FC Dallas vs LAFC Preview: Lineups, Storylines & What to Watch BigSoccer.com
FC Dallas hits the road for the first time in 2026 this weekend with a trip to face LAFC, in a venue that has historically been anything by friendly to the Hoops. After a quite, scoreless draw at home last weekend against Nashville SC, Eric Quill’s group will be looking to sharpen the attack and prove it can hang with one of the best in the league.
This will be the biggest test to date for FC Dallas in 2026, as LAFC is currently unbeaten and has posted two shutouts on the season.
Let’s dive into some notes, predictions, and more.
TL;DR: Match Preview
Quick hits before kickoff.
- Score prediction: FC Dallas 0 - 2 LAFC
- Key player to watch: Joaquin Valiente - Will the newcomer get the start for Dallas in his first road game? This could be a good opportunity for Eric Quill to give him 60 minutes.
- Why this game matters: It is the first road game of the season. If Dallas wants to be a contender this season, they have to get points away from home.
The free stuff tells you what happened. A paid subscription tells you why it happened, what it means for FC Dallas, and what’s coming next—before anyone else catches up.
FC Dallas Notes:
Key player for FC Dallas: Osaze Urhoghide- This is the kind of game where Urhoghide can make a name for himself in this league as one of the top defenders.
All-time at LAFC: FC Dallas is winless in seven all-time meetings at LAFC, going 0-6-1, while being outscored 13-3.
Last year’s road record: FC Dallas was 5-4-10 (23 points) on the road, 4-4-6 vs. the West, and 1-0-2 vs. the East.
Homegrown clock: Last season, the Homegrowns played a combined 1548 minutes. Homegrown keeper Michael Collodi has been the lone Homegrown on the field this season, earning 180 minutes so far.
Notable season stats:
- Dallas is 8th in crosses across MLS with 30.
- Dallas ranks second in MLS in aerial challenges won with 40.
- Dallas is 4th in mls in shot efficiency with 0.63.
- Dallas ranks 22nd in xG with 2.37.
- Logan Farrington’s 10th career goal on Feb. 21 makes him the fastest
— and only — player drafted in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft to score 10
goals. - Musa is 4th in MLS in shot efficiency with 1.14 xG efficiency.
Potential FC Dallas Lineup:
Can Joaquin Valiente earn his first start after appearing off the bench last week? Is he good to go 60 minutes? That could be the intriguing item to watch.
Projected Starting XI
Formation: 3-4-3Availability & Disciplinary Report
Suspended: none
Suspended with next yellow card: none
Suspended with next two yellow cards: none
Season-ending injury list: Kaka Scabin
Out: Brooks Thompson - Ankle
Questionable: Jonathan Sirois (Head), Anderson Julio (Lower leg)
On Loan: Tsiki Ntsabeleng (Mamelodi Sundowns FC), Enes Sali (Al-Riyadh), Malachi Molina (Nashville SC), Geovane Jesus (North Texas SC), Enzo Newman (North Texas SC)
Unavailable (off-roster): Daniel Baran, Jaidyn Contreras
International duty: none
The free stuff tells you what happened. A paid subscription tells you why it happened, what it means for FC Dallas, and what’s coming next—before anyone else catches up.
LAFC Notes:
Key player for LAFC: Son Heung-min
Drew Epperley
Disciplinary Report
Suspended: none
Suspended on next yellow card: none
Availability Report
Out: Lorenzo Dellavalle (leg), Jeremy Ebobisse (leg), Igor Jesus (leg), Aaron Long (leg), Jacob Shaffelburg (pelvis)
Questionable: none
On Loan: none
International duty: none
