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Fox News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Women's soccer team dubs itself 'Immigrant City Football Club' amid anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles
National Women's Soccer League club Angel City FC dubbed adorned T-shirts on Saturday night with the words "Immigrant City Football Club" emblazoned across the chest as anti-ICE riots plagued parts of Los Angeles County over the last week. The back of the T-shirts read the words, "Los Angeles is for everyone," and "Los Ángeles es Para Todos," according to the Los Angeles Times. The shirts were also given to fans who attended the match against the North Carolina Courage at BMO Stadium. Angel City FC lost 2-1. Becky G, a singer/songwriter who is also an investor into the club, read a statement as players walked onto the pitch for the match. "At Angel City, we believe in the power of belonging. We know that Los Angeles is stronger because of its diversity and the people and the families who shape it, love it and call it home," she said, via the Los Angeles Times. "The fabric of this city is made of immigrants. Football does not exist without immigrants. This club does not exist without immigrants. "This is our home. This is LA. This Immigrant City." Protests in Los Angeles over ICE raids in the city turned into riots as autonomous vehicles burned, stores were looted and law enforcement officers were assaulted. The riots continued throughout the week into Saturday's so-called "No Kings" protests. Angel City FC was among the first to put out a statement amid the riots. "We are heartbroken by the fear and uncertainty many in our Los Angeles community are feeling right now," it said. "At Angel City, we believe in the power of belonging. We know that our city is stronger because of its diversity and the people and families who shape it, love it and call it home." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denis Bouanga scores in 115th minute to lift LAFC into the FIFA Club World Cup
LAFC's Denis Bouanga celebrates with teammates after scoring late in a 2-1 win over Club América to qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) It was no secret what was at stake in the FIFA Club World Cup play-in — millions of dollars, a potential boon for the future. And with one shot, LAFC cashed in. In a marathon match, Dénis Bouanga scored in the 115th minute to lift LAFC to a 2-1 comeback win over Club América at BMO Stadium on Saturday night, pushing LAFC into the FIFA Club World Cup. Advertisement Bouanga's right-footed shot from outside the box glanced off the left calf of América defender Miguel Vázquez, redirecting the ball into the back of the net and baffling goalkeeper Luis Malagón. LAFC's Nathan Ordaz tries to play the ball against Club América's Erick Sanchez on Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) LAFC will receive $9.55 million just for qualifying for the Club World Cup, which begins June 14 and will take place in cities across the United States. The participation payday is the equivalent of nearly half of LAFC's $20 million payroll — a potential boon for a team that could try to land a marquee star in the months ahead. The win over Club América means $1 million to be split among LAFC's 30 players. Advertisement In addition, the 64-team tournament will allow LAFC to raise its profile on the global stage — Premier League blueblood Chelsea is among the teams LAFC will face in group play. The total prize pool for the Club World Cup is more than $1 billion. It took some late-game heroics for LAFC to earn one of its biggest wins in franchise history. Uruguayan winger Brian Rodriguez, who played with LAFC from 2019 to 2022 before being sold to América, scored on a penalty kick in the 64th minute after LAFC's Mark Delgado fouled Erick Sánchez. Rodríguez buried a right-footed shot past the outstretched arms of LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to give América a 1-0 lead. LAFC refused to let victory slip away. Advertisement After putting relentless pressure on the América defense for most of the second half, Igor Jesus scored on a header off a corner kick by Bouanga to tie the score in the 89th minute. Ultimately, Bouanga would prove to be the hero in a game loaded with significance for the players, team and fans. Everyone in BMO Stadium felt the weight of the matchup, with many of the home crowd calling it the biggest game in the club's history. Bigger than any MLS Cup championship or CONCACAF Champions League final. The gravity of the moment was unmistakable — the consequences of a loss, and the eventual magnitude of a win. 'It's a $10-million payday, so it's like a final,' LAFC fan Brett Sullivan said. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
01-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
LAFC claims final spot in Club World Cup with 2-1 victory over Club América in play-in match
Denis Bouanga scored late in extra time and Los Angeles FC dramatically secured the final spot in the FIFA Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Club América in a play-in match on Saturday night. Igor Jesus tied it for LAFC in the 89th minute, slipping through traffic and converting a header for his first goal with his new club. After 24 tense minutes of extra time, Bouanga jumped into the play and fired home a deflected shot from the top of the penalty area in the 115th minute, setting off a wild celebration at BMO Stadium and sending LAFC to its first Club World Cup. LAFC will join English club Chelsea, Brazil's Flamengo and Tunisia's ES Tunis when group play begins in two weeks across the U.S. South. LAFC's victory is extraordinarily lucrative for the Major League Soccer power, guaranteeing at least $9.55 million in prize money for making the tournament field. The club also has a chance at nearly $100 million more in prize money from FIFA's nearly $1 billion pool. Brian Rodríguez put América ahead midway through the second half by converting a penalty kick against his former team, but Las Águilas fell short in front of thousands of supporters. One spot in the 32-team Club World Cup was open because FIFA disqualified León under its rules against participation by multiple clubs