Sellout crowd and Korean fans drive Son Heung-min’s LAFC home debut

A sellout crowd of more than 22,000 filled BMO Stadium on Sunday as South Korean fans waved national flags and chanted in support of Son Heung-min during his first home match for LAFC. The night carried special meaning for Los Angeles’s Korean community, which gathered in large numbers to welcome the national team captain following his record $26.5 million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Inside the stadium, thousands wore black and gold jerseys bearing Son’s name while others held signs written in Korean. Demand for his debut was so high that tickets sold for more than $200, more than double the average price of an LAFC match. The atmosphere extended into Koreatown where bars and restaurants hosted packed viewing parties.

Fans described the event as having the energy of a World Cup night, with chants echoing in both Korean and English as families and younger supporters joined together to mark the debut. After the match, Son said, “These fans made me feel like a special player today. I am sure there will be fans flying in from Korea to watch me play, as well as those already living in the U.S. I always want to make them proud.”

On the field, Son nearly equalized in the 78th minute when his right-footed strike hit the post, sending the crowd to its feet before San Diego FC sealed a 2-1 victory with goals from Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer. Reflecting on the result, Son said, “I think we’ve got to keep our heads up, accept this result in a professional way. You can’t always win, so we’ll move forward and work hard, and we’ll be back stronger than ever.”