LA Galaxy Face Houston Dynamo With Three New Stars | OneFootball

After a stretch of playing matches every other day in the 2026 Leagues Cup, we are returning, for the time being, to normalcy, as Houston Dynamo host the LA Galaxy at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston for a new Matchday of MLS.

Below is all the key information you need to know before the game. Let’s get into it.

Preview: Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy

Kickoff: 8:30 pm ET / 5:30 pm PT @ Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TXHow to watch live: Streaming on Apple TV

Neither Houston nor the Galaxy participated in the Leagues Cup, so both teams come into this match after a well-deserved week of rest.

The Dynamo will try to regain the good form they showed in their most recent Major League Soccer matches. In their most recent game on Aug. 8, the Texas team defeated New England Revolution 2-0, with goals from Guilherme Vieira dos Santos and Agustin Ritch.

Ben Olsen’s team had also defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-0 on Aug. 1, with goals from Guilherme and Agustin Bouzat. But Houston’s good form isn’t limited to their last two matches, as they have gone five games without a loss.

They also defeated Austin FC 3-0 on July 25, drew 1-1 with D.C. United on July 22 and drew by the same score against LA Galaxy on May 23, just before the break for the 2026 World Cup.

Houston are much better positioned than the Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference standings, sitting in fourth place with 32 points after 18 matches, just one point behind the San Jose Earthquakes, who sit in third with the same number of matches played. First place belongs to the Vancouver Whitecaps, while second place belongs to LAFC, both with 34 points.

LA Galaxy’s New Signings Steal Spotlight in Houston Game

But the team that will probably attract the most attention in this match is the LA Galaxy, and this is for different reasons. First, let’s take a brief look at Los Angeles’ recent form. Greg Vanney’s team is coming off a negative streak, to say the least.

On Aug. 1, they drew 0-0 with FC Dallas after drawing 1-1 with San Jose Earthquakes in the Cali Clásico on July 25. Before that, they lost 3-1 to St. Louis City SC on July 22, after losing 3-0 in the Los Angeles derby against LAFC on July 17.

The Galaxy currently sit 12th in the MLS Western Conference with only 22 points after 19 matches.

But then, why is this match attracting so much attention from viewers? It is because the team’s sporting department got to work in recent days and weeks, signing not only Japanese center forward Kyogo Furuhashi from Birmingham City for around 1.20 million euros, according to Transfermarkt, but also Sergi Roberto, an FC Barcelona legend and former Serie A player with Como, who arrives as a free agent after his contract with Cesc Fabregas’ team expired.

They also announced the loan signing of Hirving Lozano, a 31-year-old Mexican winger who arrives from San Diego FC as a Designated Player.

As for Hirving Lozano and Sergi Roberto, what fans can expect from these two players is quite clear. Starting with the Mexican: explosiveness and strong offensive influence.

That said, doubts remain about off-the-field issues, such as the player’s discipline and why he has had so many problems at different clubs: his entourage. For now, we will not address that topic much, but it is a reality that many fans are not happy or have low expectations of the Mexican.

Speaking of Roberto, he is a veteran player who can provide a lot of stability both in the midfield and at right back. The leadership and experience factor is expected to be reflected on the field with the former Barcelona player.

But the signing that seems most interesting to us of these three is Furuhashi’s. At 31, he may not generate as much excitement for many, but the reality is that throughout his career, especially at Celtic, he has shown an impressive ability to make a difference with his goalscoring instinct.

At Celtic, his best season was 2022-23, when he scored 35 goals and provided four assists in 52 appearances. The following campaign, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 50 matches, and in 2024-25, he scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 32 matches.

The following years were very discreet for the Japanese player, as in six appearances for Ligue 1’s Stade Rennes, he was unable to score or assist, while in 31 appearances for Birmingham City, he scored only three goals. However, the environment the LA Galaxy offers him, playing ahead of players such as Marco Reus and now linking up with other versatile wingers such as Joseph Paintsil and Lozano himself, gives him the tools necessary to make a difference again, and he will surely be a decisive player for the remainder of the season.

Match Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2-3 LA Galaxy