Toronto FC faces a tough test against LAFC in the MLS season finale, seeking to keep climbing the conference table. With three games remaining, LAFC stands in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 16W-7L-8D record for 56 points. A win over Toronto would move LAFC past Minnesota United (58 points) and into third place, with a game in hand over the Loons as well as first-place San Diego FC. LAFC's 1-0 win over Atlanta United on Sunday night clinched a top-four finish in the West and home-field advantage in its Round One Best-of-3 Series in the MLS Cup Playoffs. LAFC is also assured of becoming the only team in MLS to finish in the top four in each of the last four seasons (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Denis Bouanga's 86th-minute matchwinner against Atlanta was his tenth goal in his last six games, and it tied him atop the MLS Golden Boot standings with Lionel Messi (24 goals each). Bouanga, however, will miss Wednesday's match while he competes for his home country, Gabon, in World Cup Qualifying in Africa. His high-scoring teammate Son Heung-Min, who has scored eight goals in nine matches since joining LAFC in early August, will also be competing for his national team (South Korea) and is unavailable against Toronto. Toronto FC (5W-13L-14D) has been eliminated from playoff contention but tied playoff-bound Chicago 2-2 on Saturday night, with midfielder Djordje Mihailovic scoring a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time. In addition to the absences of Bouanga and Son, LAFC will be without midfielder Mathieu Choinière (Canada) and forward Nathan Ordaz (El Salvador), who will be competing for their national teams in advance of FIFA World Cup 26. The situation calls for a reimagined starting eleven, and presents an opportunity for less-heralded players to make their marks on LAFC's late-season playoff push. "We have plenty of players who can fill the void and show that they can help this team," head coach Steve Cherundolo said after Sunday night's win. "I'm really looking forward to seeing some of those performances on Wednesday." "Jeremy [Ebobisse] got in tonight," Cherundolo continued. "We still have David Martínez who didn't get in tonight. Timmy Tillman has played an attacking role for us. Andy Moran is another option. [Yaw] Yeboah." Cherundolo also mentioned Romanian winger Alex Bǎluțǎ and central midfielder Jailson—two recent acquisitions who have yet to make their MLS debuts—as options for Wednesday night as well for Sunday's road match in Austin, when Bouanga, Son, Choinière, and Ordaz will still be competing abroad. "Our primary focus right now is to get three points against Toronto," Cherundolo said. "We will throw everything at Austin after that, but for now it's all about Toronto."