MLS: LAFC Clinch Playoff Spot With 2-2 Draw Against Galaxy, Son and Bouanga Combine for 25 Goals and 24 Assists
Major League Soccer confirmed on October 26 that Los Angeles FC, based in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, has clinched a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs after a 2-2 draw with arch-rivals the LA Galaxy: with two regular-season matches left, LAFC sit sixth in the Western Conference on 47 points (12W-9L-11D).
According to figures published on MLS's official website, forwards Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga have combined for 25 goals and 24 assists this season, and Bouanga recently became the second player in MLS history to score at least 80 goals over four seasons. French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has posted 12 clean sheets, tied for third-best in the league. After parting ways with head coach Marc Dos Santos in late September, LAFC are led by interim head coach Xavi Tamarit. LAFC won MLS Cup in 2022 and reached the final again in 2023.
Under the league's published 2026 playoff format, the postseason begins November 18 with Wild Card matches and MLS Cup will be played December 18; seeds 1-7 in each conference qualify for the Round One Best-of-3 Series, seeds 8-9 play the Wild Card matches, and seeds 10-15 do not qualify. All playoff games can be viewed on Apple TV.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 洛杉矶FC前锋孙兴慜（资料图）。韩国文化体育观光部摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / LAFC forward Son Heung-Min (file photo). Photo by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
