Los Angeles FC and Club America are set to face off in a high-stakes match on Saturday, with a coveted spot in the FIFA Club World Cup at stake. Following the removal of Club Leon from the tournament due to regulations regarding multi-club ownership, FIFA organized a single playoff game to determine the final participant in Group D, which also includes Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
These two teams were selected for the playoff because LAFC finished as runners-up to Leon in the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup, while Club America currently holds the top position in the FIFA Club World Cup confederations rankings. The match at BMO Stadium is anticipated to be a tense encounter given the significance of the outcome. LAFC will benefit from strong support from their home crowd. With two MLS teams (Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders) and two Liga MX teams (Monterrey and CF Pachuca) already qualified, the winner of this playoff will determine which league secures a third representative in the tournament.
Match Information: Los Angeles FC vs. Club America
- Date: Saturday, May 31
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Location: BMO Stadium — Los Angeles, California
- TV Coverage: TUDN
- Live Stream: Available via Fubo (check for free trial options)
Odds: LAFC +150; Draw +220; Club America +165
Previous Meetings
The teams recently met in a preseason friendly in February, where LAFC emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. Denis Bouanga, a key player for LAFC, scored in that match and will be crucial again for their Club World Cup aspirations. Although it was a friendly, Club America fielded their main players. Historically, LAFC has a favorable record against Liga MX opponents, with five wins, five draws, and only one loss. They also defeated Club America 3-1 in the Concacaf Champions Cup back in 2020.
Predicted Starting Lineups
LAFC: Hugo Lloris, Ryan Hollingshead, Aaron Long, Eddie Segura, Sergi Palencia, Marco Delgado, Igor Jesus, Frankie Amaya, Denis Bouanga, Oliver Giroud, Nathan Ordaz
Club America: Luis Malagon, Cristian Borja, Sebastian Caceres, Ramon Juarez, Israel Reyes, Kevin Alvarez, Alvaro Fidalgo, Jonathan Dos Santos, Erick Sanchez, Henry Martin, Alex Zendejas
Key Player to Watch
Denis Bouanga, LAFC: Club America`s strategy will likely revolve around neutralizing Denis Bouanga, a challenging task given his prolific scoring record for LAFC (48 regular season goals in 84 appearances) and his ability to perform in big games (eight goals in 12 playoff matches). America`s focus on marking Bouanga closely could potentially open up space for other LAFC attackers. With the advantage of playing at home, LAFC will look to Bouanga to inspire their performance in this crucial fixture.
Major Storyline
Impact of Steve Cherundolo`s Upcoming Departure: A recent announcement that LAFC`s head coach, Steve Cherundolo, will step down at the season`s end has sent ripples through MLS. The Black and Gold haven`t consistently met expectations recently, including a 2-2 draw in their last match against CF Montreal, and currently sit sixth in the Western Conference standings. While they have been effective in attack, defensive balance has been a concern.
Facing Club America`s potent attack led by Henry Martin, which is capable of troubling top Concacaf teams, LAFC`s defense will need to be exceptionally prepared. Despite having won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup with LAFC, this playoff represents one of the highest-stakes matches Cherundolo will manage, even without immediate silverware on the line.
Prediction
Denis Bouanga`s impact is often decisive, and his form should be enough to propel LAFC into the Club World Cup. Following their loss in the Liga MX Clausura final, Club America has had a somewhat disappointing season so far and may struggle to turn things around in this playoff. This match offers Cherundolo an opportunity to end his tenure in Los Angeles on a high note.
Predicted Score: LAFC 2, Club America 1
