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Los Angeles FC vs New York Red Bulls preview: match details and prediction

The next Los Angeles FC match in the 2026 Major League Soccer season sees them host New York Red Bulls at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. This Los Angeles FC vs New York Red Bulls preview focuses on a cross-conference clash scheduled for 10 September 2026, with kick-off at 02:30 UTC in the Regular Season - 24 round.

LAFC come into this fixture sitting high in the Western Conference, while the Red Bulls are looking to climb the Eastern Conference standings. With both teams still firmly in the play-off conversation, this encounter at BMO Stadium could have a significant impact on their respective postseason pushes.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 24
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-09-10, 02:30 UTC
  • Venue: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Los Angeles FC are currently 3rd in the Western Conference with 37 points from 24 matches (10 wins, 7 draws, 7 defeats). They have scored 38 goals and conceded 24, for a goal difference of +14. At BMO Stadium they have been strong, with 7 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses in 12 home games, scoring 23 and allowing just 11. Their recent league form, however, is shaky, with a five-match sequence of DDDLL coming into this game.

New York Red Bulls sit 10th in the Eastern Conference on 27 points after 23 matches (7 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses). They have scored 32 times and conceded 46, leaving them with a goal difference of -14. Away from home, the Red Bulls have a record of 3 wins, 3 draws and 5 defeats in 11 road fixtures, with 14 goals for and 23 against. Their recent form is also unconvincing, with a five-game run of DLDLL ahead of this trip to Los Angeles.

From a broader season perspective, LAFC have put together an impressive number of clean sheets, with 12 shutouts overall (7 at home and 5 away), and have only failed to score in 5 of their 24 league games. New York Red Bulls, by contrast, have managed just 2 clean sheets all season and have failed to score 6 times. Both sides have been perfect from the spot so far, each scoring their only penalty of the campaign. Discipline could also be a factor, with both teams showing a tendency to collect yellow cards in the latter stages of matches.

Head-to-head

  • 2024-04-21: Los Angeles FC 2–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2022-06-26: Los Angeles FC 2–0 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2019-08-12: Los Angeles FC 4–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2018-08-05: New York Red Bulls 2–1 Los Angeles FC (Major League Soccer)

The recent head-to-head record at BMO Stadium and the former Banc of California Stadium has largely favoured Los Angeles FC. They have recorded home wins by 2–0 and 4–2, while the most recent meeting in April 2024 ended in a 2–2 draw in Los Angeles after the Red Bulls led 1–0 at half-time. The Red Bulls’ only listed victory in this sequence came at Red Bull Arena in 2018, a 2–1 home success.

Team news & absences

Los Angeles FC injuries: goalkeeper T. Hasal is ruled out with an Arm Injury, while Igor Jesus misses out due to a Knee Injury. Midfielder T. Tillman is also listed as a Missing Fixture with an unspecified Injury. Defender R. Porteous is marked as Questionable because of a Leg Injury, and his availability will need to be monitored closer to kick-off.

New York Red Bulls injuries: goalkeeper A. Marcucci is unavailable with a Knee Injury. Winger R. Mosquera is listed as Questionable with a Thigh Injury, leaving some uncertainty over his participation in this trip to Los Angeles.

Key players to watch

  • D. Bouanga (Los Angeles FC) — 12 goals and 5 assists in MLS 2026 make him LAFC’s standout attacking threat. His combination of goalscoring and creativity will be central to breaking down a Red Bulls defence that has struggled this season.
  • Son Heung-Min (Los Angeles FC) — With 5 goals and 9 assists, Son is a key playmaker for LAFC. His ability to link midfield and attack, plus his set-piece quality, adds another dimension to the hosts’ forward play.

Prediction

The model’s Los Angeles FC vs New York Red Bulls prediction leans towards the home side avoiding defeat. The forecast gives Los Angeles FC a 45% chance of victory, with a 45% probability of a draw and just a 10% chance of an away win. The advice is a “Double chance: Los Angeles FC or draw”, reflecting LAFC’s strong home record and superior defensive numbers compared to a Red Bulls side that has conceded heavily across the season.

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