Whoever replaces Steve Cherundolo as head coach of the Los Angeles Football Club next season will get to work with a group of players who understand and appreciate one another.
Following consecutive offseasons that featured significant roster turnover, the 2026 team (and beyond) should look a lot like it does heading into the start of the MLS Cup playoffs on Wednesday.
A key member of the group that lifted an MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and U.S. Open Cup since 2022, defender Ryan Hollingshead will remain with LAFC through 2027, the club announced Friday.
“We’re thrilled to have come to terms with Ryan on another extension,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “Ryan is a valued veteran and fully earned this extension through his consistency and team-first attitude. He leads by example, raises the standard every day, and delivers in big moments.”
Opting against exercising his impending free agency, Hollingshead’s second new contract with LAFC represents the club’s fourth contract extension since mid-September.
The 34-year-old native of Granite Bay, Calif., a UCLA Bruin from 2009-2012, joins Sergi Palencia, Timothy Tillman and Nathan Ordaz among the players who recently agreed to stay with the Black & Gold for the foreseeable future.
One of the league’s top scorers along the back line, Hollingshead is tied for the second-most goals by a defensive player in MLS history (31) and leads all active defenders. He added a pair to his tally during the 2025 regular season to go with three assists in 31 appearances, giving him four straight years with 30 or more MLS games and at least 22 starts. In all competitions through 173 games with LAFC, Hollingshead has 20 goals and 13 assists.
A nominee for the 2025 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, Hollingshead was named MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year in 2017 with FC Dallas, where he played eight seasons before being traded to LAFC.
“Our locker rooms for four straight years have just been unbeatable,” Hollingshead said in August. “The way the group competes together, the way the group fights for each other, it’s been something really special. I’m just grateful to be a part of it. You know in this sport and sports in general that this doesn’t last forever.”
HARRISON, N.J. — Kennedy Fuller scored in the 2nd minute, but Angel City FC fell 3-1 to Gotham FC on Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Fuller opened the scoring with a right-footed shot from outside the box. Gabi Portilho equalized in the 47th minute from close range off a pass from Midge Purce.
Rose Lavelle put Gotham ahead four minutes later, and Jaelin Howell added insurance in the 68th minute with a strike from outside the box off a pass from Geyse.
With the result, Gotham improved to 7-6-6 while Angel City moved to 6-5-8.
LAFC celebrate a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min, front right, heads the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min reacts during the second half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Fans are seen before an MLS soccer match between LAFC and San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Fans are seen before an MLS soccer match between LAFC and San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min (7) dribbles around San Diego FC midfielder Manu Duah (26) during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min (7) argues with a ref during the first half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min (7) and San Diego FC midfielder Manu Duah (26) battle for a ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward David Martinez (30) and San Diego FC defender Paddy McNair (17) battle for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min prepares for a corner kick during the second half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
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LAFC celebrate a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against San Diego FC Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LOS ANGELES — Hosting San Diego FC for the first time, the Los Angeles Football Club showed up with grand plans.
Their guests had something else in mind.
With South Korean superstar Son Heung-min’s home debut garnering the bulk of the attention at BMO Stadium on Sunday – the announced crowd of 22,937 was the most for an LAFC match since BMO Stadium opened eight years ago – Western Conference-leading SDFC stole the show, winning 2-1.
Anders Dreyer scored the game-winner after assisting Hirving Lozano earlier in the match, ruining a beautiful finish from LAFC’s Denis Bouanga that appeared to put the home team on the right track.
The loss dropped LAFC 15 points behind San Diego (17-7-5, 56 points), with eight games remaining in the regular season.
In front of a heavily Korean crowd that showed up in force to see their 33-year-old hero, the pent-up stadium, which went four weeks without an LAFC home match, buzzed from start to finish.
“Today was very special,” Son said. “I feel the fans were amazing. That’s why I’m more upset. They deserve more than one goal or zero points. I think they were fantastic. I can’t wait to play again at home. It felt like really, really home. They welcomed me. I couldn’t wait for this night. I feel I let the fans down but we are gonna keep our heads up, accept the result. As a professional, you can’t always win the game.”
Six hundred visiting fans loved the outcome, banging drums and chanting while LAFC’s 3252 supporters group showed its passion in the club’s second regular-season clash.
San Diego won in March, becoming the first expansion team to beat LAFC (11-7-8, 41 points) in nine tries.
Competing without midfielder Igor Jesus, who went on the season-ending injury list with a knee injury, LAFC used two instead of their usual trio in the middle of the park. Mark Delgado and Mathieu Choinière started in front of three center backs – Nkosi Tafari, Eddie Segura and Ryan Porteous in his first start for LAFC – while Son and Bouanga worked alongside David Martínez.
Son’s companions in the attack combined for the game’s opening goal in the 15th minute.
