There will be no miracle, last-minute surge into the MLS Cup playoffs for Austin FC in 2026. For the fourth time in six seasons, the Verde and Black failed to qualify for the league’s postseason tournament.
Austin’s fate was sealed once and for all Wednesday night, as the club lost a must-win game at home to Real Salt Lake by a 2-1 scoreline. The result ended any mathematical possibility of Austin finishing ninth or better in the Western Conference standings, which awards nine playoff spots.
After a scoreless first half, Austin FC got on the board first in the 52nd minute, thanks to an impressive long-range strike from rookie midfielder Jorge Alastuey. Less than three minutes later, though, Saba Lobjanidze equalized with a curling effort for RSL. The visitors scored again just after the hour mark by way of Morgan Guilavogui on the counter attack. It proved to be the winning goal, after Austin was denied a penalty kick in the 75th minute on what appeared to be a handball in the box. ATX nearly found a second goal on a couple of additional occasions, but even a draw wouldn’t have altered the club’s fate regarding the playoffs.
“Disappointment’s very high, if I’m being honest,” interim head coach Davy Arnaud said. “We knew it was going to be tough to find our way into the playoffs based on all the factors that we all know about, but it didn’t change our mindset and our mentality. That’s what we wanted. That’s what we were working towards.”
Winning on the road against Sporting Kansas City in the club’s previous match kept Austin’s flicker of hope alive. It would have likely taken a perfect finish to the season, and even that might not have been enough. But the schedule provided an opportunity for the club to leapfrog several teams in the standings, including RSL.
“I think if we [had won] the game tonight, it makes things very interesting going down the way, and I think that’s the toughest part to swallow. Because the teams we were playing were directly above us,” Arnaud said.
Instead, Austin will have to settle for potentially playing spoiler as it finishes the 2026 campaign with matches at LA Galaxy on Halloween, and home against the Portland Timbers on November 7. Those teams sit 10th and 11th, respectively, in the West, right behind RSL which moved into the final playoff spot after Wednesday’s match.
For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle’s Austin FC hub. Sign up for The Verde Report newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox, and follow The Verde Report columnist Eric Goodman on X: @goodman.
