{"id":922045,"date":"2026-07-23T21:13:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T02:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/23\/lafc-and-real-salt-lake-collide-in-western-conference-blockbuster-mlssoccer-com\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T21:13:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T02:13:46","slug":"lafc-and-real-salt-lake-collide-in-western-conference-blockbuster-mlssoccer-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/23\/lafc-and-real-salt-lake-collide-in-western-conference-blockbuster-mlssoccer-com\/","title":{"rendered":"LAFC and Real Salt Lake collide in Western Conference blockbuster | MLSSoccer.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer <\/p>\n

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The MLS regular season is barely back underway following the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> pause, but Wednesday’s clash between LAFC<\/a> and Real Salt Lake<\/a> already carries the feel of a heavyweight matchup (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV<\/a>, FS1).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Both clubs enter the second half of the campaign hoping to contend for the Western Conference crown, setting up an early measuring-stick opportunity as the MLS season kicks back off.<\/p>\n

LAFC (8W-5L-2D; 27 points) returned to action on a high note with a statement 3-0 El Tr\u00e1fico victory<\/a> over rival LA Galaxy<\/a>. But with RSL arriving at BMO Stadium on a quick turnaround, defender Aaron Long<\/a> knows there’s no time to savor that result.<\/p>\n

“If you win, especially a big game against a rival in a derby match, you kind of want to bask in that a little more and enjoy that and celebrate it,” Long said at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n

“But there’s just no time. We get a game tomorrow, and if we don’t get a result, then it’s almost like a wash at that point.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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