LA Galaxy have made an unbeaten start to MLS this year, and have been linked with Philippe Coutinho as they look to keep their momentum.

The Galaxy, who travel to the Colorado Rapids next in MLS, endured a dismal 2025, but things are looking up for them this season as they followed up an opening-weekend draw with New York City FC by beating Charlotte FC 3-0.

It took them until MD17 to get their first win on the board last year, but the club has gelled well in the off-season, with the club reportedly talking to Coutinho following his exit from Vasco de Gama.

The 33-year-old had rejoined his boyhood club in July 2024, initially on loan before making the move permanent, and scored 17 goals in 80 appearances before his contract was terminated.

LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz hinted that there was a possibility of him joining, but the focus of the club had been on making sure they were in a good place for 2026.

“I can say that where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” Kuntz told the Cobi Club podcast.

“However, that doesn’t change what I said earlier about the group we have right now. We analysed many players during this offseason.

“There were several very interesting and high-level profiles. But the reality is that we wanted to prioritise bringing the group together as soon as possible and having the full squad as soon as possible.

“That’s why we couldn’t wait for players who weren’t aligned with that objective.”

Ballin’ like March Madness

Visit https://t.co/FbQyoBoWZB to secure your seats pic.twitter.com/bM3k14RbTG

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) March 2, 2026

Colorado, meanwhile, bounced back from a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders in their first match by beating the Portland Timbers by the same scoreline last time out.

Defender Rob Holding was thrilled with the performance in that game, and though he has high hopes for what they can achieve this season, he noted there is still room for improvement.

“The new lads are helping the team and pushing in the right direction,” he said. “So, as long as we’re all doing that and everyone’s on board, the sky’s the limit.

“We could just keep getting better and better. We’ve looked good, but there’s things that we could do better.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado Rapids – Dante Sealy

Both of Colorado’s goals against Portland on Saturday came via corner kicks, the first time the Rapids have scored multiple goals from corners in a regular-season match since doing so three times in September 2019 against Sporting Kansas City.

Dante Sealy got his assist directly from one of those corners, setting up Lucas Herrington in the second half.

Every cheer powers this home #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/kcEBscWR4w

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 4, 2026

LA Galaxy – Joao Klauss

Joao Klauss is the fourth player in LA Galaxy history, and the first since Edson Buddle in 2007, to score in his first two regular-season matches with the team.

The only player to score in his first three games with the Galaxy was Carlos Ruiz (first four) in 2002.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

LA Galaxy have won five of their last six meetings with Colorado (L1), including a two-match sweep in the 2024 playoffs, scoring at least three goals in all five wins in that time.

Colorado won the only time they held the Galaxy under three goals in that time, a 2-0 home victory last June.

The Rapids attempted 24 shots, hitting nine on target in their 2-0 win over Portland on Saturday. The nine shots on the frame were the club’s most in a regular-season home match in nearly three years, since registering 13 shots on target against St. Louis City SC in April 2023.

LA Galaxy scored goals in the eighth, 11th and 13th minutes in their win over Charlotte FC on Saturday. The three goals in five minutes, six seconds were the quickest three goals for the Galaxy since David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane scored in a span of four minutes, 17 seconds against Portland in 2012.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Colorado Rapids – 37.8%

Draw – 26.4%

LA Galaxy – 35.8%