Why 'mls' trended in India on September 28, 2026: LAFC coach firing and MLS Cup playoff stakes

If you searched for mls in India on September 28, 2026, you were not alone. Google Trends India flagged the term as trending that day, recording roughly 10,000 approximate searches in the previous 24 hours and about 1,000% growth (Google Trends India). The spike was not driven by an Indian club or player, but by a coaching change at one of Major League Soccer’s most globally recognised teams: LAFC.

What happened at LAFC on September 28, 2026

Sports outlet Diario AS/AS USA reported on September 28, 2026 that LAFC had fired head coach Marc Dos Santos after a weekend defeat to FC Dallas. The club had won only one of its last nine games in all competitions (LAFC fires Marc Dos Santos).

At the time, LAFC sat sixth in the MLS Western Conference with an 11-9-8 record. General manager John Thorrington announced the departure on Sunday evening, saying the club had begun its search for a new coach. Dos Santos, who had previously served as an assistant under Steven Cherundolo, left with a 17-12-9 record and a 44.74% win percentage.

How Dos Santos compares with previous LAFC coaches

Dos Santos was only LAFC’s third head coach. The table below compares his record with the two managers who preceded him, using figures reported by Diario AS on September 28, 2026.

Coach	Record (W-L-D)	Win percentage
Marc Dos Santos	17-12-9	44.74%
Bob Bradley	68-34-40	47.89%
Steven Cherundolo	104-38-50	54.17%

The numbers show why the decision drew attention: Cherundolo had led LAFC to its first MLS Cup in 2022 and never finished outside the top three in the Western Conference during his four seasons, while Bradley built the club’s early foundation. Expectations in Los Angeles remained high, with a roster featuring Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga and Hugo Lloris.

Why Indian users searched for 'mls'

No sourced evidence links the September 28 spike to a specific Indian player or club. Instead, the interest appears tied to LAFC’s global profile and the sudden nature of the coaching change. The combination of star names, playoff stakes and a mid-season sacking created a searchable news moment for fans in India who follow global football.

It is worth noting what the trend data does and does not prove. Google Trends counts are approximate search activity; they confirm interest, not the accuracy of the underlying reports. The observation timestamp for the India signal was 2026-09-28T23:39:29Z, which is when the term was flagged as trending, not necessarily when individual searches peaked.

Where MLS stands on November 11, 2026

As of November 11, 2026, the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs have not yet begun for LAFC. The club’s official site states that LAFC is playoff bound and opens its Round One Best-of-3 series against St. Louis CITY SC on Monday, November 23, 2026, in St. Louis. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (LAFC official site).

The wider playoff picture is being framed by MLSsoccer.com as the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with Sacha Kljestan naming Miami, Nashville and Vancouver as favourites. The site notes that after Decision Day drama, the intensity rises because every game means more and the biggest stars step into the spotlight (MLS official site).

What to watch next

• November 23, 2026: LAFC at St. Louis CITY SC, Round One Game 1.
• November 28, 2026: LAFC vs St. Louis CITY SC, Round One Game 2 at BMO Stadium.
• Coaching situation: LAFC had begun its search for a new head coach as of September 28, 2026; interim plans were to be shared “soon” by the club.

For Indian readers, the takeaway is straightforward: the 'mls' spike was a global football story that crossed time zones. LAFC’s playoff run, now weeks away, is the next chapter.