MLS unveils Audi Matchday 30 Team of the Matchday headlined by Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Major League Soccer has named its Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs-themed Matchday 30 Team of the Matchday, with LAFC’s Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga among the headline performers. The announcement comes as the league moves toward the postseason, with Matchday 30 featuring a series of results that continued to shape playoff positioning across the table.

In the team’s starting XI, Son Heung-Min is recognized for his impact in LAFC’s bounceback after the club “returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Austin FC.” The league credited Son with a goal and two assists, noted as “1g/2a,” in the match. Alongside him on the attacking line is Bouanga, who the league said scored twice in the same victory (“2g”) and became “the second player in MLS history to score 80 goals over a four-season span.”

The Matchday 30 team also includes Marco Reus and Hany Mukhtar, along with Nashville SC’s Andy Najar and Houston Dynamo FC’s Guilherme, reflecting how multiple contenders performed during the week’s slate. Reus is named among the starters after LA Galaxy’s 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers, with MLS describing his output as “1g/1a.” Mukhtar and Najar are both included for Nashville SC following the club’s 4-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, where the league highlighted “1g/1a nights” from both players.

Nashville SC’s B.J. Callaghan is named as the coach of the Team of the Matchday. MLS said Callaghan’s side “moved closer to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield title and the MLS single-season points record,” while also noting that the 4-0 victory against Sporting Kansas City matched “the league’s longest single-season home winning streak (10).”

On the opposite flank, the starting group features a mix of goal-scoring contributions from across the league’s contenders and playoff hopefuls. The team lists Dor Turgeman of the New England Revolution after he “bagged a brace” to help secure New England’s playoff place in a 3-2 road win over FC Cincinnati. Up front, Guilherme of Houston Dynamo FC is included after MLS described a “wild 3-3 draw at San Diego FC,” crediting Guilherme with “2g/1a” in that match.

The Matchday 30 lineup also recognizes Philadelphia Union midfielder Bruno Damiani, who MLS said starred as the Union extended their unbeaten run to 14 games, including eight straight wins, in a 3-1 comeback at Chicago Fire FC. MLS credited Damiani with “2g/1a” for that result. In addition, the starting XI lists midfielders and defenders from multiple clubs: it includes Silvan Hefti of D.C. United, Luc de Fougerolles of Real Salt Lake, and Andy Najar of Nashville SC in the defensive and transitional units.

For D.C. United, Hefti is noted as netting “the game-winner” in a 2-1 victory against Red Bull New York. For Real Salt Lake, MLS said de Fougerolles scored “his first MLS goal” in the club’s 1-1 draw versus the San Jose Earthquakes. In the Team of the Matchday, de Fougerolles and Hefti are positioned in the defensive corps, alongside Son and the other attacking contributors.

Between the posts in the starting goalkeeper spot is Daniel of FC Dallas. MLS said Daniel “stood on his head with seven crucial saves” as FC Dallas earned a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC, a result that the league said “booked a postseason spot.” That recognition ties the Team of the Matchday directly to the postseason race outcomes featured in Matchday 30.

The team’s bench list further expands on the week’s performers across multiple clubs. MLS named Dayne St. Clair (MIA), Josh Wynder (NE), Rodrigo De Paul (MIA), Giuliano Galoppo (ATL), Brais Méndez (CLB), Peyton Miller (NE), Theo Corbeanu (TOR), Antoine Griezmann (ORL) and Tai Baribo (DC) as substitutes.

Overall, the Matchday 30 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi assembled players whose games influenced playoff trajectories and club milestones. Along with LAFC’s Son and Bouanga, MLS highlighted Nashville SC’s balanced attack through Mukhtar and Najar, Philadelphia’s Damiani during a lengthy unbeaten stretch, and New England’s Turgeman as the Revolution moved into the postseason. MLS also credited Daniel’s seven-save effort for FC Dallas as the club clinched a postseason spot through the match.

The league’s full Team of the Matchday roster, presented by Audi, includes these starters and staff: Daniel (FC Dallas) in goal; Silvan Hefti (D.C. United), Luc de Fougerolles (Real Salt Lake), Andy Najar (Nashville SC) on the defensive side; Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Marco Reus (LA Galaxy) and Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) in midfield; Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC) and Dor Turgeman (New England Revolution) in attacking roles; Bruno Damiani (Philadelphia Union) and Denis Bouanga (LAFC) as forwards; with B.J. Callaghan (Nashville SC) named as coach.

The announcement was published by MLS on Oct. 15, 2026, as part of the league’s ongoing Matchday coverage leading into the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Matchday 30 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (per MLS): Starters—Daniel (FC Dallas), Silvan Hefti (D.C. United), Luc de Fougerolles (Real Salt Lake), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Marco Reus (LA Galaxy), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC), Dor Turgeman (New England Revolution), Bruno Damiani (Philadelphia Union), Denis Bouanga (LAFC); Coach—B.J. Callaghan (Nashville SC); Bench—Dayne St. Clair (MIA), Josh Wynder (NE), Rodrigo De Paul (MIA), Giuliano Galoppo (ATL), Brais Méndez (CLB), Peyton Miller (NE), Theo Corbeanu (TOR), Antoine Griezmann (ORL), Tai Baribo (DC).