Los Angeles FC 2026 Preview

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·14 de febrero de 2026

Los Angeles FC 2026 Preview

This article was written after recording The Designated Pundits‘ LAFC preview for the 2026 MLS Season with special guest JR from Defend the Banc. You can find that video on Spotify below.

2025 Recap

LAFC had a lot to be happy about in 2025, including a 17-9-8 record. They were top 4 in both offensive production and defensive concessions, and finished 3rd in the Western Conference with a +25 goal differential.

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However, LAFC did not win a trophy in 2025. In the Club World Cup, they lost to Chelsea and L’Esperance de Tunis, yet drew Flamengo. They were eliminated from Leagues Cup with a win and two draws, losing both draws in penalties. Finally, they lost their 3rd shootout to Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference Semis, which eliminated LAFC from the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The season saw a big name leave and a big name come in. Designated Player Olivier Giroud returned to France, while Son Heung-Min arrived in the summer window. They secured Cengiz Under, which was a loan that flopped and ended quickly.

Denis Bouanga led the team with 24 goals and 7 assists. He played very well on the left wing, eventually building rapport with Son. Overall, LAFC had a whopping 20 players score or assist during the MLS season.

Transactions

The only major outgoing transfer was Luca Bombino. He showed a lot of promise, and headed to a Californian rival – the sophomore team San Diego FC. One other notable outgoing player, not because of his play but because of his circumstances, is Yaw Yeboah. He had his contract “mutually terminated” after being put on leave by MLS. He is part of an ongoing investigation into violations of league rules. This was suspected by some to be related to sports betting.

Players heading into LAFC this season are headlined by Canadian Stephen Eustaquio, formerly of Porto. He will replace the injured Igor Jesus at holding midfield.

Amin Boudri, a Swedish 20 year old, comes from the Venezia academy, and should start at midfield. They also brought in speedster Jacob Shaffelberg and MLS veteran (and Eustaquio’s fellow Canadian teammate) Mathieu Choiniere.

Depth Chart

LAFC is going to run a holding 4-3-3. They have a strong attack with Denis Bouanga and Heung-Min Son, with Nathan Ordaz getting first dibs at right wing. If that doesn’t work, they could try and continue David Martinez’s development; Martinez has a ton of upside but has just lacked the consistency to bring his skills to that next level. LAFC could also add an attacker at some point this season.

The midfield should have a #6 and two #8s. Boudri, Tillmann, Delgado, and Raposo will compete for the two #8 positions, with Boudri and Delgado being my preferred pair. Stephen Eustaquio should help the defense with strong defensive midfield play.

On the backline, LAFC has Ryan Hollingshead and Sergi Palencia at fullback. They have speed but might lack top defending skills. Hollingshead is a true MLS pro, but age is catching up. He will turn 35 during the 2026 season.

At center back, LAFC will start Nkosi Tafari aside Ryan Porteous. Aaron Long is still returning from injury, but could be a nice addition when back to health. LAFC also has Lorenzo Dellavalle, a Juventus academy project who turns 22 in April. MLS could be a good proving ground for Dellavalle, who our guest JR had a lot of praise for.

At keeper, Hugo Lloris is getting older, but still plays at the highest level.

Questions

Which player, outside our projected starting 11, has the best chance to win a job? Lorenzo Dellavalle. The center back position has depth, and at his age, size, and pedigree, Lorenzo has the chance to become a top tier defender.
What are some realistic expectations for 2026? LAFC will consider their season a failure if they don’t win a trophy. The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the preferred silverware for 2026.
What are some storylines to follow throughout the 2026 season? How does Marc dos Santos, replacing Steve Cherundolo, unlock this offense and bring LA a trophy.
What styles does this team match up well against? LAFC will be speedy. They will pair up best against teams who will run with them, and not sit back.
What styles does this team match up poorly against? LAFC struggled against the low block, or any team who successfully dictated tempo to slow things down.
What player improves the most in 2026? David Martinez. He should get ample work, and has already shown flashes of being a special player.
Which player regresses in 2026? Hugo Lloris or Ryan Hollingshead. Father Time is undefeated, after all.