LAFC2 starts its 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs run on the road. According to a preview from LAFC.com, the Black & Gold will face Houston Dynamo 2 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday, October 18, at Shell Energy Stadium.
LAFC2 comes in as the No. 6 seed. It finished the regular season 11W-8L-9D with 45 points. Houston, the No. 4 seed, went 14W-8L-6D and collected 52 points. The matchup came out of the league's Pick-Your-Opponent process. After Austin FC II, Timbers2 and Ventura County FC each picked their quarterfinal opponents, Houston was left to host LAFC2 in the last Western Conference pairing.
The teams played once during the regular season. LAFC2 won 3-1 on June 28 at USC's Rawlinson Stadium. Liam Lambert scored in the first minute, and Gustavo Dohmann pulled Houston level just before halftime. Luke Goodman put LAFC2 back in front in the 68th minute, and DeCarlo Guerra added a late penalty. LAFC2 played a man down after Christian Díaz was sent off in the 35th minute. Houston dropped to 10 men early in the second half when Myles Gardner picked up a second yellow card. LAFC2 outshot Houston 16-11 and put eight shots on target.
Houston leads the all-time series 3W-2L-1D, LAFC.com noted. Sunday's match will be the first time the two sides have met in the postseason.
Dynamo 2 opened 2026 with an 11-match unbeaten run, a club record, and didn't lose any of its first nine home games. During that unbeaten run, Houston scored 28 goals and gave up just four from open play. It also scored in each of its first 20 matches and wasn't held scoreless until mid-August. Houston slowed late in the season, winning one of its last five games, but still finished fourth in the West with team records for wins and points. That was enough to earn a home quarterfinal.