Scouting LAFC: What FC Dallas Needs to Know 🔎

New manager Marc dos Santos took over LAFC after the 2025 season, after a couple of seasons as the club’s assistant manager to former boss Steve Cherundolo. Because of that kind of continuity on the bench for LAFC, the Southern California side entered the 2026 season as one of the few MLS Cup favorites.

This weekend FC Dallas will head to Southern California to battle LAFC for their first road trip this season. Dallas has yet to pick up a win at BMO Stadium since LAFC joined MLS.

Let’s dig into LAFC.

Potential Lineup & Tactic Style:

When you have players like Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, it makes things pretty damn easy. Dos Santos will continue to roll out a 4-3-3 formation that puts heavy focus on that front three.

Projected XI: Lloris, Hollingshead, Porteous, Tafari, Segura; Tillman, Eustaquio, Delgado; Bouanga, Son, Martinez

• Offensive tendencies - Son and Bouanga lead the charge, but you can’t sleep on Stephen Eustaquio, either. The Porto loanee can be the guy that stirs the drink for the club in the midfield. They’ll likely dominate the on-ball possession, but will also look to strike quickly on the counter attack.
• Defensive shape - They’re great in defending in space, but there is a vulnerability on their defensive group when dealing with set pieces.

Key Player: Son Heung-min

I wanted to highlight Bouanga here, but it is hard to ignore Son. Last year he averages a goal in each of his 12 starts since joining the club from Tottenham, including a pretty wicked free kick against FC Dallas.

Key Matchup: Son vs Osaze Urhoghide

If Urhoghide is going to make headlines and get into the discussion of the MLS Defender of the Year race, this is the kind of matchup where he needs to shine.

Availability Report1:

Suspended: none
Out: Lorenzo Dellavalle (leg), Jeremy Ebobisse (leg), Igor Jesus (leg), Aaron Long (leg), Jacob Shaffelburg (pelvis)
Questionable: none
On Loan: none
International duty: none

Quick Notes:

All-time vs Dallas: LAFC is unbeaten at home against FC Dallas, going 6-0-1 in seven all-time regular season meetings. They’ve also outscored Dallas 13-3 in those meetings.

Current form: LAFC is one of the few undefeated clubs in MLS after two weeks, as they downed Houston last Saturday. Along with the six points in MLS play, they’ve also advanced into the Round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions Cup after winning 7-1 on aggregate against Real Espana.

Where they're at in the standings: Six points after two games, puts them in a tie for first with San Diego, San Jose and Vancouver. LAFC has also scored five goals this season and have two straight shutouts.

Three keys for FC Dallas

1. Limit the open field chances: LAFC is so dangerous in the open field, just ask Houston, as they got owned a couple of times last week in their meeting. Sure, LAFC had a man advantage for a half, and then a two man advantage late, but LAFC didn’t care as they controlled the middle of the field and took their chances.
2. Make the most of set pieces: We know LAFC can be dangerous in their own right on set pieces with Son and Bouanga, but defending them is a different beast for LAFC in recent years. Former FCD center back Nkosi Tafari will make them better here, but this is the area that Dallas needs to push the envelope with Joaquin Valiente and earn as many set pieces in their attacking third as possible.
3. Pick your moments: It is a road game after all. Dallas had the right mentality in these a year ago, but they still have not found success in this stadium. There will be long stretches of this game where LAFC will be in control and in the driver’s seat. If the defense can hold in a similar fashion to last week against Nashville, it will go a long way. But they have to also find those moments to break free and move forward into the attack as well.

1 Note: MLS has an injury report deadline that doesn’t hit until the day before each game. Our scouting reports will include last week's report and will be fully updated the day before with our injury report for FC Dallas.