Six LAFC players have joined their respective national teams during FIFA's expanded September-October window while the Black & Gold takes a break from the MLS regular season until its home match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on October 10 at BMO Stadium.
The prolonged pause in club action combines FIFA's usual September and October breaks into a single 16-day period, allowing national teams more time together following the FIFA World Cup, which ended in July. Below is a look at what LAFC players Denis Bouanga (Gabon), Son Heung-Min (South Korea), Mathieu Choinière (Canada), Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada), Jude Terry (USA U-19), and Leo Walta (Finland) will be up to until their return to Los Angeles.Â
This page will be updated.
DENIS BOUANGA
After barely missing the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Gabon and Denis Bouanga (who recently became the Black & Gold’s all-time top goal scorer in MLS regular-season play and has recorded 14 goals and eight assists for LAFC this season), have begun African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying. The actual AFCON tournament will be played in summer 2027. The next few months will consist of 48 teams competing across 12 groups, with 24 surviving to compete for the title next summer.
Bouanga and Gabon are in Group A along with Morocco, Niger, and Lesotho. Gabon played its first qualifier on Friday, Sept. 25, against powerful Morocco, the defending AFCON champions and World Cup quarterfinalists. Group-stage play resumes in November.Â
Friday, Sept. 25
Gabon lost to Morocco 2-0 in Rabat, Morocco. Bouanga started, played all 90 minutes, and led all players with three shots on target.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 - vs. Nigeria
SON HEUNG-MIN
Following its group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the South Korean national team - and LAFC forward and MLS assist leader Son Heung-Min - gathered for training and a series of friendlies across South Korea designed for tactical experimentation and to build squad depth and bring young players into the mix.
Thurs., Sept. 24
South Korea defeated Ecuador 3-0 in Suwon, South Korea. Son put in an 85-minute shift and scored on a free kick - Korea’s second goal in the victory.Â
Mon. Sept. 28
Korea lost 4-1 to Uruguay despite leading in possession and shots on goal. In the 80th minute, Son scored by redirecting a cross from teammate Lee Kang-in for Korea’s only goal of the match. It was Son's 58th career goal for Korea, tying him for first place on his country's all-time goal scoring chart.
Fri. Oct. 2 - vs. Venezuela
Tues. Oct. 6 - vs. Uzbekistan
MATHIEU CHOINÈRE
JACOB SHAFFELBURG
On the heels of reaching the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Canada - and LAFC players Jacob Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choinière - seeks to kick off the 2030 World Cup cycle while sustaining the momentum of their deep run in this summer’s tournament.
Sat. Sept. 26
Canada defeated Chile 1-0 in Toronto, with Chile finishing the match with nine men. Choinière played all 90 minutes. Shaffelburg played the final 27 minutes.
Sat. Oct. 3 vs. Peru (in Montreal)
Tues. Oct. 6 vs. USA (in St. Paul, MN)
JUDE TERRY
LAFC midfielder and LAFC Academy alumnus Jude Terry joins the United States U-19 squad for three matches and a training camp on the southern coast of Spain from Sept. 24 through Oct. 6. The U.S. U-19s have qualified for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The roster includes players from 13 MLS clubs.
Sept. 29 - vs. Wales
Oct. 2 - vs. England
Oct. 5 - vs. Norway
LEO WALTA
Walta has yet to play a minute for the Black & Gold, but since arriving on loan from English club Swansea in September he has taken part in training and road travel with LAFC. The only LAFC player in European competition during this window, Walta - a 23-year-old attacking midfielder - is competing with Finland in UEFA Nations League. Wearing the 10 shirt for the Finns, Walta put in quite a 70-minute shift in his country’s 7-0 win over San Marino on Sept. 26, scoring two goals (50’, 55’), recording an assist, and playing a direct hand in another goal as well.Â
Walta’s first goal against San Marino was an unsavable 25-yard rocket into the top corner; his second was a skillful, one-v-four effort from inside the penalty area that typified why President of Soccer Ops John Thorrington is so excited about Walta’s future in LA. Walta’s secondary assist came when he provided left-footed service from the right side; his assist on the Finns’ second goal (14’) was a right-footed service from the left side.
Tues. Sept. 29 - vs. Belarus
