The Bay Area is buzzing. Levi's Stadium is bracing for one of the biggest MLS crowds of the season, with the San Jose Earthquakes welcoming Son Heung-min and LAFC for a Western Conference battle.
Continuing his tour across MLS, Son's stop in San Jose with the Black and Gold has the potential to help set a new single-game attendance record for the Earthquakes. Already having sold 45,000 tickets by September 5, the upper deck at Levi's Stadium was opened up to meet soaring ticket demands for the match.
The mark to beat? 50, 850. Set in 2019 as San Jose downed the LA Galaxy in the annual California Clasico at Stanford Stadium, a multitude of factors suggest that this weekend's matchup could be the one to surpass it.
Not only do Son, Denis Bouanga, and the rest of LAFC bring a squad that has dominated the spotlight into the Bay, but the game also coincides with Mexican Heritage Night. Fans from both the Bay Area and Los Angeles will have a chance to celebrate the culture while cheering on their teams in a high-stakes affair.
On the field, both sides are fighting for crucial playoff positioning, and every minute of the action promises to be meaningful as the regular season continues to wind down. Returning to action for the first time this month following an international break, the final stretch of 2025 is officially underway.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Son Heung-Min #7 of LAFC handles the ball during an MLS match against San Diego FC at BMO Stadium on August 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
LAFC has played well away from home, heading into Saturday's match currently unbeaten across its last eight MLS road games. At 11W-7L-8D, they sit just three points out from a top-four position.
"We just haven't won every game we've played," said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo on Thursday. "But I've been very pleased with our performances.
San Jose heads into battle holding possession of ninth on the table (9W-12L-8D), clinging to the second of two Wild Card spots in the Western Conference. Despite a shaky season thus far, their 53 goals scored are the second most in the West, with forwards Chico Arango and Josef Martínez (12 goals each) leading the charge.
"They [San Jose] have a plethora of experience in sniffing out moments and plays...they put themselves into positions where they can concede chances, but because of that, they're also in really good positions when the ball turns over again," said Cherundolo. "If we are silly and erratic with our attacks, then we can be punished."
In their first matchup this season on April 12, LAFC earned a 2-1 victory at BMO Stadium. Goals from Sergei Palencia and Bouanga gave LAFC the edge, while Cristian Espinoza's 95th-minute strike helped San Jose avoid a shutout.
Los Angeles has, however, lost their last three matches at Levi's Stadium dating back to 2022, scoring only once in each of the contests.
Coming up short in a 2-1 defeat that saw San Diego FC spoil Son's home debut their last time out, Los Angeles moves forward with a sour taste in their mouths. The lone score in the contest came early from Bouanga before San Diego's two unanswered goals were enough.
Bouanga enters battle on Saturday just five goals away from becoming the first player in MLS history with three consecutive 20-goal seasons. LAFC will need his explosiveness if they look to set the proper tone in what will be a deafening road environment.
The Earthquakes will seek to leverage their attacking power, with Arango and Martínez ready to test LAFC's defensive organization. Playing in only their second game since Igor Jesus tore his ACL, Mark Delgado, Timothy Tillman and Mathieu Choinière will need to be at their best if Los Angeles hopes to control the midfield and dictate the game's tempo.
With a record crowd and both teams jockeying for playoff positioning, end-to-end action is guaranteed. Son, Bouanga, and San Jose's attacking duo will take center stage in what would be one of the loudest nights of the MLS season, only amplified by the festivities of Mexican Heritage Night.
"It's a very important game for us to show that we can win there," said Tillman. They are fighting for playoffs, we are fighting for playoffs too...both teams want to win it and I think it's going to be an entertaining one."
Where: Levi's Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
When: Saturday, September 13 | Kickoff at 5:30 p.m. PT
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, and KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera