🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...LAFC
Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues.
You can check out the full list so far here.
Today we're looking at...LAFC.
How did they qualify for the Club World Cup?
LAFC booked passage to the summer showcase after a one-off clash with Liga MX giants Club América in the wake of Club León being removed from the competition.
Advertisement
Goals from Igor Jesus and an extra-time winner through star forward Denis Bouanga cancelled out a Brian Rodríguez second half penalty to send the SoCal side into the group stage.
History at the Club World Cup
📸 Photo Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez | 2025 May 31 - Imagn Images
Despite being a key feature across MLS since their inaugural season in 2018, this summer will be a first-ever Club World Cup appearance for the Black and Gold.
How did they perform in the 2024/25 season?
At the time of writing, LAFC sits fifth in the Western Conference, a position in the table deemed a bit too low for their lofty expectations and credible star power under manager Steve Cherundolo.
Who is the coach?
📸 Photo Credit: © Alex Gallardo | 2025 May 14 - Imagn Images
Advertisement
Speaking of Cherundolo, the 46-year-old Illinois native is a name very familiar to fans of football in the United States and Germany.
A former full international for the US, Cherundolo spent 15 years at Hannover 96 after a credible collegiate career with the University of Portland.
Cherundolo achieved cult hero status at the Niedersachsenstadion while also earning 87 international caps for the US before heading into management with Hannover's U15 and U17 sides. He would then go on to manage the Las Vegas Lights before being named head coach of LAFC in 2022.
Who is their star player?
The buck undoubtedly stops at Denis Bouanga.
Advertisement
It came as no surprise that the Gabonese forward netted their match-winner against Club América, in a goal that highlighted not just his overall influence, but ability on the pitch.
Quick, silky smooth on the ball, and deadly from range, the 30-year-old Le Mans-born star could light up the tournament if he's in the mood.
Expected performance at the Club World Cup
A tricky prediction to make, with MLS clubs likely to struggle against some of the elite sides they will come up against, assuming the top clubs will field first-choice XIs.
In a group comprised of Chelsea, Flamengo, and ES Tunis, LAFC have the attacking power to comport themselves well, and could sneak into the knockout stage as runner-up, but should not underestimate Flamengo along the way.
Advertisement
Anything beyond that would be a massive success for the club.
📸 Luke Hales - 2025 Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
25 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Girls' soccer Top 10: Independence goes wire-to-wire at No. 1
Before her team even took the field this season, Independence girls' soccer coach Ann Vierkorn knew how special her group was. Vierkorn has seen her fair share of quality teams, coaching the Tigers to a Virginia Class 3 final in the program's first season in 2021 and a Class 5 state title in 2023. Last year's squad, which didn't have a single senior on the roster, went 20-0 before narrowly falling to Kellam in the Class 5 semifinal.
Washington Post
25 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Boys' soccer Top 10: Herndon closes at No. 1 after state title
Herndon started the spring as the No. 5 team in The Washington Post's boys' soccer rankings before a frustrating 4-4 start had the Hornets searching for answers. Slowly but surely, a team that had graduated 12 seniors from last year's state semifinal squad found what it was looking for. A tactical tweak and a mental shift put the Hornets in a better place, and they only grew in confidence as positive results started to pour in.
CBS News
27 minutes ago
- CBS News
Chicago outdoor swimming pools will be open 7 days a week for first time since 2020
Chicago swimming pools are getting ready to open and for the first time since 2020, all 50 Chicago Park District outdoor pools will be open seven days a week. The seven-day operational schedule for outdoor pools starts on June 21. Summer pool schedules will be available starting the week of June 16. The city said outdoor pools will primarily be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, with some pools having longer hours on weekends. Along with the outdoor pools, 27 indoor pools citywide will return to their pre-pandemic schedule of being open six days a week starting June 21. The park district said some pool schedules may be adjusted if their lifeguards have to return to school before Labor Day. Many pools are only open from June 21 through the beginning of August. Visit the Chicago Park District's swimming pool directory to find the closest public pool near you, plus its days and hours of operation. Humboldt Park beach, city water features also open June 21 In addition to the pools, the beach in Humboldt Park and more than 200 water features in parks across the city are also set to open on June 21. Humboldt Park beach is the city's only man-made inland beach. It will be open daily and staffed with life guards from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The water spray features and water playgrounds in city parks have been opening for several weeks, and the Chicago Park District said all will be operational by June 21.
