LA Galaxy vs. LAFC Match Preview | OneFootball

After a midseason break for what turned out to be an incredible World Cup in the United States, the main domestic league is back with a bang. One of the most anticipated matches in MLS every season takes place tonight as LA Galaxy host LAFC in the first “El Tráfico” of 2026.

Match Details

Who: LA Galaxy vs. LAFCWhat: MLS Regular SeasonWhere: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CaliforniaWhen: Friday July 17, 10:25 PM ET / 7:25 PM PTWatch: Apple TV, FOX, Fubo Sports

LA Galaxy Fighting For Final Playoff Spot

Last season was an absolute disaster for the Galaxy. They finished second-bottom of the Western Conference just a year after winning MLS Cup. This season they’re back in the hunt for a playoff berth and currently occupy ninth place in the West, the final postseason spot. 

They’ll have to fight to keep their playoff place without Gabriel Pec. The star winger was sold 10 days ago to Brazilian club Cruzeiro for Galaxy’s record transfer sale. Pec has been one of the best players in MLS since his arrival in 2024 and will be a huge loss for the Galaxy in the second half of the season. He recorded 11 goals and four assists for them in 20 games this year.

With Pec out the door and striker João Klauss nursing a foot injury, the Galaxy will be without their top two goalscorers for the derby. More pressure will be on Marco Reus to step up. The Dortmund legend leads Greg Vanney’s side in assists with six in all competitions and has also contributed five goals. He’ll likely play as a false nine and try to create chances for pacy left winger Joseph Paintsil, who’s coming off back to back 15 goal seasons but hasn’t had a great 2026.

LAFC Hoping To Put Bad May Form Behind Them

Across the City of Angels, LAFC have had some uncharacteristic struggles lately. They’ve finished in the top three in the West the last four seasons but currently sit in fifth halfway through 2026. The World Cup break couldn’t have come at a better time for them, as LAFC’s May was one of the worst months in club history. They only won once in their six games including a run of four straight losses. 

One of the reasons for their poor form is the goalscoring woes of Heung-Min Son. The Korean superstar scored 12 goals in 13 games after joining MLS in 2025 but has yet to score a league goal in 2026. His playmaking has been good, but he only has two MLS assists since April 4th. LAFC no doubt were hoping that Son would use the World Cup to get back to his best, but it was a nightmare summer for the Spurs legend. He was subbed off early in South Korea’s first two matches and benched for their final game. Ultimately the Taegeuk Warriors crashed out in the group stage, with Son failing to provide any goal contributions.

Goalkeeping has been a big question for LAFC recently. In a derby that guarantees goals, Hugo Lloris will need to be at his best if he wants to secure a result for his side. His last two performances for LAFC were not good, as he shipped four goals against Houston and committed a key error against St. Louis before missing the club’s final two games of May with a leg injury. The former World Cup winner leads MLS in clean sheets and will hope to keep LAFC’s first El Tráfico shutout since 2020.

Match Prediction

One thing is for certain, this will be a highly entertaining match with lots of goals. The last time there were fewer than three goals in a MLS clash between the two Los Angeles teams was in 2021 and the 11 league meetings since then have combined for 49 goals. LAFC certainly have more firepower after the Galaxy’s sale of Pec and that could prove to be the difference. Look for Denis Bouanga to continue his stellar goalscoring form against the Galaxy (10 goals in 9 games) as his LAFC side start the second half of the season off right.

Prediction: LA Galaxy 1-2 LAFC