LAFC building its own high-speed train with Jacob Shaffelburg back

As the Canadian winger gets healthy and his feet underneath him, the unbeaten Black & Gold boast serious pace and depth going into Saturday's game at Portland.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:18pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fast-paced action of a soccer match, with overlapping planes of vibrant colors representing the players and movement on the field.LAFC's depth and speed, led by the return of winger Jacob Shaffelburg, pose a formidable challenge for opponents as the team navigates a busy schedule.Los Angeles Today

Jacob Shaffelburg, a 26-year-old Canadian winger, has returned to the LAFC lineup after recovering from preseason surgery to repair a degenerative groin injury. Despite the team's abundance of speed, Shaffelburg is still considered one of the fastest players on the squad. As LAFC prepares for a busy stretch of matches, Shaffelburg's return provides the team with additional depth and options in their attack.

Why it matters

LAFC's depth and speed have been key factors in their unbeaten start to the season, and Shaffelburg's return adds another dynamic weapon to their arsenal. As the team faces a grueling schedule leading up to the World Cup break, having Shaffelburg healthy and integrated into the lineup will be crucial for their continued success.

The details

Shaffelburg made his debut for LAFC last weekend, coming off the bench and providing an assist. He then played 20 minutes in LAFC's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Cruz Azul. While Shaffelburg is still working to regain his full fitness, he is confident that his speed will return to its previous level. LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos plans to carefully integrate Shaffelburg into the lineup, as the team faces a busy schedule of 16 matches through the end of May.

  • Shaffelburg debuted for LAFC last weekend.
  • Shaffelburg played 20 minutes in LAFC's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal match on Tuesday.
  • LAFC faces the Portland Timbers on Saturday, April 15, 2026.

The players

Jacob Shaffelburg

A 26-year-old Canadian winger who recently joined LAFC and is recovering from preseason surgery to repair a degenerative groin injury.

David Martinez

An LAFC player known for his speed.

Tyler Boyd

An LAFC player known for his speed.

Denis Bouanga

An LAFC player known for his speed.

Son Heung-min

An LAFC player known for his speed.

Aaron Long

An LAFC center back known for his speed.

Marc Dos Santos

The head coach of LAFC.

Ryan Hollingshead

An LAFC defender who has compared the team's depth to their 2022 MLS Cup championship squad.

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What they’re saying

“There's so many fast guys on this team it's crazy. It's so cool to be around.”

— Jacob Shaffelburg, LAFC Player

“My tank definitely gets emptied pretty quick right now, but it does feel like it's getting back to where I should be. Every day I'm feeling better and better.”

— Jacob Shaffelburg, LAFC Player

“Hopefully we're going to have him at the best of his ability at the right time.”

— Marc Dos Santos, LAFC Head Coach

“You've got guys you're bringing off the bench that are starters everywhere else in this league. So when you have that sort of depth, it makes it really, really dangerous. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but we are very, very confident in this locker room.”

— Ryan Hollingshead, LAFC Defender

What’s next

LAFC will face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, April 15, 2026, in a nationally televised MLS contest. The team will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season and integrate Shaffelburg further into the lineup.

The takeaway

LAFC's depth and speed have been key factors in their strong start to the season, and the return of Jacob Shaffelburg adds another dynamic weapon to their attack. As the team faces a grueling schedule leading up to the World Cup break, Shaffelburg's integration will be crucial for their continued success.