LAFC vs. Galaxy: The Big Rivalry Returns After the World Cup

Match Details

• Friday, July 17 at 7:25 p.m. PT
• Location: Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA

The Big Return

After taking an eight-week break so players could go to the FIFA World Cup (the biggest soccer tournament in the world), LAFC is back to play regular MLS games.

• LAFC travels to Carson to play their big rivals, the Galaxy, on Friday night, July 17.
• This game is the most exciting rivalry game of five that MLS is showing on July 16 and 17.
• MLS is starting its games right after the World Cup in North America ends, to keep the soccer fun going.

Important Point: LAFC had four players in the World Cup — more than any other MLS team!

• Son Heung-Min was the captain of South Korea.
• Jacob Shaffelburg, Mathieu Choinière, and Stephen Eustáquio (on loan from Porto FC) played for Canada.
• Canada had its best ever World Cup run, reaching the top 16 teams.
• The Galaxy had zero players in the World Cup.

Shaffelburg said:

“I think it’s perfect timing to put Rivalry Week right now. These games on Friday with the World Cup Final on Sunday… casual fans who loved the World Cup will look for games to watch. MLS planned this really well.”

Global Reach

LAFC vs. Galaxy is also called El Tráfico.

• This name mixes the Spanish word for rivalry (El Clásico) with LA traffic jams.
• Fans in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia have watched this star game for almost 10 years.
• Past stars include Hugo Lloris, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Carlos Vela, Chicharito, Olivier Giroud, and Marco Reus.
• Son (from Korea) joined LAFC 11 months ago and leads MLS in assists, but hasn’t played El Tráfico yet.

Higher Ground

A year ago, LAFC was secretly signing Son from England’s Premier League.

• Since August 6, 2025, Son has:
  • 25 goal contributions (12 goals, 13 assists) in 26 games (including playoffs)
  • Led all players in assists at the Concacaf Champions Cup (7 assists, 2 goals in 8 games)

Coach Marc Dos Santos said the World Cup players are happy and rested:

“They all feel good. They’re all gonna be in the game against the Galaxy.”

Other LAFC stars:

• Hugo Lloris (former France captain) leads MLS in clean sheets (games where the other team scores 0) with 8. Next best has 5.
• Lloris trained at LAFC’s facility with young star Davíd Martínez (9 goals in 2026), defenders Nkosi Tafari and Ryan Porteous, and 15–20 others during the World Cup.
• Martínez, Porteous, and Choinière earned Best XI honors in the Champions Cup. Martínez won Best Young Player.

Denis’ Derby

Denis Bouanga loves playing the Galaxy:

• 10 goals in 9 career games vs. Galaxy
• Scored in the last 6 meetings — the longest streak in rivalry history
• Passed Zlatan for 2nd on the all-time rivalry scorers list
• Only Carlos Vela has more (12 goals)

Form Check

Current standings:

• LAFC: 5th in Western Conference (7 wins, 5 losses, 3 draws)
• Galaxy: 9th (5 wins, 5 losses, 5 draws)

Galaxy changes since May:

1. Top scorer Gabriel Pec left for Cruzeiro (Brazil)
2. Defender Mauricio Cuevas went to Santos Laguna (Mexico)
3. Matheus Nascimento’s loan ended
4. Joao Klauss got injured
5. They signed Robert Taylor (from Finland, ex-Austin FC and Inter Miami) to help score goals

LAFC Will Win If…

They stop two Galaxy players:

• Marco Reus (midfield captain, former Bundesliga MVP)
• Joseph Paintsil (fast Ghana winger, 23 goals since 2024 but 0 in El Tráfico)

LAFC’s defense started the year with a league-record 6 straight clean sheets. They need to watch these two.

Galaxy Can Win If…

Their midfield blocks LAFC’s attack:

• Edwin Cerrillo, Erik Thommy, Elijah Wynder controlled the middle in May games
• They allowed only 9 shots on target in 2 games
• Lucas Sanabria comes in to help attack
• LAFC’s Delgado, Tillman, and Choinière will try to win this battle

Summary

LAFC returns from the World Cup break to face the Galaxy in El Tráfico on July 17. LAFC has more World Cup players, in-form stars like Son and Bouanga, and a strong defense. The Galaxy lost key attackers but added Robert Taylor. It’s a big rivalry game right before the World Cup Final — perfect for new fans to watch!

FAQ

What is El Tráfico?
It’s the nickname for LAFC vs. Galaxy games, mixing the Spanish word for rivalry with LA traffic.

How many LAFC players were in the World Cup?
Four: Son, Shaffelburg, Choinière, and Eustáquio.

Who scores the most in this rivalry?
Carlos Vela (12), then Bouanga (10+), with Zlatan behind Bouanga.

Why is this game scheduled now?
MLS put rivalry games right after the World Cup so fans stay excited and watch.

Can the Galaxy still win?
Yes, if their midfield stops LAFC and new signings like Robert Taylor score.