From 40 yards out, Martínez found Bouanga down the middle with a chipped pass that bounced once inside the box before the Frenchman tipped it over goalkeeper CJ dos Santos for his 15th goal of the regular season.
Said Bouanga: “It’s hard to score first and see the outcome of the game.”
LAFC entered the match with a stellar record when it got the opening goal, going 14-1-6 in all competitions in 2025 before Sunday. Under head coach Steve Cherundolo, LAFC is now 58-4-7 in the MLS regular season when it connects first.
“Tonight, I think if you look at the stats (17 shots compared to six shots, with both teams putting four on target), xG (2.7 to 0.7), and the moments we have in front of goal, it’s crazy you walk away with nothing,” Cherundolo said.
“The execution was a little déjà vu for us,” he added. “We’ve seen this motion picture before this season. It’s kind of been the story of the year. You play well enough. You play very well. But you’re not getting the results that maybe you deserve.”
Before Bouanga’s finish, neither side established dominance. They moved from one end to the other, with San Diego preferring quick passing in small spaces to LAFC’s more direct attacks.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, a few minutes after Bouanga nearly scored a second, SDFC tied thanks to their big-name international, Mexico’s Hirving Lozano. Circling around Tafari, Lozano collected a first-time volley over the top by Dreyer. Tafari attempted to get back in the place and defend, but for the second straight week, an opponent scored on a shot that deflected off the center back’s long legs past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Son’s clearest opportunity of the opening 45 minutes came near the end. With LAFC swarming the San Diego box, Bouanga had a crack that was blocked. The ball worked its way to Son, who turned and put it on his left foot. Son’s shot was hit well, enough to make his supporters in the stands cry out in anticipation, but it lacked the pace or placement needed to give LAFC an edge at the half.
The regional rivals pushed and pulled, looking to break the deadlock.
In the 66th minute, San Diego capitalized when Dreyer added his 14th goal to go with his 18th assist from Lozano’s ninth finish. The MLS most valuable player contender received a long ball in behind, charged into the box, cut back once, smoothly let another defender slide by, and put away his left-footed shot.
Unbeaten in six straight, San Diego stayed perfect against Californian opposition, sweeping the Galaxy and LAFC, with a chance to do the same to San Jose at the end of September. They remain one point behind Philadelphia in the Supporters’ Shield race.
Though LAFC fought to salvage a point through the remainder of regulation and nine minutes of stoppage time, those opportunities came and went.
Son slammed a shot off the post in the 78th minute. In the 82nd, Bouanga found himself alone in the opponent’s box but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet before the San Diego goalkeeper closed him down.
The attackers, joined by Nathan Ordaz from the 54th minute on after Martínez got the bad end of a 50/50 duel, created havoc. Sometimes with teammates. Sometimes alone. However, they didn’t create a second goal, leaving LAFC where it began the weekend, fifth in the west.
LAFC returns Sept. 13, playing San Jose at Levi’s Stadium. In the meantime, LAFC will send Son (South Korea), Bouanga (Gabon), Martínez (Venezuela), Choinière (Canada), Ordaz (El Salvador) and Adrian Wibowo (Indonesia).
“When I come back from the national team, we have a very important period for two months,” Son said, “so we have to push for that.”
Philadelphia Union striker Cory Burke, left, celebrates his goal in the second half of the 2022 … [+] Eastern Conference Final against New York City FC last Sunday.
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If you follow MLS regularly, you know the league has one of the strongest home field advantages in North American pro sports and in global club soccer. And if past history is to be believed, that advantage grows even larger in the MLS Cup final.
Well, sort of.
Home teams have won at least 48% of MLS regular season and playoff matches (after 90 minutes plus stoppage time) in every 34-game season played since 2012, with the percentage rising above 50% in several of those years.
Entering Saturday’s MLS Cup final between hosts LAFC and the visiting Philadelphia Union, 2022 home teams have a 49% win rate, with another 25% of matches finishing level after 90 minutes.
Yet since the league switched to an MLS Cup format where the higher remaining seed hosts the final, the away team in the final has pulled off only one regulation victory in 13 tries. This includes the last 11 MLS Cup finals, as well as the 1997 and 2002 games, in which D.C. United and the New England Revolution, respectively, reached finals they were already selected to host as the “neutral” site.
However, when you add games decided in overtime or penalties, the road team has lifted the cup on four of those 13 occasions, a trend that could be of particular use to bettors or producers of the 6 o’clock news in Philadelphia. The 2002 LA Galaxy won their MLS Cup in New England on a golden goal; The Seattle Sounders in 2016 and New York City FC last year both required penalties.
Home teams have also required extra time on two occasions, making home teams’ 90-minute record 7-1-5 (W-L-D) in those 13 games. Those seven wins in 13 games is statistically similar to the winning rate of home teams in MLS overall. And you might expect it to be a little higher, since the better regular season performer is nearly always the home team in MLS Cup (the lone exception being New England in 2002).
