Real Salt Lake hosts Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) on September 17, 2025, at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, in a critical MLS regular-season match. RSL, currently in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 10-14-4 record and 34 points, is striving to qualify for the playoffs, with only six games remaining. The team has a 48.6% chance of making the playoffs, according to Opta, and needs to win most of its remaining matches to improve its chances. RSL recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City, led by star midfielder Diego Luna, who has nine goals and five assists this season. The team faces tough upcoming opponents, including LAFC twice in a week, and must accumulate maximum points to stay in playoff contention. LAFC, in fifth place with a 12-7-8 record and 44 points, is on a strong run, unbeaten in its last eight away MLS matches and holding a crucial game in hand. The Black & Gold recently defeated San Jose 4-2, with star forward Denis Bouanga scoring a hat trick and Son Heung-Min contributing his second goal for the club. LAFC aims to secure a top-four seed for home-field advantage in the MLS Cup playoffs, which start in five weeks. The match is part of a busy schedule for both teams, with LAFC also competing in the FIFA Club World Cup Play-In and facing RSL again at BMO Stadium on September 21. The outcome of this match could significantly impact RSL’s playoff hopes, which currently hang in the balance with only a few weeks left in the season.