Los Angeles FC has secured their place in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Mexican side Club America 2-1 in extra time during a playoff match. Denis Bouanga scored the decisive goal in front of the home crowd to clinch qualification.
The match was forced into extra time after Igor Jesus scored a dramatic equalizer with a header from a corner in the final minutes of regular time, canceling out a penalty earlier converted by Brian Rodriguez for Club America. With this victory, LAFC joins Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami as the MLS representatives in the prestigious global tournament.
Qualifying for the Club World Cup brings significant financial reward for LAFC, netting the club close to $10 million in prize money, with the potential to earn more based on their performance in the competition.
LAFC is set to compete in Group D of the tournament, where they will face tough opposition from Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
The playoff match itself was a cautious affair for large periods, particularly in the first half, with both teams prioritizing defensive structure given the high stakes. The deadlock was broken in the second half when Club America was awarded a penalty after Marco Delgado fouled Erick Sanchez just inside the box, which was successfully converted.
Falling behind prompted LAFC to make attacking substitutions and push for an equalizer, which ultimately paid off. Denis Bouanga provided the assist for Igor Jesus`s crucial 89th-minute goal from a corner kick, sending the game into extra time.
Carrying the momentum into extra time, LAFC continued their attacking approach and dominated possession and chances. They significantly outshot Club America 19 to nine overall, with eight shots on target, and were the only team to score from open play during the match.
LAFC enters the tournament as a replacement for Club Leon, who were removed due to issues related to multi-club ownership regulations. Preparation time is limited for LAFC, as the Club World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 14. Their first match is set for June 16 against Chelsea, requiring immediate focus on preparations.
A special transfer window will be open from June 1 to June 10 for participating clubs to strengthen their squads. However, due to Major League Soccer`s roster constraints, LAFC may face limitations in adding new players compared to other international teams in the tournament.
Despite the quick turnaround, this qualification marks a historic achievement for Los Angeles FC, a club established relatively recently in 2018. It provides a monumental opportunity to test themselves against global giants like Chelsea and showcase their capabilities on the world stage alongside 31 other top clubs this summer.
