The Columbus Crew are heading back to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
After a season filled with uncertainty, coaching changes and inconsistent performances, the Black & Gold officially secured their fourth consecutive postseason appearance Sunday following losses by Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls.
Columbus did its part Saturday afternon, defeating D.C. United 3-0 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to extend its winning streak to five matches.
The victory improved the Crew’s record to 13-15-5, giving Columbus 44 points and placing the club in eighth in the Eastern Conference with one regular season match remaining.
For a team that found itself at the bottom of the conference standings on Sept. 1, reaching the postseason represents a significant turnaround.
A Season of Uncertainty
The Crew entered 2026 hoping to remain among Major League Soccer’s contenders following several successful season under former head coach Wilfried Nancy.
However, the transition to Henrik Rydström proved difficult.
Columbus managed just three victories through its opening 14 league matches, prompting the organization to dismiss Rydström in May and appoint Laurent Courtois as interim head coach.
The coaching change brought an opportunity to establish stability, but the results did not improve overnight.
The departures of Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten removed two important attacking contributors, forcing Columbus to find new ways to generate scoring opportunities.
Summer acquisitions Brais Méndez, Santiago Rodriguez and Anass Zaroury provided reinforcements as the Club attempted to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
Despite those additions, Columbus remained outside the playoff positions for much of the season.
Finding Form When It Mattered
As the regular season approached its conclusion, the Crew began producing the results necessary to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Columbus has won seven of its last eight league matches, including five consecutive victories heading into Decision Day.
The team’s recent performances have featured improved attacking production and contributions from several players.
Dylan Chambost has emerged as an important creative presence, recording five assists across the Crew’s victories over Toronto FC and D.C. United.
Against D.C., Chanbost provided assists on both first-half goals.
Sean Zawadzki opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Zaroury doubled Columbus’ advantage in the 41st.
A second-half own goal by D.C. defender Kimito Nono completed the scoring, while Patrick Schulte made four saves to preserve the clean sheet.
The victory moved Columbus into eigthth place and placed the club in positiobn to clinch a postseason berth with help from results elsewhere.
Those results arrived Sunday.
Toronto fell 3-1 to Atlanta United, while the New York Red Bulls suffered a 3-2 defeat against Nashville SC, officially securing Columbus’ place in the playoffs.
A Second Opportunity to Compete for Silverware
The postseason berth gives Columbus another opportunity to compete for a trophy following its defeat in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
The Crew reached the championship match in October but fell to St. Louis CITY SC in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw after 120 minutes.
While the Open Cup ended in disappointment for Columbus, the Club’s recent leauge form has provided another path toward silverware.
The Crew have won three MLS Cup championships (2008, 2020, 2023), and will now attempt to add a fourth title to their history.
However, the Black & Gold still have work to do before the postseason begins.
Columbus enters Decision Day in eighth place, which would require the Club to participate in the Eastern Conference Wild Card match.
A victory in the regular-season finale could improve the Crew’s positioning depending on results elsewhere.
What’s Next for Columbus?
The Crew will conclude the regular season Saturday, Nov. 7, when they travel to face Chicago Fire FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT.
The MLS Cup Playoffs begin Nov. 18 with the Wild Card round, while teams finishing seventh or higher in the respective conferences advance directly to the Round One Best-of-3 Series.
For Courtois, the postseason presents another opportunity to demonstrate his ability to lead Columbus during an important stretch of the season.
For the players, it offers a chance to build on the momentum over the past several weeks.
The Crew’s 2026 campaign has featured its share of setbacks, but the Black & Gold have ensured their season will extend beyond Decision Day.
Now, the challenge is turning a late-season resurgence into a meaningful postseason run.
