Son Heung-min, who finished the World Cup, faces a 'Big Match' in his MLS return against an ace from a 'World Class' team: "We cannot lose"

*This content was translated by AI.

After completing the World Cup schedule, Son Heung-min (LAFC), the captain of the South Korean national football team, immediately faces a fierce rivalry match upon returning to his club. Marco Reus, the ace of the opposing team LA Galaxy, also expressed a strong will to win.

LAFC will face LA Galaxy in the 16th round of the 2026 U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) on the 18th (Korean time) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, USA.

The match between the two teams is a derby known as Ji Yeok-eul (CEO) in Los Angeles. Officially, it is called 'El Trafico'.

LA Galaxy is a traditional powerhouse representing MLS. With LAFC, which joined the league in 2018, rapidly growing and establishing itself as an emerging strong team, their matchup has evolved into a rivalry match representative of MLS.

As MLS resumes its schedule after being temporarily suspended for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, LAFC and LA Galaxy coincidentally open their return with the LA Derby.

Currently, LAFC stands at fifth place in the Western Conference with seven wins, three draws, and five losses (24 points), while LA Galaxy is in ninth place with five wins, five draws, and five losses (20 points).

This is the first match of the MLS resumption and a rivalry match where the pride of the Los Angeles region is at stake. Both teams desperately need three points to climb the standings and compete for playoff spots.

As such, the burden on the shoulders of both teams' aces cannot be avoided.

LAFC places high expectations on Son Heung-min. After transferring to LAFC last summer, Son Heung-min recorded nine goals and three assists in 10 regular-season matches during his debut season. In the playoffs, he scored three goals and provided one assist in three games, leaving a strong impression.

This season, he has appeared in 13 matches but has yet to score his first goal of the campaign; however, he has recorded nine assists, leading the team's offense.

Son Heung-min served as captain for the South Korean national team led by former coach Hong Myung-bo and participated in the North American World Cup. However, he did not score in any of the three group stage matches, and South Korea was eliminated from the group stage.

Nevertheless, since securing some time to recover after the group stage elimination due to scheduling, Son Heung-min can aim for a mood shift upon returning to his club. Most importantly, if he delivers an exceptional performance in the rivalry match, he can start the second half of the season with confidence.

The ace of LA Galaxy is Reus, a 'World Class' player. Having been a key figure for the German national team and representing Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga, Reus joined LA Galaxy in 2024 to embark on a new challenge.

According to Spanish-language AS USA, after finishing recent team training, Reus said, "I don't think there could be a better start than resuming the season with a derby at home," and added, "I really love this rivalry match. We are ready for the game," showing his confidence.

Reus further emphasized, "Both teams have a lot at stake. No one wants to lose. It is time to secure another victory as the season resumes. Especially since this match will be played at home."

Meanwhile, Reus has continued to deliver consistent performances since joining LA Galaxy. He recorded one goal and three assists in 2024, five goals and nine assists in 2025, and four goals and five assists this season, showcasing his unchanged skills.

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*This content was translated by AI.