BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. EDT (7:30 p.m. PDT).
The match is available on Apple TV. This is the first meeting between the sides in the 2026 regular season.
Venue and Weather
BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA; capacity approximately 22,000). Forecast for game time: Sunny and hot during the day with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s°F (around 35–37°C), cooling into the mid-70s°F (around 24°C) by evening kickoff. Mostly clear skies with west winds around 10–15 mph. Warm, dry conditions favorable for open play.
Current Standings and Season Context
LAFC sits near the top of the Western Conference playoff picture with a strong home record (roughly 7-3-2) and a solid goal differential (+14). The Red Bulls are mid-to-lower table in the East, hovering around the playoff line or just outside, with a negative goal differential and inconsistent results, especially on the road.
Recent Team Forms
Los Angeles FC: Winless in their last six league matches (including multiple draws), with their last victory in late July. Recent results include draws against Real Salt Lake (2-2), D.C. United (0-0), and Portland. Strong defensive metrics overall (low goals conceded) but struggling to convert chances into wins lately.
New York Red Bulls: Winless in five since an early August home win over Orlando. Recent form includes a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Seattle and losses/draws against stronger sides. Road record is modest (around 3-5-3). Young talent provides upside, but defensive vulnerability (higher goals conceded) remains an issue.
Injury and Availability Reports
Los Angeles FC: Thomas Hasal (arm — Out); Ryan Porteous (leg — Out); Timothy Tillman (leg — Out); Eddie Segura (leg — Questionable). Other longer-term absences may include players like Igor Jesus.
New York Red Bulls: Ronald Donkor (suspended — yellow card accumulation — Out). Limited other reported absences in the latest league status report; some sources note potential questions around depth pieces.
Key Players and Matchups
LAFC standouts: Denis Bouanga (leading scorer with ~12 goals); Son Heung-min (creative force with multiple goals and assists); Hugo Lloris (experienced goalkeeper with strong clean-sheet numbers); supporting cast including Ryan Hollingshead and midfield options.
New York Red Bulls standouts: Julian Hall (young forward, team-high ~9 goals); supporting attackers such as Jorge Ruvalcaba or Emil Forsberg in recent contributions; Cade Cowell (assists); Ethan Horvath in goal.
Key matchups:
Bouanga and Son’s pace, movement, and finishing against the Red Bulls’ back line (which has conceded at a higher rate).
Hall’s goal threat and Red Bulls transitions vs. LAFC’s organized defense and Lloris.
Midfield control and set pieces — LAFC’s home advantage and quality edge should allow them to dictate tempo, while the Red Bulls will look for counter-attacks and opportunistic scoring. BMO Stadium has historically been a tough venue for visitors.
Series History
Limited recent regular-season meetings. Historical results lean toward LAFC at home (including past wins and draws at the venue formerly known as Banc of California Stadium). Overall head-to-head has been competitive but favors the Black & Gold in California.
Betting Trends
Trends favor the home side given LAFC’s defensive solidity, home form, and the Red Bulls’ road struggles and higher concession rate. Recent draw-heavy form for LAFC tempers expectations of a blowout, but the quality gap remains clear.
apnews.com
MATCH ODDS
New York City Red Bulls + 600
Los Angeles FC – 240
Draw + 438
Over 3.5 – 109 Under 3.5 – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, September 8, 2026
