The Major League Soccer office in the United States has identified LAFC, the club Son Heung-min plays for, as the top favorite to win the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The MLS office on the 31st of last month (all times Korea time) released a ranking of MLS clubs most likely to win the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and LAFC proudly topped the list. The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the premier regional competition for North and Central American clubs, equivalent to the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. A total of 27 teams from CONCACAF-affiliated leagues, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, will participate, and nine MLS clubs secured berths.
LAFC qualified for the tournament based on its top-tier performance in the Western Conference, and above all Son Heung-min's presence was evaluated as a powerful competitive advantage. Son showed overwhelming influence from his MLS debut season. He recorded 12 goals and 3 assists in 13 league matches, becoming a finalist for rookie of the year, and he won both MLS player of the year and goal of the year as selected by Transfermarkt.
In particular, the partnership with Denis Bouanga is credited with changing the landscape of the league. The two players became the first in MLS history to combine for hat tricks in three consecutive matches, and they set an unprecedented record of 18 consecutive combined goals. The destructive power of this attacking pairing was a major factor in the MLS office naming LAFC the most likely champion.
The MLS office also gave a positive analysis of LAFC's draw. "LAFC is likely to receive a relatively easy bracket in this tournament. It is unlikely to face Mexican league teams until the quarterfinals, and serious matches against strong teams are expected only after the semifinals," it said. It added, "Most key players have returned, and new coach Mark Dos Santos has been given sufficient time to implement tactical changes."
LAFC has already suffered disappointment twice. It fell short at the final hurdle in both the 2020 and 2023 tournaments. However, the MLS office said, "This season is different," and assessed that "LAFC, with an attack centered on Son Heung-min and Bouanga, a stable squad and experience, has a chance to finally win its first title."
The stage is also deeply meaningful for Son Heung-min. After leaving Europe for a new challenge, he has become not just a star in MLS but a central figure who has lifted his team into title contention. LAFC and Son Heung-min are moving toward another goal: the North American summit.
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