In eight games, Charlotte FC has been quite the force in the league, and fans cannot deny that this pace has been setting them apart from the rest of the competition. Following a 3-0 clean sheet victory over the fiery San Diego FC, Charlotte has now taken hold of the no. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference, sharing the lead with Cincinnati FC in what is expected to be a crowded set of teams.

For what it is worth, Charlotte FC was already in the fifth seed by the end of the previous season. After a wild offseason where they came up with impressive signings and key developments in their staff and roster composition, it looked like Charlotte was ready to contend – and after a few games in the 2025 season, they are making some noise in their games and has made their presence felt so far.

It is rare for low-seeded teams to suddenly grab the top spot in the MLS standings, let alone early in the season. But with the power shift in the league that has taken place so far, it is safe to say that there’s indeed something different with the way teams are playing right now. Charlotte, for one, is indeed making the best of its chances to begin with.

A Surge for Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC remains the only club in the MLS who is yet to lose a game at home – or even a draw on that note. They are a perfect 5-0-0 on their home games and have been really on a roll with 19 points – tied with Cincinnati FC for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. In eight games, both teams have amassed a 6-2-1 record, with Charlotte holding an advantage in goals made so far.

San Diego FC – which was one of the fiery teams to begin the season, was taken down in a 3-0 clean sheet at the hands of Charlotte. Liel Abada scored on Pep Biel’s league-leading sixth assist, and they rolled over the expansion team without any hassle. For those who are not aware of Biel’s impressive impact, Charlotte has gone 6-0-1 whenever he has a hand on a goal this season so far.

Reigning goalkeeper of the year Krisijan Kahlina also finished with two saves in the game, capping off his fourth clean sheet for Charlotte as the club held San Diego to just nine shots attempt and two of their on-target attempts saved away.

Charlotte now returns home to host the New England Revolution this weekend, and one can say that there’s more to expect from the team as to how they can continue winning big games now more than ever.

The Power Shift in the MLS

The so-called power shift in the MLS can be greatly exaggerated by many fans and critics so far. Sure, league champions LA Galaxy are way below the depths of the West, and their rivals LAFC are seventh overall. In what has been a twist, Vancouver, Austin, Minnesota, Portland, and Colorado all round up the top five in the West – a very different sight from last year’s final standings.

What is greatly exaggerated is the Eastern Conference – with Charlotte and Cincinnati at the top, but the last year’s top two teams in Inter Miami and Columbus Crew still remain in the mix for the top five, which makes it not any different at a bigger scale compared to the Western Conference.

For Charlotte, this is a big chance for them to stamp their place in MLS history, and one can expect that the team will be rolling hard to keep their hold of the top spot in the East now more than ever.