The big name players that won’t be involved in the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs
Several Major League Soccer clubs made big signings during the summer, but failed to qualify to the playoffs in the Western and Eastern Conference.
The stakes will be high on Decision Day this Sunday in the regular season finale in Major League Soccer and while several teams are making a late push to secure a spot in the playoffs, other teams have nothing to fight for as their season has pretty much come to an end. The biggest disappointments this year are Toronto FC, Atlanta United, Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire because of their respective high profile signings.
These aforementioned clubs were active during the summer transfer window, signing high profile players from Europe’s top tier in hopes they will take them to the next level. Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Xherdan Shaqiri and Héctor Herrera are among the league’s top players that will go early on vacation this year.
Toronto FC
TFC is the biggest let down of the year because of their new acquisitions with the Canadian-based team signing Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi and Alejandro Pozuelo during the summer in hopes they could secure one of the seven spots in the Eastern Conference to qualify to the playoffs, but they had another disappointing campaign.
The Reds even brought in one of the most condecorated managers in MLS history, Bob Bradley, to lead the team to the playoffs, but they ended in 13th place in the standings with a record of nine wins, seven draws and 17 defeats for 34 points in 33 fixtures. Toronto will finish the season playing against Philadelphia on Sunday.
Héctor Herrera
The Mexico international joined the Houston Dynamo FC on 7 July and made a total of nine appearances in Major League Soccer. Herrera played eight consecutive games upon arrival, provided one assist and his overall record with the club was one win, two draws and five defeats, including a 6-0 loss against Philadelphia Union. The 32-year-old missed the next six matches due to an injury and finally reappeared over the weekend in the 2-1 win over Nashville and played 33 minutes.
Xherdan Shaqiri
The Swiss international was one of the biggest signings in all Major League Soccer this season, but failed to lead the Chicago Fire to the playoffs. Shaqiri scored seven goals and provided six assists in 28 appearances as the team finished in 12th place in the standings in the Eastern Conference and will conclude the season by hosting the New England Revolution on Sunday.