While LAFC waits to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference Semifinals on November 22, several LAFC players will represent their countries during this year’s final FIFA international window. There are no MLS Cup Playoff matches during this window (Nov. 10-18), but seven players on the Black & Gold’s first-team roster will compete for their national teams on five continents.
Three LAFC players’ national teams have already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 26 (Son Heung-Min of South Korea, Mathieu Choinière of Canada, and Timothy Tillman of the U.S.). Three other players are playing with berths to the FIFA World Cup 26 still at stake.
No match will have more on the line than the Gabon-Nigeria matchup in Morocco on November 13, in which LAFC’s all-time leading scorer, Denis Bouanga, can take another step toward his dream of helping Gabon reach its first-ever FIFA World Cup.
To get there, Bouanga and Les Panthères (The Panthers) must advance past African giants Nigeria, veterans of six World Cups. The winner of this Semifinal will advance to the Final on Sunday, Nov. 16, to take on the winner of Cameroon vs. Congo. The country that survives this four-team African playoff will advance to the FIFA World Cup 26 Play-Off Tournament in March 2026, to compete for the final two bids to the biggest and brightest World Cup ever, FIFA World Cup 26, which kicks off in Los Angeles on June 12, 2026, and for the first time will feature 48 nations.
Here’s a preview of the Gabon-Nigeria match, and a list of other competitions LAFC players will engage in over the next few days.
GABON vs. NIGERIA
Thurs. Nov. 13 | 9:00 a.m. PT
El Barid Stadium | Rabat, Morocco
Where to Watch (U.S.) | ESPN+, FIFA+, beIN Sports
MATCH PREVIEW:
This single-leg Semifinal pits Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria (approx. 233.6M pop.), against its 43rd-most populous, Gabon (approx. 2.5M).
Bouanga and his Gabon teammates are currently ranked 77th in the world by FIFA, having risen like a rocket during this World Cup qualification cycle. Last month Gabon finished second to Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in their six-team CAF World Cup qualifying group, with a record of 8W-1L-1D (25 points) and a goal differential of plus-13. (Côte d’Ivoire’s first-place finish earned them a spot in FIFA World Cup 26.)
Only three of the 53 African countries earned more points than Gabon in that competition, but Bouanga and team had the misfortune of sharing a group with mighty Ivorians, whom they played to a scoreless draw on Sept. 9.
Bouanga and Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (of Ligue 1 club Marseille) carry most of the goal scoring duties for Les Panthères, with support from midfielder Mario Lemina (of Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray). Bouanga scored eight goals in Gabon’s ten qualifying matches. Aubameyang scored seven.
“This is a defining moment for Gabonese football,” coach Thierry Mouyouma said. “Our players understand the magnitude of this opportunity, and we are going to Rabat with full determination to make history.”
SCOUTING NIGERIA
Nigeria finished second in Group C (which was won by South Africa) with a record of 4W-1L-5D (17 points) and a goal differential of plus-7. Nigeria holds an impressive FIFA World ranking of 41. Only four African sides are ranked higher than the Super Eagles: Morocco (12), Senegal (18), Egypt (32), and Algeria (35). The reason is Nigeria’s abundance of world-class talent, including two former African Footballers of the Year, striker Victor Osimhen (a Galatasaray teammate of Gabon midfielder Lemina) and winger Ademola Lookman (of Italian Serie A club Atalanta). Osimhen notched a hat trick in Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Benin last month—a match that Lookman missed due to suspension.
Center back William Troost-Ekong (who plays for Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League) has been Nigeria’s captain for over half a decade. “Only three of us played at the World Cup in 2018,” he said, “and the other boys are dying to be there and experience it.”
NIGERIA CAN WIN IF
It withstands the pressure of playing for a country where World Cup berths are expected. Fortunately for them they have Osimhen, who might be the most in-form striker in the world right now. In addition to his hat trick against Benin, Osimhen hit another hat trick for Galatasaray in a 3-0 win over Ajax in UEFA Champions League on Nov. 5. Osimhen also scored the matchwinner against Liverpool in UCL play in September.
GABON CAN WIN IF
Bouanga and his close friend Aubameyang (who inspired Bouanga’s front-flip goal celebration) seize upon and finish any mistakes Nigeria makes in its defending third. The Nigerians only conceded eight goals in ten games in CAF qualifying, while Gabon scored 22 goals in its 10 matches. Bouanga and Aubameyang accounted for 15 of those.
LAFC PLAYERS COMPETING FOR THEIR COUNTRIES – NOV. 2025 FIFA WINDOW
(alphabetical by last name)
Denis Bouanga – Gabon
(see above)
Mathieu Choinière - Canada
friendly vs. Ecuador (in Toronto, CAN) Nov. 13
friendly vs. Venezuela (in Fort Lauderdale, FL) Nov. 18
Canada has qualified for World Cup 26.
David Martínez - Venezuela
friendly vs. Australia (in Houston, TX) Nov. 14
friendly vs. Canada (in Fort Lauderdale, FL) Nov. 18
Venezuela has been eliminated from World Cup 26 contention.
Andrew Moran – Ireland
UEFA World Cup Qualifier vs. Portugal (in Dublin) Nov. 13
UEFA World Cup Qualifier vs. Hungary (in Budapest) Nov. 16
Ireland can qualify for World Cup 26 but needs results from these two matches above.
Learn more: FIFA World Cup 26 UEFA qualifiers
Nathan Ordaz – El Salvador
Concacaf World Cup Qualifier @ Suriname Nov. 13
Concacaf World Cup Qualifier @ Panama Nov. 18
El Salvador can qualify for World Cup 26 but needs results from these two matches above.
Learn more: FIFA World Cup 26 Concacaf qualifiers
Son Heung-Min – South Korea
friendly vs. Bolivia (in Daejeon, S. Korea) Nov. 14
friendly vs. Ghana (in Seoul, S. Korea) Nov. 18
South Korea has qualified for World Cup 26.
Timothy Tillman – United States
friendly vs. Paraguay (in Chester, PA) Nov. 15
friendly vs. Uruguay (in Tampa, FL) Nov. 18
The United States has qualified for World Cup 26.
LAFC2
Matt Evans - Guatemala
Concacaf World Cup Qualifier vs. Panama (in Guatemala) Nov. 13
Concacaf World Cup Qualifier vs. Suriname (in Guatemala) on Nov. 18
Guatemala can qualify for World Cup 26 but needs results from these two matches above.
Learn more: FIFA World Cup 26 Concacaf qualifiers
NOTE: Rosters for FIFA World Cup 26 have not been finalized.
FIFA U-17 World Cup (in Qatar):
Jude Terry (LAFC2) - USA U-17
Marius Aiyenero (LAFC2) - Canada U-17
Ethan Scally (LAFC Academy) - Japan U-17
The Final of FIFA U-17 World Cup is scheduled for Nov. 27.
LAFC will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday, November 22, at BC Place in Vancouver. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast live on MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), with radio coverage on 710 AM ESPN LA, the ESPN App, 980 AM La Mera Mera (Spanish), and 1230 AM KYPA (Korean).
