The 2026 season of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States is approaching. At the center of expectations is Son Heung-min.
LAFC spotlighted Son Heung-min on the 15th through its official channels. From his club Los Angeles FC (LAFC) to the MLS league office that oversees the league, everyone is treating Son Heung-min's "first full season" as a special event.
In LAFC's own preview released on the 15th, club podcast host Max Bretos said, "Son Heung-min is spending his first full season at LAFC. This is truly an incredible event," and added, "Countless soccer fans came to the stadium to see him. He changed everything about the club and delivered performances everyone recognizes."
He continued, "When Son Heung-min joined in August last year, his schedule was breathless. He attended the signing ceremony as soon as he got off the plane and immediately went on the Chicago trip. Even so, he started almost every game," and said, "He is now fully settled in LA. He had enough time to immerse himself, and next season he will be better than last season," expressing his expectations.
The club's expectations are also proven by data. LAFC praised Son Heung-min once again while announcing the return of players. "Son Heung-min was one of the three top rookie candidates in MLS for the 2025 season. He didn't just adapt to the league; he demolished it," the club said.
Including the playoffs, he scored 12 goals and provided 4 assists in 13 matches. The club also released the figure that Son Heung-min was involved in a goal every 68.9 minutes when he was on the ground. The only player ahead of Son Heung-min in this record was 2025 season MVP Lionel Messi.
The synergy with Denis Bouanga is also notable. The two players combined for 25 goals and 8 assists, and one of Son Heung-min's goals was selected as the "2025 MLS goal of the year."
LAFC raised expectations by asking, "What does Son Heung-min's first full-time season foreshadow?"
The MLS league office shares the same view. The league office said, "LAFC previously experimented with their own model by signing Olivier Giroud, but it did not yield results commensurate with expectations.
However, the signing of Son Heung-min in 2025 was clearly a success," it evaluated. It also predicted, "There is a high likelihood that LAFC will win additional titles within the next 12 months. Son Heung-min will also lift his first trophy."
It is already ready to be called an "incident." Now what remains is proof on the pitch. In the 2026 season, attention is focused on what kind of performance Son Heung-min will use to shake MLS and what trophies he will bring to LAFC.
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