The MLS landscape is shifting after Matchday 10, and the latest power rankings from Sports Illustrated tell a compelling story: the San Jose Earthquakes are making serious noise at the top, while Inter Miami CF — the league's most-watched club — is failing to live up to the hype.
San Jose's surge is one of the more surprising storylines of the 2025 MLS season. The Earthquakes have long been considered a mid-table side at best, but through ten matchdays they've shown the kind of consistency and competitive edge that demands respect from the rest of the Western Conference. Whether it's defensive organization, attacking creativity, or sheer team chemistry, San Jose appears to have found something that's working — and working well.
On the other side of the spectrum, Inter Miami continues to underwhelm. With Lionel Messi on the roster, expectations in South Florida — and honestly, across the entire country — are sky high every single week. But underwhelming performances through the first ten matchdays suggest that the team hasn't yet clicked as a complete unit. When you have arguably the greatest player of all time on your squad, anything less than dominance feels like a disappointment to fans and analysts alike.
For American soccer supporters, these power rankings matter beyond just league table standings. They're a snapshot of which clubs are building genuine momentum and which ones are coasting — or struggling — through the early portion of the season. MLS has grown dramatically in quality and competitiveness over the past several years, and with Leagues Cup on the horizon and playoff positioning starting to take shape, Matchday 10 results carry real weight.
The Western Conference race in particular is worth watching closely. San Jose's rise could signal a reshuffling of power in the West, where clubs like LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, and LAFC have historically dominated the conversation. A resurgent Earthquakes side would make that conference race even more unpredictable heading into the summer months.
Meanwhile, Eastern Conference fans will be keeping a close eye on whether Inter Miami can right the ship. A roster of that caliber — built around Messi and a collection of international stars — should be among the league's elite. The question is whether the coaching staff can find the right formula before too much ground is lost in the standings.
As the MLS regular season rolls on, expect the power rankings conversation to evolve rapidly. In a league this competitive, things can change dramatically from one matchday to the next. San Jose is enjoying their moment at the top — but the rest of the league is taking notice, and that rarely makes life easier.