Chicago Fire v Los Angeles FC: Son eyeing legendary status after MLS move
Son Heung-min could make his MLS debut this weekend as Los Angeles FC make the trip to SeatGeek Stadium to face the Chicago Fire.
New Los Angeles FC signing Son Heung-min said that he wants to be remembered as a "legend" once his stint in the MLS comes to a close.
Son completed his switch on Wednesday following his departure from Tottenham, becoming the most expensive transfer in MLS history after his reported £20m move.
The South Korean scored 173 goals and 101 assists for Spurs in all competitions, including 154 goal involvements in 333 matches in the Premier League.
The fee paid to Spurs by LAFC surpasses the previous MLS record of £16.5m that Atlanta United splashed on Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough in February.
Son was present at LAFC's 2-1 Leagues Cup win over Mexican side Tigres on Tuesday, and spoke to the media 24 hours later about his move.
"It's a dream come true. LA - what a city," said Son. "If I'm honest, it was not my first choice.
"But the first call I had with [LAFC co-president] John [Thorrington] after my season finished, he changed my mind, changed my heart, my brain.
"Just because I performed well in Europe, there is no guarantee that I will perform well here.
"Since I am starting a new challenge here, I think I am starting from zero, and since I am starting from zero, I always want to become a legend. That is my dream."
Son could make his debut this weekend when LAFC travel to SeatGeek Stadium to take on Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls Chicago Fire this weekend.
The Fire are hitting form at just the right time with 10 games of their regular season remaining after back-to-back league victories over CF Montreal and the New York Red Bulls.
Gregg Berhalter's team find themselves ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, two points ahead of the Red Bulls, who sit just outside the cut-off line for the playoffs.
While LAFC, who are sixth in the Western Conference, may pose a different threat to Chicago, Berhalter is confident his team can build on their improved displays at the back.
"Two clean sheets in a row. I don't think I know this team my goodness," Berhalter quipped. "Especially 1-0 wins, they go so far for confidence.
"When you are pushed, as you normally are when you are winning 1-0, to be able to bend but not break is a good quality of any strong team.
"Their expected goals (xG) total was something around the 1.5 mark, so that was strong. They [NYRB] have some good attacking players and overall I am happy with this group."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Hugo Cuypers
In what has been a mixed season for Chicago, Cuypers has been in fine form, netting his 14th goal of the season in their win over the Red Bulls last time out.
Only Nemanja Nikolic (twice), Ante Razov and Mike Magee have scored 15 or more goals in a single season for Chicago, and Cuypers will be keen to add his name to that list.
LAFC – Denis Bouanga
While all the talk has been around Son's arrival at LAFC, Bouanga has starred for the team this season, netting 13 league goals in 21 matches this season.
But the LAFC talisman failed to score in his last regular-season match against Portland. He has not gone consecutive league matches without a goal since between March and early April 2025.
MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN
This will be the third meeting between Chicago and LAFC, with the Fire recording a win and a draw in the first two, most recently a 0-0 stalemate in May 2019. This will be the first meeting between the teams in Chicago in 2,506 days (September 19, 2018).
The Fire have won their last two regular-season matches, keeping clean sheets in both. Chicago had managed shutout wins in just two of their previous 67 league matches dating back to August 2023.
LAFC's defeat to Portland was just the club's second defeat in their last 15 regular-season matches (W7 D6). They are unbeaten in all five away matches over that span (W1 D4), though.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 30.4%
Draw – 25%
LAFC – 44.7%