Los Angeles FC has secured its place in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Mexican side Club America 2-1 in an extra-time playoff match. Denis Bouanga scored the decisive goal in front of the home fans.
The match was forced into extra time after Igor Jesus netted a crucial header late in regular time, canceling out a penalty by former LAFC player Brian Rodriguez. Bouanga`s extra-time strike then sealed the victory for the Black and Gold. With this win, LAFC joins Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami as Major League Soccer`s representatives in the prestigious global tournament.
Qualification for the Club World Cup netted LAFC nearly $10 million in prize money, with opportunities to earn more depending on their performance in the competition.
LAFC is set to compete in Group D of the tournament, alongside European giants Chelsea, Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo, and Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
The playoff match itself was a cautious affair, particularly in the first half, played before a crowd largely supporting Club America in Los Angeles. Given the high stakes of a Club World Cup berth, both teams focused on neutralizing each other in the midfield.
Mistakes proved costly. A penalty conceded by Marco Delgado after fouling America`s captain, Erick Sanchez, inside the box gave the visitors the lead. However, LAFC responded by making attacking substitutions, which paid off when their key player, Denis Bouanga, assisted Igor Jesus from a corner kick in the 89th minute to level the score and force extra time.
Carrying the momentum from their late equalizer, LAFC continued their attacking push in extra time and dominated chances. They significantly outshot Club America 19 to nine, with eight shots on target, and were the only team to score from open play during the entire match.
LAFC`s inclusion in the tournament comes as they replace Club Leon, who were removed due to issues related to multi-club ownership rules that were not resolved in time (both Club Leon and Pachuca are owned by the same group). With the tournament kicking off on June 14 and LAFC`s first game against Chelsea scheduled for June 16, preparation time is limited.
A special transfer window will open from June 1 to June 10 for participating teams to bolster their squads. However, due to Major League Soccer`s specific roster constraints, LAFC may face limitations compared to some of the other global clubs in adding new players.
For now, the focus is on the achievement itself. This is a landmark moment for Los Angeles FC, a club only founded in 2018. They will now have the opportunity to compete against clubs with immense history like Chelsea and showcase their capabilities on the global stage alongside the 32 other teams participating in this summer`s expanded Club World Cup.
