The Vancouver Whitecaps will look to claim the Western Conference title against a red-hot FC Dallas side on Saturday in their MLS regular-season finale.

This is likely the most consequential decision day for the ‘Caps in the team’s MLS history, with the possible exception of the year they snuck into the playoffs under Vanni Sartini. A win or draw (or San Diego loss) would clinch Vancouver’s first-ever Western Conference crown, the number one seed in the playoffs and the home-field advantage that comes along with it. It would also be yet another accolade for Jesper Sørensen in his first year in charge.

A couple of months ago, this would have seemed like the perfect opponent for the final week of the season. When FC Dallas sold Lucho Acosta over the summer, it was assumed that they were waving the white flag on their season and starting to regroup ahead of next year.

Instead, first-year head coach Eric Quill switched his formation to emphasize Logan Farrington and Petar Musa, and they caught fire. Since Acosta last played for this team on July 4, FC Dallas has recorded five wins, five draws, and three losses, and has shot up the Western...