Dos Santos only focused on Son’s fitness after MLS All-Star involvement

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Los Angeles FC boss Marc Dos Santos said the only reason he tuned into Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game was to check on the fitness of star forward Son Heung-min. 

Son scored twice at Bank of America Stadium in a 4-3 win over the Liga MX All-Stars in midweek, with Philip Zinckernagel and Evander also on target for the MLS side. 

The 34-year-old was named MVP after his performance, but he will now swiftly turn his attention towards LAFC’s upcoming MLS clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Son has impressed so far this season, managing 12 goal involvements (three goals, nine assists) in 16 league games this season. 

“[I’m] very happy, and I just want to say thank you to everyone. This MVP always makes it special,” Son said after his midweek heroics. 

“I just want to say thank you to everyone, the coaching staff, to the staff, and to the players. And thank you to the fans for making this amazing atmosphere. 

“I hope next time I come here [to the] All-Star Game I can get MVP [again].”

Dos Santos, however, was not interested in the showpiece, revealing ahead of the match he was more concerned about Son’s condition.

“I should answer carefully. Otherwise, I might receive another email warning from the MLS office,” Dos Santos said.

“Personally, I don’t like All-Star games. I don’t want to see our players hugging opponents after matches. I won’t be watching. We will only check Son Heung-min’s health.”

Son Heung-Min claims the throne in his first MLS All-Star. pic.twitter.com/7MPgruoiKz

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 30, 2026

Dos Santos will have been relieved that Son only played 34 minutes before being replaced by Guilherme, though he was confused by the overall lack of LAFC representation in the side. 

“If a team like ours, which often keeps clean sheets, deserves recognition for its defenders. It’s a bit surprising that only Son Heung-min was selected,” he added.  

“Honestly, it’s best if none of our players participate. Of course, I understand the circumstances involving sponsors, but I’m not a fan of All-Star games.”

LAFC and Son will now look to continue their impressive winning league run against fellow Western Conference high-flyers Vancouver at BC Place this weekend. 

Vancouver and LAFC, along with the San Jose Earthquakes, are level on points at the top of the division, with this already a huge encounter in the race for top spot. 

But the Whitecaps were dealt a blow heading into the second half of the season, with United States international Sebastian Berhalter completing a move to Middlesbrough.

He made 167 appearances for Vancouver after joining from the Columbus Crew in 2022, scoring 20 goals and providing 34 assists. 

“I am so thankful to all the fans, staff, coaches, management, and my team-mates,” Berhalter said.

“I’ve called this place home for the last four and a half years, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“The memories and the relationships I’ve built here will last a lifetime and seeing how much this club has grown makes me so proud.

“I’m incredibly grateful that this club took me in as a boy and helped me grow into a young man. I’ll be a Whitecap forever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.”  

Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White

Since the start of last season, White has scored 17 goals in 18 regular-season home matches, including scoring three in his last three at BC Place.

Of players who have played 1,000 or more minutes at home since the start of last season, White’s 1.07 goals per 90 minutes at home is the highest mark in MLS.

Bouanga has nine goals in 14 matches against Vancouver in all competitions, and he will be confident of adding another to his tally here.

He has scored nine or more goals against three MLS teams in all competitions, having also done so against the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes.

The only other player to do so against a single team since Bouanga’s debut in 2022 is Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi against Nashville SC and Orlando City SC.

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

This will be the 17th meeting between the two sides in all competitions since the beginning of 2023, but the first this year.

The teams have met in the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, while they also faced off in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024.

Vancouver are the favourites, even though they have won two of their last seven regular-season matches (D3 L2), with their last match being a scoreless draw at Minnesota. The Whitecaps had won eight of their first nine matches this season, before winning just two of the last seven.

LAFC, meanwhile, have followed up a four-match losing streak in all competitions with a four-match winning stretch, outscoring their opponents 11-1 over this run. They have also scored at least three goals in each of their last three matches.

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