The Colorado Rapids are not putting any timeframe on a potential transfer for Australia defender Lucas Herrington ahead of their return to MLS action, with several of Europe’s biggest clubs reportedly tracking him.

Colorado host San Diego FC on Wednesday in what will be their first game back following the World Cup break.

During the hiatus, 18-year-old centre-back Herrington helped Australia qualify for the knockout stages of FIFA’s flagship tournament. 

He started two of the Socceroos’ four matches at the World Cup, and despite his limited game time, he ranked fourth in their squad for successful passes (107), joint-fifth for aerial duels won (five) and joint-sixth for clearances (eight).

He also became the youngest-ever MLS player to start a game at the World Cup.

However, the teenager missed a penalty in Australia’s shoot-out loss to Egypt in the round of 32, with many pundits suggesting afterwards that his more senior team-mates should not have allowed him to take a spot-kick.

But that miss has not stopped the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona from being linked with him. 

Colorado boss Matt Wells, however, is simply delighted to have him back, telling reporters: “Lucas is here. Lucas is our player. 

“There’s a reason that we went through a very stringent process to identify the best young centre-back out there.

“We happened to find one in Australia, and we brought him here. We thought he’d be a perfect fit for this style of play that I was bringing to the club.

“So I think, less time spent on speculation, more time on praise for the club in terms of the process they do. It’s not easy to ID a player of that age, on the other side of the world.

So PROUD of Lucas Herrington’s performance on the world’s biggest stage.

The youngest MLS player ever to appear in a FIFA World Cup, representing Australia, the Colorado Rapids, and our community with pride.

At 18, this is just the beginning. pic.twitter.com/qDElc7OuVr

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 3, 2026

“And then you see the player that he has become in such a short space of time… I think the club deserve a huge amount of credit for that process. 

“There are no timelines on anything other than, can I get him fit for San Diego? Because he’s been away for a long time. We’re delighted to have him back and let’s get him ready for Wednesday.”

While Colorado are 13th in the Western Conference, they are only a point and a place behind San Diego, whose head coach Mikey Varas believes the extended break has been beneficial. 

“I feel really good about it, about the effort and the detail that went into everything,” Varas said. “Now it’s about how much we can take advantage of it.

“The second half of the season will be the only indicator that will tell us that. From a process standpoint, I know that we went into the details and we put a lot of effort into it.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Paxten Aaronson 

Aaronson scored the Rapids’ only goal in their last game prior to the break, a 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas, giving him a goal contribution in three straight MLS matches. 

That is the longest such streak of Aaronson’s MLS career, as half of his four career assists have come during the streak.

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

Since the beginning of May, San Diego have scored 13 goals in MLS, with all 13 of those having an assist attached to them. 

Dreyer teed up five of those goals, with only Lionel Messi (eight) boasting more assists in MLS play since May 1.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLORADO RAPIDS WIN

San Diego won only one of their final 13 matches before the World Cup break (D5 L7), after opening the season with five wins in six. 

Their only road win of the year to date was a 1-0 victory at Sporting Kansas City in early March, managing two draws and four losses in six away from home since then.

But Colorado have also wobbled at home lately. After an eight-match unbeaten run at home in league play from July 2025 to April 2026, the Rapids have lost three straight regular-season home matches for the first time in three years. 

Nevertheless, the Opta supercomputer is siding with Colorado, with the home team having won both matches between these teams last season (3-2 to the Rapids in April, 2-0 to San Diego in May).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 46.3%

San Diego FC – 30.1%

Draw – 23.6%