Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC will face Chelsea at this summer’s Club World Cup, with Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud set to come up against old foes.
Denis Bouanga struck in the 115th minute to help LAFC past Club America with a 2-1 win in extra time, securing their place in this summer’s tournament.
The first half was a goalless affair, but the deadlock was broken in the 62nd minute when Club America earned a penalty.
Referee Wilton Sampaio consulted the pitchside monitor and ruled that Mark Delgado had fouled Erick Sanchez. Former LAFC player Brian Rodríguez converted the penalty, sending goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way.
LAFC ramped up the pressure in search of an equaliser, finally breaking through when Igor Jesus powered a header home from a corner in the 89th minute.
The playoff match was set up to fill the final slot in the expanded Club World Cup after Club Leon were disqualified in March due to an ownership rule violation.
The Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams, will run from June 14 to July 13 across the United States, with $1 billion in prize money on offer.
Delivered on the biggest stage 🔝#LAFC | @adidasUS pic.twitter.com/nt6DU4M6Wf
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 1, 2025
LAFC’s qualification guarantees them at least $9.55 million, with the potential for nearly $100 million more in prize payouts from FIFA’s prize pool.
LAFC are placed in Group D alongside Flamengo (Brazil), Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia), and Chelsea (England).
Their group stage campaign begins with Chelsea in Atlanta on June 16, followed by a clash with Esperance de Tunis in Nashville on June 20, and finishing with a matchup against Flamengo in Orlando on June 24.
The tournament serves as a lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which will also be hosted in North America.
MLS clubs Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders have already secured their Club World Cup berths, as have Liga MX’s Pachuca and Monterrey.
