LAFC is the final club to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The qualification resulted from a 2-1 win through extra time against Mexico's Club América, after regular time that had ended 2-2. The match winner had been Denis Bouanga, who had netted in minute 115. The win sent LAFC along with 31 other clubs to football's largest intercontinental tournament and provide for three of them to be from Major League Soccer, among which are Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami.
It is Los Angeles FC's first FIFA Club World Cup appearance.
A name behind each comeback
The largest protagonists of qualification were Denis Bouanga and Igor Jesus. The former Flamengo player, who had once played for Flamengo, struck his first goal for LAFC from a corner kick by Bouanga in the 89th minute from a header. The goal took the match to overtime.
Bouanga, who had assisted on the tying goal previously, finished the match five minutes into extras. The goal resulted from a play he had created for himself, then passed to Frankie Amaya. The ball traversed through Giroud's feet and back to Bouanga and he shot. The ball bounced off one of Club América defenders and into goal, and Malagón had no opportunity to save it.
Strong run and unblemished record
LAFC has now been undefeated for nine games after defeating Club América, four wins and five ties since April when their previous loss came against Inter Miami. The club has been undefeated at BMO Stadium thus far in 2025, posting nine wins, one tie, and just one defeat overall and across all competitions, which includes MLS, the Concacaf Champions Cup, and beating Club América.
The victory adds to LAFC's positive ledger against Mexican clubs. The club has three wins, a draw, and a defeat against Club América, which it had previously defeated in the 2020 Concachampions semifinal. LAFC has six wins, five losses, and a draw against Liga MX clubs overall.
Tough group heading
LAFC has been seeded into Group D of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The club opens play June 16 against Chelsea from England. The team plays Tunisia's Espérance on June 20 in Nashville, and wraps up the group stage against Brazil's Flamengo on June 24 in Orlando.
It is a tough pool, but it would be an examination of how good the team is internationally. The examination against Chelsea would be to face an English Premier League club full of talent. The match against Espérance would be tough and physically demanding. The match against Flamengo would be the most emotional of the three.