For the third consecutive year, LAFC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to renew their rivalry in the MLS Cup Playoffs — but this season’s matchup carries extra excitement, with global stars Son Heung-min and Thomas Müller leading their respective teams into battle.

Both sides booked their places in the Western Conference semifinals after successful first-round campaigns over the weekend. Vancouver were first to progress, overcoming FC Dallas in dramatic fashion after a 1–1 draw was settled by a tense penalty shootout on Saturday night.

A day later, LAFC advanced in convincing style, defeating Austin FC 4–1 in Game 2 to secure a fourth consecutive postseason appearance beyond the opening round.

Son, who joined LAFC in August for a club-record $26.2 million, has already made an impact on the pitch — contributing a goal and an assist during the opening series. Meanwhile, Müller proved decisive for the Whitecaps, finding the net in Game 1 and calmly converting his spot kick in the shootout that sealed their progression.

The two West Coast powerhouses will now meet on November 22 in a single-elimination semifinal, with a place in the Western Conference Final up for grabs. The winner will move one step closer to the MLS Cup Final, scheduled for December 6.

With two of world football’s most experienced attackers at the center of the action, this latest chapter in the LAFC–Vancouver rivalry promises to deliver top-quality entertainment — and possibly another defining moment in MLS playoff history.