Photo by John Rieger/USA TODAY Sports

By AARON CRANFORD

With Week 26 of MLS action in the books, the Supporters’ Shield race doesn’t look any more clearer.

The top three teams were all unable to improve upon their records, as the LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps and D.C. United all lost during the weekend.

However, the New York Red Bulls have asserted themselves as a serious contender with their 3-0 win against D.C. Sunday.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew also increased their chances to lift the trophy with wins of their own. The Portland Timbers and Sporting KC, however, were unable to take advantage of other team’s poor results, with both of them losing as well.

Take a closer look at where the top contenders stand after Week 26 below and tell us who you think is the favorite to win the Supporters’ Shield in the comments:

LA GALAXY

With only six games remaining, the Galaxy still sit atop the table.

LA lost, 1-0, to the San Jose Earthquakes in the California Clasico Friday, but with others losing right behind them, the reigning MLS Cup winners can feel a small sense of comfort.

However, the Galaxy have three other Supporters’ Shield contenders on their schedule before season’s end, so no easy task lies ahead.

Before Friday’s loss, the Galaxy had been in peak condition, winning their last six matches and scoring 23 goals along the way. The loss can arguably be attributed to the red card shown to defender Leonardo in the 47th minute, so with a full-strength squad (minus Leonardo) heading home to face the Montreal Impact, the Galaxy should be the favorite to walk away with three points.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 12 — vs. Montreal Impact

Sept. 19 — at Real Salt Lake

Sept. 26 — vs. FC Dallas

Oct. 4 — at Seattle Sounders FC

Oct. 18 — vs. Portland Timbers

Oct. 25 — at Sporting KC

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

Despite having a huge opportunity to regain the Supporters’ Shield lead Saturday, the Whitecaps failed and fell to the Houston Dynamo, 2-0.

With just seven games remaining, one more than the LA Galaxy, the Whitecaps will try to turn things around against the Colorado Rapids Sept. 9.

However, that appears to not be as easy of a task, with the Rapids winning their third-straight contest Saturday against contender Sporting KC.

With the Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas all currently playing well, the Whitecaps will need to recapture their form in order to regain the lead.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 9 — vs. Colorado Rapids

Sept. 19 — vs. Seattle Sounders

Sept. 26 — vs. New York City FC

Oct. 3 — at San Jose Earthquakes

Oct. 7 — vs. FC Dallas

Oct. 14 — at FC Dallas

Oct. 25 — vs. Houston Dynamo

D.C. UNITED

D.C United remains atop the Eastern Conference, but the gap is closing and so too is its chance at the Supporters’ Shield.

D.C. has just six games remaining, but it is only two points behind the LA Galaxy.

However, D.C. was dominated by another contender in the the New York Red Bulls Sunday, losing by a scoreline of 3-0 at Red Bull Arena.

D.C. meets the Colorado Rapids next, and while the Rapids are on a three-game winning streak, three days prior to their meeting with D.C., they play the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Fatigue may slow the Rapids down in the next few weeks, and D.C. will hope it does in order to end its current three-game losing streak.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 12 — at Colorado Rapids

Sept. 19 — vs. Columbus Crew SC

Sept. 26 — At Montreal Impact

Oct. 2 — vs. New York City FC

Oct. 18 — vs. Chicago Fire

Oct. 18 — at Columbus Crew SC

NEW YORK RED BULLS

The Red Bulls knocked off Shield contender D.C. United Sunday, and they still have the most matches left among the top four teams with nine.

They are now only four points behind the Galaxy, and despite dropping points last Wednesday to the Chicago Fire in a 3-2 decision, the Red Bulls benefited from many teams losing during the weekend.

The Red Bulls have won six of their last eight matches, and another showdown with the Fire is right around the corner for them.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 11 — vs. Chicago Fire

Sept. 16 — at New England Revolution

Sept. 20 — at Portland Timbers

Sept. 25 — vs. Orlando City SC

Oct. 3 — vs. Columbus Crew SC

Oct. 7 — vs. Montreal Impact

Oct. 14 — at Toronto FC

Oct. 18 — vs. Philadelphia Union

Oct. 25 — at Chicago Fire

FC DALLAS

FC Dallas sits in fifth after the weekend, and it too has nine matches left with five points needed to tie the Galaxy.

After snapping its three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake Saturday, Dallas has a tough September ahead, with meetings against the Columbus Crew, New York City FC and Galaxy in its way.

Two matches against the Whitecaps in August will also be decisive.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 6 — at Columbus Crew SC

Sept. 12 — vs. New York City FC

Sept. 18 — at Sporting KC

Sept. 26 — at LA Galaxy

Oct. 4 — vs. Houston Dynamo

Oct. 7 — at Vancouver Whitecaps

Oct. 14 — vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

Oct. 17 — at Real Salt Lake

Oct. 25 — vs. San Jose Earthquakes

COLUMBUS CREW

The Columbus Crew continued their winning ways in Week 26 and have inserted their name into the Supporters’ Shield race.

With a 2-1 victory over New York City FC, the Crew won their second consecutive match and improved to 41 points on the year, five behind the Galaxy.

Despite the Crew’s offense being one of the best throughout the regular season, an intimidating path lies ahead.

Two matches against D.C. United, one against the Portland Timbers, one at the New York Red Bulls and another at Toronto FC will undoubtedly not be easy, so with seven games left, the Crew will take all the points it can get.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 6 — vs. FC Dallas

Sept. 12 — at Philadelphia Union

Sept. 19 — at D.C. United

Sept. 26 — vs. Portland Timbers

Oct. 3 — at New York Red Bulls

Oct. 17 — at Toronto FC

Oct. 25 — vs. D.C. United

SPORTING KC

Sporting KC has nine games left in the season, but a loss Saturday did not help it move any closer to lifting a trophy.

Still only six points behind leaders LA Galaxy, Sporting KC fell to the Colorado Rapids, who are 14th in the combined standings but are also on a winning streak.

The task does not become any easier, though, as the club must play five games in an 18-day span during the month of September. Sporting KC will face Shield contenders Portland Timbers twice, FC Dallas twice and the LA Galaxy before the regular season ends.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 9 — at Portland Timers

Sept. 13 — at Orlando City SC

Sept. 18 — vs. FC Dallas

Sept. 23 — at Houston Dynamo

Sept. 27 — vs. FC Dallas

Oct. 3 — at Portland Timbers

Oct. 16 — at San Jose Earthquakes

Oct. 21 — vs. Colorado Rapids

Oct. 25 — vs. LA Galaxy

PORTLAND TIMBERS

Seven games remain for the Timbers, but their chances at the Shield are slim after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders.

Six points behind the Galaxy, the Timbers’ four-game unbeaten run ended against their Cascadia rivals.

And to make matters worse, their schedule does not become any easier. Sporting KC is next, but showdowns against the Galaxy, Red Bulls, Crew and another against Sporting make the Timbers’ task of finishing first daunting.

Remaining Schedule:

Sept. 9 — vs. Sporting KC

Sept. 20 — vs. New York Red Bulls

Sept. 26 — at Columbus Crew SC

Oct. 3 — vs. Sporting KC

Oct. 14 — at Real Salt Lake

Oct. 18 — at LA Galaxy

Oct. 25 — vs. Colorado Rapids