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With Leagues Cup now a thing of the past for San Diego FC, the club shifts its focus back to MLS. SDFC did not make it out of the group stage of Leagues Cup after winning two out of three first round matches against Tijuana and Puebla.
A formidable opponent awaits on Saturday. SDFC will take a trip two hours up north to face crosstown rival LAFC. Let's dive into the details.
Match Information
Teams: San Diego FC vs Los Angeles FC
Referees: Ismail Elfath (Ref), Cameron Blanchard (AR1), Chris Elliott (AR2), Brandon Stevis (4th), Michael Radchuk (VAR), Mike Kampmeinert (AVAR)
Odds: SD (+360), Draw (+330), LA (-175)
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 7:30pm, BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV: MLS Season Pass - Apple TV (Free)
Radio: AM 760
Radio Commentary: Adrian Garcia Marquez, Darren Smith
Forecast: Partly Coudy, 65/84, 78 at kickoff, wind 7 mph
Head-to-Head
San Diego FC
The Numbers
2026 Goal Leaders: Marcus Ingvartsen (11)
2026 Assist Leaders: Anders Dreyer (9)
Last Match: SDFC 1 - 1 Minnesota
Lessons Learned
The difficult format of Leagues Cup did not do any favors for the boys in Chrome and Azul as they had to travel to one of the toughest places to play in Mexico City where they lost to Club America and ultimately sealed their Leagues Cup doom.
Perhaps that experience will help SDFC shift their focus and learn from their mistakes as they take on one of the toughest teams in the MLS in LAFC.
"We have to take the positives and the learning lessons from Leagues Cup and how we can build momentum going into these games because I think they've very useful. The tournament was very useful in terms of building some confidence and showing some areas we can improve in," said Varas.
Focusing on LAFC
In the past three meetings between the two sides, SDFC holds the advantage with two wins and one tie. The tie - a brutal defensive collapse at home for SDFC when Ryan Hollingshead found the back of the net late in stoppage time to level 1-1 back in May of this year.
SDFC will surely seek revenge against the crosstown rivals, something that Mikey Varas was surely thinking about for the past week given that he gave most of his starters rest during the Puebla game last Wednesday.
Out of the many bench pieces who played against Puebla, some names stood out. David Vazquez continued making his presence felt when he created chances using his creativity and unique skill as well as finishing a wonderful header into the back of the net.
Some more players who shined were defender Osvald Soe, who had a wonderful game on both sides of the field and scored a goal as well as the always electric Bryan Zamble, who earned another start after his wonderful performance in the prior match against Tijuana. These players can become important bench pieces as we move forward in the MLS season.
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Tactical Keys to the Game
SDFC will have their hands full defensively against LAFC. Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga have been one of the deadliest combos in the MLS. LAFC are third in goals scored (35) and second in lowest goals allowed (19) in the Western Conference.
That means SDFC cannot afford to get stretched out defensively.
The biggest priority will be limiting the space behind the back line. Bouanga thrives when he can receive the ball and attack defenders in open space, while Son's movement can pull defenders out of position and create passing lanes for his teammates. SDFC's center backs will need to communicate well and avoid getting dragged too far away from their positions.
The midfield battle will be just as important. SDFC's possession-heavy approach can help take some of the pressure off the defense, but only if they can move the ball quickly enough to avoid LAFC's press. Jeppe Tverskov and the midfield provide a clean outlet during buildup, while Anders Dreyer and the wide players should look to exploit the space left when LAFC's fullbacks push forward.
LAFC are at their most dangerous when they can win possession and transition quickly, especially with Son and Bouanga running at a retreating defense. San Diego needs to be patient in possession, avoid quick turnovers, and be decisive once an opening appears.
The other major challenge will be defending the moments immediately after losing the ball. SDFC's counter press has been an important part of their identity, and this is a match where it could make the difference. If they can win the ball back quickly and keep LAFC from getting their attackers facing forward, they can prevent the transition game that makes LAFC so dangerous.
Varas also indicated that new DP signing Elias Achouri will be available for the game but he does not expect him to go 90 minutes as the adjustment period continues. Achouri should help tremendously on the offensive side of the ball.
The Leagues Cup matches exposed some of the team's weaknesses, but they also gave Varas a chance to experiment with his squad and identify players who can contribute. Against LAFC, the challenge is putting those lessons together for 90 minutes—and turning possession, defensive organization and transition moments into a result.
Los Angeles FC
The Numbers
2026 Goal Leaders: Denis Bouanga (10)
2026 Assist Leaders: Son Heung-Min (9)
Last Match: VAN 1 - 1 LAFC
LAFC Overview
LAFC enters Saturday's match sitting second in the Western Conference with 34 points and a +16 goal difference. The Black & Gold have been one of the more balanced teams in MLS this season, ranking near the top of the conference in both goals scored and goals allowed.
The biggest change since the arrival of Son Heung-min has been the added firepower alongside Denis Bouanga. Son has quickly become one of LAFC's most important attacking pieces, leading the team with nine assists while Bouanga has already reached double digits in goals.
The two give LAFC a dangerous combination of speed, movement and finishing. Bouanga is at his best attacking defenders in space, while Son's ability to drift into different areas makes him difficult to track. Their chemistry has given LAFC another way to create chances without needing to dominate possession.
However, LAFC has shown some vulnerability when opponents force them to play without the ball.
In their most recent match, a 1-1 draw against Vancouver, LAFC managed just 37% possession and were outshot 21-5. Vancouver consistently pushed LAFC deep and created long stretches where the Black & Gold struggled to generate much going forward.
That has been one of the questions surrounding LAFC this season. Their defensive structure and ability to transition quickly are excellent, but they can become overly reliant on those moments. Against opponents that are able to control possession and prevent Son and Bouanga from getting into open space, LAFC can look much less dangerous.
Still, this is a team with very few weaknesses. Hugo Lloris remains a veteran presence in goal, while the back line has helped LAFC concede just 19 goals this season.
For SDFC, this will be one of its toughest tests of the season. LAFC has the quality to punish even small mistakes, but the recent Vancouver result showed that the Black & Gold are not unbeatable. If SDFC can make LAFC uncomfortable and prevent the match from becoming a transition-heavy game, there may be opportunities to take points from their crosstown rivals.
