Son Heung-Min's Impact Beyond the Pitch

Despite a 2-1 loss to San Diego FC in his first-ever match at LAFC's BMO Stadium, Son Heung-Min's home debut was a celebration of cultural pride and unity in Los Angeles. The city, home to the largest Korean population outside of Korea, welcomed the iconic Asian forward with open arms, turning the stadium into a vibrant, concert-like atmosphere.

A Special Night for Son and the Fans

"I've been to amazing stadiums and I experienced a lot, but today was very special," Son said postgame. "I feel like the fans [were] amazing. That's why I'm upset, because they deserve [more]."

The crowd roared every time the 33-year-old touched the ball, creating a pulsing buzz in the venue. Signed in early August but yet to play in L.A. until Sunday, Son's presence added a standing-room-only section that quickly sold out.

The Role of the Tigers Supporters Group

Founded in 2017, the Tigers Supporters Group (TSG) has grown from a handful of friends to 164 members, reflecting the diverse Koreatown neighborhood in the heart of L.A. "It started as Koreans, but if you look at the different cultures in Koreatown, which is a lot of Mexican culture, a lot of Salvadorian, we wanted to just pretty much be inclusive to that and show that we're representing Koreatown," said Su Jin Lee, a TSG member.

Son's Future with LAFC

Even with no scoreline contributions to show, Son nearly found the back of the net, and his early trajectory remains promising as he has a goal and an assist in his first four games. Off the field, Son's impact has also been felt as the "highest-selling sports jersey of any sport in the world right now," with the price of LAFC tickets on the secondary market increasing 187%.

Community Support and Future Prospects

"We're seeing a lot more jerseys," TSG member John Lee said. "My buddy owns a bar here in Koreatown called Biergarten, and he says they're getting nonstop calls from just about everyone -- older Koreans, younger, just asking if they're going to be playing the LAFC match."

At Biergarten on the eve of the game, bar owner and LAFC fan David Dong reflected on the addition of Son and what it means for him personally and for his business. "It's huge: He's our best athlete, like, the best Korean athlete I've ever seen," Dong said.

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, the mood outside BMO Stadium was electric, as fans packed the house to get a glimpse of a new-look LAFC being built around Son's playmaking skills. "I thought we played well in creating the chances," Son said post-game. "Obviously the result was not our night, but I'm still very proud of the team and [they] made a huge effort, so it was very unlucky today to not get the three points."

In TSG, Koreatown, the Korean community in L.A. and beyond, they'll have "Sonny's" back. "Obviously the buzz is crazy," said John Lee about Son's arrival. "Koreatown being the melting pot that it is ... it's exciting for everyone, not just Koreans."