Having accomplished his remaining worldwide responsibility of the 12 months for Korea, Son Heung-min will rejoin Los Angeles Soccer Membership (LAFC) this weekend as they resume their march towards their second Main League Soccer (MLS) Cup title.
LAFC will go to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the single-elimination showdown within the Western Convention semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs at BC Place in Vancouver at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (native time), or 11:30 a.m. Sunday (Korea time).
LAFC, seeded third within the convention, eradicated Austin FC within the opening spherical, whereas No. 2 seed Vancouver despatched FC Dallas dwelling within the first spherical.
LAFC knocked off Vancouver up to now two postseasons and can look to elevate the MLS Cup trophy for the primary time since 2022. Vancouver will search for their first-ever journey to the Western Convention remaining.
The 2 sides had a 2-2 draw on Could 11 and Vancouver prevailed 1-0 on June 29. Each matches have been performed earlier than Son joined LAFC in August and immediately turned them into a robust title contender.
The Korean celebrity developed a lethal chemistry with Denis Bouanga, with the 2 combining to attain an MLS-record 17 straight targets in a single stretch. LAFC had the second-most targets of their convention with 65.
Vancouver scored yet one more aim than LAFC and likewise conceded the fewest targets in West with 38. Having by no means confronted the Son-Bouanga duo, Vancouver will want a wholesome Tristan Blackmon, the 2025 MLS Defender of the 12 months who has been sidelined since mid-September with a knee harm.
The Whitecaps have their very own dynamic duo within the midfield, with the German legend Thomas Muller, who left Bayern Munich in the identical summer time switch window that noticed Son transfer to LAFC, and the 2025 MLS Finest XI member Sebastian Berhalter.
After Korea’s 1-0 win over Ghana in Seoul on Tuesday, Son revealed that LAFC had requested him to rejoin them early — seemingly after the 2-0 win over Bolivia final Friday — however he needed to stick with the nationwide staff via your entire match window.
“I made a decision to remain right here as a result of I all the time cherish the chance to symbolize the nation and I believe it must be my No. 1 precedence,” Son stated. “Now that we have gained two matches right here, I need to reward my membership with a great efficiency.”
Son, who captained Tottenham Hotspur to the UEFA Europa League title in Could this 12 months for his first membership trophy, stated he would love so as to add one other in America.
“As a soccer participant, I might completely like to win a trophy. If a second ever comes after I not have the will to win, then that is after I ought to cease enjoying soccer,” Son stated. “I play soccer as a result of I need to be a winner. There isn’t any cause to cover that need.”