owned by the same entity. León and Pachuca are owned by the same group, and León lost its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport four weeks ago after attempting to change its ownership structure. With a stadium full of raucous fans supporting both teams, LAFC and América were cautious in the first half, putting just one shot on target apiece. Rodríguez beat Hugo Lloris from the spot in the 64th minute, capitalizing on a penalty awarded following a video review of Mark Delgado's risky, spikes-up challenge on Erick Sánchez. Rodríguez, who came on as a halftime substitute after recently recovering from injury, spent parts of four seasons with LAFC from 2019-22 before the Uruguayan winger moved to América for a hefty transfer fee. LAFC got moving offensively when Olivier Giroud came on as a second-half substitute. The French star nearly tipped home a pass in the box in the 81st minute, but Luis Malagón thwarted him. LAFC cranked up its late pressure behind Bouanga and Giroud. Jesus, the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder, finally beat Malagón with a header in the box. Lloris stopped a point-blank chance for Javairô Dilrosun in the second half of extra time shortly before Bouanga's winner. Tickets for the match were distributed equally between the clubs' supporters — and América has a large fan base in Los Angeles, where Mexican teams and players are greeted with massive support whenever they visit. América fans mobbed the south stands at BMO Stadium 90 minutes before kickoff, while LAFC's famed North End crowd was packed. Both sections set off fireworks and smoke bombs after kickoff, underlining the remarkable atmosphere and giving a taste of what's to come in June and July. The largest Club World Cup to date will be held across the U.S. as a precursor to the FIFA World Cup's return to North America in 2026. Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders already qualified from Major League Soccer, while Pachuca and Monterrey already qualified from Liga MX.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LAFC stuns Club América with extra-time golazo, punches ticket to Club World Cup
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 31: Denis Bouanga #99 of Los Angeles FC celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Play-In match between Los Angeles Football Club and Club America at BMO Stadium on May 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) LOS ANGELES — LAFC is headed to the Club World Cup. And Club América is going home. Less than a week after falling short in the Liga MX final, América suffered another blow — this time on foreign soil. Backed by a large supporters section here at BMO Stadium that at times drowned out the home team's fans, the Mexican giants pushed LAFC to the brink, but it was the MLS side that delivered in extra time with a Dennis Bouanga banger to seal the deal. Advertisement In Saturday's high-stakes play-in game for León's vacated Club World Cup slot, LAFC edged América 2-1, with Bouanga scoring the decisive goal in extra time to send the Black and Gold to the expanded global tournament. For LAFC, it's redemption against a Mexican side in a high-profile setting after losing to León in last year's CONCACAF Champions Cup. The first real threat from LAFC came in the 18th minute after Sebastian Caceres' reckless studs-up challenge of Mark Delgado earned him a yellow card. After Delgado received treatment, LAFC's freekick from near center field found Nathan Ordaz inside the box, but his left-footed shot went just wide of the goalpost. Advertisement It was the same Mark Delgado who in the 63rd minute would respond with his own ugly challenge to earn himself a yellow card. But Delgado's rough tackle of Erick Sanchez was inside LAFC's box. And after a VAR review of the play, a penalty was awarded. Brian Rodríguez, who spent four years at LAFC, drilled the penalty shot past Hugo Lloris to put América on the board. Then, in the 89th minute, with América having one foot in the Club World Cup's door, LAFC found the equalizer. Dennis Bouanga's corner kick found Igor Sanchez inside the box and the midfielder's header sailed into the net. After seven minutes of intense stoppage time with LAFC almost finding the winner, 30 minutes of play were added. And in the 115th minute, Bouanga found the winner. Advertisement The match was arranged after León — originally set to represent Liga MX after winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League (now Cup) over LAFC — was ruled ineligible due to a FIFA rule prohibiting multiple teams from the same owner to be in the tournament. That opened the door for 2023 runners-up LAFC and América, the No. 1 team in FIFA's CONCACAF rankings at the end of 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. With the win, América joins a Club World Cup field that already includes Real Madrid, Manchester City and newly crowned Champions League winners PSG. They will compete in Group D alongside Chelsea (England), Flamengo (Brazil) and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia). In their first group stage fixture on June 16, América will face Chelsea inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They'll follow that with a June 20 match in Nashville vs. Espérance and a June 24 tilt vs. Flamengo in Orlando. The 32-team tournament kicks off June 14 in Miami Gardens, Florida, with Inter Miami facing Egypt's Al Ahly. For LAFC, it's another bitter loss to a Mexican side in a high-profile setting after their defeat to León in last year's CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Advertisement With the win, América joins a Club World Cup field that already includes Real Madrid, Manchester City and newly crowned Champions League winners PSG. They will compete in Group D alongside Chelsea (England), Flamengo (Brazil) and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia). In their first group stage fixture on June 16, América will face Chelsea inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They'll follow that with a June 20 match in Nashville vs. Espérance and a June 24 tilt vs. Flamengo in Orlando. The 32-team tournament kicks off June 14 in Miami Gardens, Florida, with Inter Miami facing Egypt's Al Ahly.
