Ventura County FC to Face LAFC 2 in Conference Final
The Western Conference final match takes place at Dignity Health Sports Park on October 30.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Soccer
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Ventura County FC and LAFC 2 will meet on October 30, 2026, for the MLS Next Pro Western Conference final at Dignity Health Sports Park. The win-or-go-home matchup determines which team advances to the league championship.
Why it matters
The match represents a high-stakes conclusion to the teams' season-long rivalry as they compete for a spot in the MLS Next Pro championship game. Both squads seek to secure their place in the final by winning this decisive conference title match.
Ventura County FC enters the match with 53 conference points, while LAFC 2 finished the regular season with 45 points. The teams played three times previously this year, resulting in one win for each side and one draw.
The players
Tommy Mihalić
He is the leading goal scorer for LAFC 2 with nine goals on the season.
Ventura County FC
This club competes in MLS Next Pro and finished third in the Western Conference standings.
LAFC 2
This team is the reserve squad for Los Angeles Football Club and reached the conference final after playoff wins against Houston and Austin.
The details
The teams face off in an elimination format to decide the conference winner, marking their fourth meeting of the season. LAFC 2 reaches this stage after securing victories against Houston Dynamo 2 and Austin FC 2 in earlier rounds.
Timeline
May 16, 2026: LAFC defeated Ventura County FC 3-2.
July 18, 2026: Ventura County FC defeated LAFC 2-0.
September 5, 2026: The teams played to a 1-1 tie.
October 30, 2026: The conference final starts at 7 p.m.
Season Trajectory
This conference final directly determines which side advances to the MLS Next Pro championship match. The result serves as the defining conclusion to the playoff push for both clubs following their respective regular-season campaigns.
Fans can attend the match at Dignity Health Sports Park with free admission provided for the event. The winning team will secure their path to compete for the league title in the upcoming championship round.
The takeaway
Attendance at the match is free for local supporters looking to watch the Western Conference final in person. Spectators should note the 7 p.m. start time at Dignity Health Sports Park to ensure they arrive before kickoff.
Further reading
For more on the current league standings and playoffs, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Orange County Register.
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