So maybe it’s not home field advantage overall that is greater in the MLS Cup so much as home field momentum. Away teams appear to have just as much of a chance as they always do so long as they’re tied or in the lead. But if they go behind, they can lose their grip on the game more quickly.
There’s two points of evidence for this. The first is there have been more 90-minute home wins by two goals in MLS Cup (five) than by one goal (two). The second is that only one away MLS Cup final team has ever leveled after falling behind — when New England’s Chris Tierney scored in the 79th minute of the 2014 final against the LA Galaxy. (The Galaxy won in extra time on Robbie Keane’s 111th-minute winner.)
The good news for the Union is they might be better equipped than most to lift a trophy in those road conditions, for a couple reasons.
Firstly, there is usually at least a small gap in regular season performance between the higher seeded MLS Cup host and lower seeded visitor. But in this case, the Union are literally having to travel across the continent for the game because MLS uses total wins as its first tiebreaker in the standings. In other leagues that use goal-differential as the first tiebreak, the Union would be hosting after both teams finished with 67 points.
Secondly, it’s the Union who have been the more likely to play from the early lead this season. They’ve entered halftime with a lead in 18 of 36 regular season and playoff games. By contrast, LAFC have held a first-half lead on only nine of 36 occasions, and even at home the Black & Gold have led only six out of 19 times at half.
Gareth Bale has two goals in 12 appearances and 355 minutes playing for LAFC, and doesn’t seem … [+] likely to feature prominently in the remainder of the team’s postseason run.
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When news first circulated this June that Los Angeles Football Club would be adding Gareth Bale to an already talented, first-place squad, conventional wisdom suggested the rest of their season would go one of two ways:
Bale would add an extra gear to the Black & Gold as they steamrolled to their first MLS Cup title, or …
He would ruin team chemistry as a square peg inside a round hole and sabotage an excellent season.
Perhaps we should’ve seen envisioned a third scenario that already transpired once in his last season at his former club, Real Madrid: That Bale plays a largely ornamental role, and the most talented team in the league — Bale’s team — wins the title anyway.
There’s still two games to go, of course, but that third possibility now appears entirely credible after LAFC vanquished intracity rival the LA Galaxy 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night.
That’s not to say LAFC haven’t benefited from their ability to splash cash during the summer transfer window where other teams might not have as many resources.
Cristian Arango, added during the 2021 summer window, scored Thursday night’s match-winning goal, his 31st in 52 MLS regular season and playoff appearances. Denis Bouanga, signed this summer from St. Etienne in France, was man of the match with two goals and a key contribution on Arango’s winner. He also scored the goal that sealed LAFC’s Supporters’ Shield triumph in Portland.
But Bale was not even on the team sheet, officially recovered from a minor injury but not yet fit enough to play, according to the FS1 broadcast. And given how LAFC acquitted itself, it’s hard to imagine a scenario at this point where he is anything more than a bit-part player this postseason.
While Bale started life at LAFC well, scoring twice in his first four matches, it’s been downhill since. He’s played 355 minutes in 12 appearances. His new side failed to score while he was on the field in either of his two starts, and overall LAFC have posted a -5 goal differential when he’s on the pitch. In those same games, they’ve outscored opponents by 11 goals when he’s not on the field.
So while there remains some chance he could be scapegoated as the one piece of the LAFC puzzle that failed to come through if they fall short of MLS Cup, it’s near-equally likely he could leave a somewhat confusing legacy as an MLS Cup winner.
There’s many examples of European stars who come to MLS and immediately lift their new teams to a next level. Among them: Robbie Keane at the LA Galaxy, David Villa at New York City FC and Wayne Rooney at D.C. United. Equally, there are stars whose arrivals seemed to do as much harm as good, at least at first. Exhibit A would be the early years of David Beckham’s tenure at the LA Galaxy, and the most recent example might be Gonzalo Higuain’s first season-and-a-half at Inter Miami.
But what do you make of a star of Bale’s brightness having almost no tangible impact?
One interpretation could be that LAFC have built one of the first MLS brands bigger than a single global icon. But Bale has been — from outward appearances at least — a model citizen since his arrival in Southern California. And this might all have gone differently if he had expressed displeasure publicly with how he had been used so far.
A second potential argument is that his mere presence had a benefit even if it didn’t come with on-field production. The idea that a guy who played at Real Madrid could replace you if you don’t perform could have been a motivator to players like Arango and Bouanga, in particular. Conversely, all the attention given to Bale since his arrival may have actually taken pressure off the rest of the roster.
In the long term, it seems like Bale’s MLS chapter is unlikely to change many minds in front offices about their approach toward signing big stars. Clubs inclined to stay away from big names are likely to look at Bale’s underwhelming impact as evidence that such star power is unnecessary. Clubs who want glitz and glamour might see Bale’s travails as evidence you can swing and miss on one big signing and still succeed on the field if you do other things right.
