Son Heung-min Officially Unveiled as LAFC Forward as Club Earns Crucial Leagues Cup Win Over Tigres

In a night filled with symbolism and anticipation, Son Heung-min was officially introduced as an LAFC forward during the club’s final Leagues Cup League-stage match against Mexican giants Tigres UANL. The atmosphere at BMO Stadium reflected the moment’s magnitude — and on the pitch, LAFC responded with a performance to match.

They earned a hard-fought 2-1 win against a red-hot Tigres side that had convincingly beaten Houston Dynamo (4-1) and San Diego FC (2-1) in their previous two league games. The victory marked LAFC’s first in the 2025 Leagues Cup and temporarily lifted them to 4th place in the overall MLS standings — a position that carries potential passage to the quarter-finals. But the road ahead is far from clear.

How the Leagues Cup Works

The 2025 Leagues Cup features 18 clubs from Major League Soccer and 18 from Mexico’s Liga MX, each playing three inter-league matches in a round-robin group stage. At the end of the round, the top four teams from each league — based on points, goal difference, and goals scored — advance to the single-elimination quarter-finals.

After completing their group stage fixtures with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 defeat (6 points, +1 goal difference), LAFC find themselves clinging to 4th place in the MLS table. But that could quickly change.

A Complicated Path to the Knockouts

For LAFC to secure a quarter-final berth, a highly unlikely set of results must occur on August 6/7 (local time):

• Inter Miami (currently 5 points) must lose their home match against Pumas UNAM.

• All of the following teams — Minnesota United, LA Galaxy, Orlando City, FC Cincinnati, and New York Red Bulls (each on 4 points) — must fail to beat their respective Mexican opponents.

Should any of these conditions not be met, LAFC will likely slip out of the top four and miss out on the knockout rounds, despite their dramatic final-day victory.

Son's Unofficial Debut and a Surge in Support

Though he didn’t feature on the pitch, Son Heung-min’s impact was immediate. Just hours after quietly arriving in Los Angeles, Son was spotted in the stands at BMO Stadium. During the first half, the stadium’s big screen flashed a formal welcome, introducing him as a new LAFC forward — drawing roars of approval from the home crowd.

His official unveiling comes ahead of a press conference scheduled for Tuesday, August 6 at 2:00 PM PT (Wednesday, August 7 at 6:00 AM KST), which will be streamed live on LAFC.com, YouTube, Facebook, and X.

In the meantime, LAFC’s Instagram account has surged past 1 million followers, gaining over 30,000 new followers since transfer speculation first linked Son with the club — making them just the third MLS team to reach the milestone. The “Son effect” is already tangible, both on and off the field.

A New Era Begins, Regardless of Leagues Cup Outcome

While progression to the knockout rounds remains unlikely, Tuesday's win — under the bright lights and with Son Heung-min in attendance — felt like a symbolic turning point for LAFC. With their newest global star waiting in the wings, the club now shifts its attention to domestic competition and a broader vision of continental success in the future.

The Son era in Los Angeles has officially begun. And though silverware may not come immediately, the statement of intent is already clear.