Associated Press
30-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
LAFC, Club América are anticipating their 'massive' play-in match to join Club World Cup field
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Olivier Giroud has won the World Cup and UEFA Champions League during his decorated career, yet even Los Angeles FC's famed French striker is impressed by the extraordinary nature of the stakes when his team hosts Club América on Saturday night. The winner of this one-game play-in match gets the final spot in the FIFA Club World Cup and the remarkable chance for a North American team to face world soccer powers in the biggest-ever edition of this summer competition. 'To get the opportunity to play that kind of competition is a big chance for the boys,' Giroud said. 'We need to grab the opportunity.' What's more, the winning team at BMO Stadium will be guaranteed at least $9.55 million for its Club World Cup berth, along with a shot at nearly $100 million from the tournament's biggest-ever prize pool of nearly $1 billion. Even the setting is tantalizing: Thanks to equal ticket distribution, LAFC's sold-out arena will be packed with raucous supporters of both the home team and the biggest professional club in Mexico. Los Angeles' passion for all forms of Mexican soccer is famously rabid, and América has legions of Southern California fans. No wonder the players and coaches involved are expecting a career-defining experience in this big-money match. 'It's massive,' LAFC center back Aaron Long said. 'I think the stakes are probably as high as it can get. Two titans of North America battling it out. I'm sure BMO will be on a different level. I'm sure fans from both sides are going to be going all-in, giving 100%. If you're a fan, these are the games you want to go and see. It's going to be incredible.' The Club World Cup includes 32 teams for the first time, and it is being held across the U.S. one year before the FIFA World Cup returns to North America. Two Major League Soccer clubs and two Liga MX clubs have already qualified for the event, and LAFC or América will join them based on the results of this one match. Giroud has done just about everything in world soccer — except this. Chelsea won the Champions League with Giroud in 2021 to earn a Club World Cup spot, but Giroud left for AC Milan before it happened. 'This is the kind of match you need to play at 110%,' Giroud said. 'I've never played in it. It could be nice to meet Chelsea again, but obviously it will be a massive game (first).' Indeed, the winner of the play-in match will face Chelsea, Brazil's Flamengo and Tunisia's ES Tunis in group play. LAFC and América got this opportunity after FIFA disqualified León because of its rules against participation by multiple clubs owned by the same entity. León and fellow Liga MX qualifier Pachuca are owned by the same group, and León lost its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after attempting to change its ownership structure. The decision was only finalized 3 1/2 weeks ago, necessitating this quick one-game playoff for the final spot. The matchup will also serve as an informal referendum on the usually friendly competition between MLS and Liga MX for unofficial recognition as North America's top professional league. LAFC and América already met in a preseason friendly in Los Angeles this year, but the play-in is a different animal. 'I believe this game will be prepared like a final,' said LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, another World Cup champion. 'It's going to be interesting to face one of the best Mexican clubs, and it's going to be tough, challenging, but it's also what you play football for,' Lloris added. 'When I signed for LAFC, I didn't expect to have this type of opportunity. I know that in life and in football, when you have this kind of opportunity, you have to do everything to take it.' LAFC has enjoyed steady success since its MLS debut in 2018, winning the MLS Cup playoff championship in 2022 and earning two Supporters' Shields for the best regular-season record. LAFC is unbeaten in eight matches since a CONCACAF Champions League qualifier loss to Club World Cup invitee Inter Miami last April. América is generally considered both the most popular and the most decorated club in Mexico, and Las Águilas have been on top of Liga MX for much of the previous three seasons. Their Brazilian coach, André Jardine, attracted international praise while his team won three straight titles before losing the Clausura final to Toluca last Sunday night, falling just short of becoming only the second team in Mexico's history to win four consecutive championships. ___ AP soccer:
