened up the race yet again, while Crew 2 are unbeaten in 12-straight matches and Crown Legacy FC are riding a five-match unbeaten run of their own.
NYCFC II has the toughest remaining schedule among the five East contenders, while Crown Legacy FC has the most favorable run of matches.
Overall, there could be a lot of moving and shaking over the final five weeks.
2.) North Texas SC vs. St. Louis CITY2: The West's two-horse race.
While the East's race for the No. 1 could go in a bunch of different directions, the West's looks to be pretty straightforward.
North Texas SC and St. Louis CITY2 are at the front of the pack, with Ventura County FC, Tacoma Defiance and several others behind them.
NTX have only lost four matches in regulation in 2024, sitting two points clear of CITY2 in the race for first place (NTX 48 points, CITY2 46 points). They remain unbeaten at Choctaw Stadium this year, posting a 7-5-0 record to date, and earning 30 points out of 36 available.
CITY2 have been equally as dominant at home this season, earning 27 out of 36 points available. However, Bobby Murphy's squad have a slight edge over NTX in road results, earning 19 points away from home compared to NTX's 18 points.
Even on goal differential, not much separates these two clubs, with NTX scoring one more (41 to 40) and conceding one fewer goal (27 to 28) than CITY2 to date.
These two teams have already played their three head-to-head regular season matches already, meaning the race for the West's No. 1 spot could ultimately be determined by one of NTX's or CITY2's remaining opponents.
3.) A new name will lift the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot Award!
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season will conclude with a new name lifting the league's annual Golden Boot Award.
David Poreba, Mykhi Joyner, and Taylor Calheira headline the race for the honor given to the league's top goalscorer. Currently there are nine players that have registered double-digit goals to date, with five coming from the Eastern Conference and four coming from the Western Conference.
Poreba, who joined Chicago Fire II on loan earlier this year, leads the way with 17 goals in 23 appearances. Out of all of the closest contenders, Poreba is the only player to date to have accumulated over 2,000 minutes of playing time.
Joyner's 14 goals to date ranks him second in the Golden Boot race, as the young attacker keeps St. Louis CITY2 in the race for the West's No. 1 seed.
NYCFC II attacker Calheira has made the fewest appearances among the top-ten goalscorers, but it hasn't stopped him from contributing 13 tallies to date. His five assists are also the third-most among the Top 10 goalscorers, showing that he is a two-way threat in Matt Pilkington's offense.
18-year-old Eddy Davis is also one to watch over the final five weeks of the season, with the young Philadelphia Union II forward contributing 11 goals to date.
Colorado Rapids 2 midfielder Marlon Vargas and Orlando City B attacker Shak Mohammed are also in the race, as two of the key returnees to MLS NEXT Pro.
4.) Diego Gonzalez, Aron John leading race to break MLS NEXT Pro regular season assist record
In each of the first two MLS NEXT Pro seasons, there has been at least one player to register double-digit assists, but 2024 could see the all-time record broken by year's end.
Houston Dynamo 2 midfielder Diego Gonzalez and Crown Legacy FC attacker Aron John are currently tied with nine assists apiece, one behind the current all-time league record (10 assists by each Romeo Beckham, Mo Farsi, and Marlon Vargas). Gonzalez has been a key playmaker for Dynamo Dos this season, while also contributing two goals in 1,975 minutes played.
John, 18, has scored eight goals to go along with his nine assists, making 21 league appearances this season. The young talent has a strong chance in becoming the first player in league history with double-digit goals and assists in the same season.
Chattanooga FC's Taylor Gray, Philadelphia Union II's C.J. Olney, Columbus Crew 2's Owen Presthus, and Orlando City B's Yutaro Tsukada all have seven assists apiece as well, and could force their way into the conversation with a strong end of the season.
5.) Can 2024 debutants Chattanooga FC, Carolina Core FC sneak into playoff spots?
The MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs could very well see both of 2024 debutants.
Chattanooga FC and Carolina Core FC have endured some bumps in the road this season, but ultimately remain in the fight for a top-eight finish in the Eastern Conference. Both teams made the jump to MLS NEXT Pro this season and have certainly held their own against some of the league's best.
CFC are currently in ninth place and one point out of the final playoff spot in the East. However, failing to win any of their last five matches in regulation is a bit of a worry heading into their final four matches of the campaign.
Leading goalscorer Mehdi Ouamri's 12 goals have him in the thick of the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race while Taylor Gray's seven assists have him ranked among the more productive playmakers.
Carolina Core FC are 10th place in the Eastern Conference and two points out of the final playoff spot. CCFC has a slight edge of CFC due to having one additional match to play and overall are riding a strong run of form this summer.
Winners of their last four matches, CCFC have done well to defeat some of the East's leading challengers this season (FC Cincinnati 2, NYCFC II, Crown Legacy FC) and ultimately have four of their last five fixtures on home soil.
The trio of Facundo Canete, Jacob Evans, and David Polanco (21 goals and 12 assists combined) have all been influential in recent weeks, and that trio will need to continue producing big-time moments if CCFC wants to crack the top-eight by October 7.
