Saturday, September 26 | 5:30 p.m. PT
🏟 | Toyota Stadium - Frisco, TX
🖥 | WATCH: Apple TV, Coupang Play (Korea), SpoTV (Korea), Local Bar Partners
📻 | LISTEN: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, Sirius XM Ch. 95, KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera (Spanish), & KYPA 1230 AM (Korean)
LAFC wraps up a challenging circuit of road matches with a trip to Frisco, Texas, to face FC Dallas on Saturday evening in a crucial Western Conference showdown.
Having played four of its last five matches away from home, the Black & Gold enters the match in sixth place in the West (11W-8L-8D, 41 points), looking to gain ground in a tight playoff race as the regular-season enters its final stages. LAFC sits just three points behind FC Dallas, which is tied on points with second-place Houston Dynamo FC (44 points). Each of LAFC's seven remaining matches - four of which will be played at BMO Stadium in LA - carries heavy postseason implications in the club's quest to secure home-field advantage in a Round One, Best-of-3 playoff series.
With LAFC and FC Dallas (12W-6L-8D) both eager to climb the standings and solidify their playoff footing, Saturday's matchup offers a prime opportunity to make a statement - although both rosters will look drastically different due to the FIFA international window.
SHIFT CHANGE
Denis Bouanga, who became LAFC's all-time regular-season goal scorer last weekend against San Jose (79 goals), and Son Heung-Min, who is tied for first in MLS this season in assists (13), will be unavailable for this match as they will be representing their countries, Gabon and South Korea, respectively, overseas.
LAFC will also be without Jacob Shaffelburg (Canada), Mathieu Choinière (Canada), Jude Terry (USA U-18), and Leo Walta (Finland). These six absences specifically impact LAFC's attack, such that summer signings and depth pieces like Armindo Sieb, Tyler Boyd, and Tommy Mihalić will need to rise to the occasion Saturday night.
SCOUTING FC DALLAS
FC Dallas will also feel the effects of the international break, with three key contributors missing, including Petar Musa, the Croatian striker who is currently second in the MLS Golden Boot race (18 goals). Wingback Bernard Kamungo is with Tanzania as they compete alongside Bouanga's Gabon side in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Midfielder Ran Binyamin is with Israel's U-21s.
Look for young forwards Logan Farrington (9 goals, 5 assists), Santi Moreno, and Sam Sarver (3 goals each) to try and fill Musa's massive scoring boots.
Since the World Cup break, FC Dallas has turned Toyota Stadium into a fortress while steadying their overall 2026 MLS campaign. Over the last five matches, the Toros are unbeaten (3W-0L-2D), including a 2W-0L-1D mark at home, thanks to a resilient defense and an efficient counter-attack that has kept head coach Eric Quill's team in the top-four mix.
THE SERIES
Overall, LAFC leads the all-time series 8W-4L-3D in regular-season play, although playing in Dallas has presented a challenge. LAFC is just 1W-4L-2D in away matches against FCD, with its lone victory coming in 2021.
In their most recent meeting, LAFC defeated Dallas 1-0 at BMO Stadium back in March, thanks to a 55th-minute wondergoal from David Martínez, who recently signed with FC Midtjylland of Denmark's first division. The shutout was one of Hugo Lloris' league-leading 12 clean sheets this season.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
Its remaining attackers find an early rhythm. If Sieb, Boyd, and others can unlock the FC Dallas defensive block through quick combination play, LAFC can capitalize on a Dallas side playing without Kamungo and Binyamin. Controlling possession in midfield would help prevent Dallas from breaking out quickly in transition moments of their own. Recently signed mifielder Sergio Vasquez, who arrived just days ago from Ecuador's top tier, could help in this area if the 22-year-old makes his LAFC debut in Dallas.
FC DALLAS CAN WIN IF
It exploits LAFC's rotated lineup and leverages its strong home form at Toyota Stadium. With Farrington leading the line, Dallas will look to strike early and force LAFC to play from behind without their primary goal scoring options, Son and Bouanga.
