International Sports
LAFC clinches final FIFA Club World Cup spot with dramatic win over Club América
The win places LAFC alongside international heavyweights in Group D of the Club World Cup, including English powerhouse Chelsea, Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Brazil’s Flamengo
LAFC has officially punched its ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup, securing the tournament’s final berth with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Club América at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
The match tilted in Club América’s favor in the 64th minute when former LAFC winger Brian Rodríguez converted a VAR-awarded penalty, putting the Liga MX side in control and seemingly en route to a lucrative Club World Cup slot.
But LAFC had other plans. Igor Jesus brought the home side level with a clutch 89th-minute header, sending the match into extra time.
Then, in the 115th minute, Denis Bouanga — LAFC’s talisman in recent seasons — delivered the decisive moment, firing home the winner to seal the club’s spot on world football’s biggest stage.
The win places LAFC alongside international heavyweights in Group D of the expanded Club World Cup, including English powerhouse Chelsea, Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis, and Brazil’s Flamengo — widely regarded as the most passionately supported club in South America.
Why Did LAFC and Club América Play a Club World Cup Playoff?
The playoff was the result of a uniquely complex situation involving FIFA and Concacaf’s evolving tournament structures.
Initially, the last four winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup — Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Club León, and Pachuca — were set to represent the region at the Club World Cup.
However, FIFA disqualified Club León due to its shared ownership with Pachuca, citing regulations prohibiting clubs with the same ownership group from competing in the tournament.
To fill the resulting vacancy, FIFA arranged a playoff between LAFC (the 2023 runners-up to León in the Champions Cup) and Club América, the top-ranked Concacaf side in FIFA’s club rankings.
Several clubs, including León, Pachuca, and Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, appealed the decision. Alajuelense argued for inclusion as the highest-ranked Central American club, but all appeals were denied.
That left Saturday’s clash as a winner-takes-all showdown — and LAFC rose to the occasion.
FIFA’s new prime club competition – the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – will grace the world stage from June 14. Thirty two of the world’s leading teams will come together in the USA for the inaugural edition.