On Tuesday, LAFC became the first U.S. club to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. They did it in dramatic fashion, beating Mexican powerhouse Club America 2-1 in an opening playoff game held at BMO Stadium. The match, full of frenetic end-to-end play, allowed LAFC to return from the dead with a late comeback not unlike their last gasp MLS Cup win. This historic win earns the team a spot in the highly competitive NCAA Tournament. It guarantees no less than $9.55 million in prize money!
In the 64th minute, Club America took advantage. Brian Rodriguez sealed it off with a stunning penalty kick low in the left corner. The penalty was given after a video review determined that LAFC’s Mark Delgado should have been called for a penalty for his challenge on Erick Sanchez. In the face of adversity, LAFC showed resolve and fight — very much their style — overcoming that early deficit to take control late.
Late Game Heroics Propel LAFC to Victory
In a thrilling conclusion to the match, LAFC equalized in the 89th minute when Igor Jesus scored with a powerful header. This home goal brought a massive surge of energy from the home crowd and led to a perfect setup for an incredible final 45 minutes. Even as the game moved into overtime, emotions were still seething. LAFC forward Denis Bouanga would be the decisive hero.
Bouanga scored the winning goal in the 115th minute, sending BMO Stadium into a wild celebration. His last-minute goal gave his side the win. It set off exuberant, nation-wide celebrations amongst the soccer-loving public, the players, and the coaching staff. The energy in the stadium felt electric. More LAFC supporters celebrated their team’s hard-fought triumph, though those celebrations were mixed with unrestrained joy and sighs of relief.
Implications of the Victory
With this historic win, LAFC earned their place in the FIFA Club World Cup. They join Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders as Major League Soccer (MLS) representatives. The month-long tournament will take place in 11 cities across the United States. The tournament acts as a warm-up to the much anticipated return of the FIFA World Cup, set to return to North America in 2026.
Additionally, LAFC’s performance could result in lucrative financial rewards, with the potential to access nearly $100 million from FIFA’s overall prize pool of nearly $1 billion. This significant financial incentive illustrates the value of this tournament to clubs. They are looking to increase their international competitiveness and ensure their fiscal sustainability.
Disqualification of Leon Adds to Drama
In a bizarre turn of events, Leon found themselves disqualified from the FIFA Club World Cup. This decision was a product of FIFA’s rules, which don’t allow more than one club owned by the same entity to participate. Leon and Pachuca are jointly owned by the same group, which resulted in Leon’s exclusion from the tournament. In doing so, this decision strikes at the heart of the intense competition that exists in club soccer. It further injects drama into LAFC’s odyssey as they prepare to face the world.
