The climb seems worth the effort.
Runners-up to Columbus in the Leagues Cup last August, the Los Angeles Football Club fell shy of the trophy but still locked down a spot in this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
Beginning Tuesday, LAFC can take steps toward qualifying for a third consecutive continental tournament with another top-three finish in the North American club competition, though their path will be considerably different.
Just once in the 2024 tournament did LAFC share the field with a Mexican opponent (Tijuana in the group stage). Five knockout contests didn’t reflect the Mexican flavor of the Major League Soccer-Liga MX venture. LAFC beat Austin, San Jose, Seattle and Colorado before crossing the Crew.
But a significant change this year ensures interleague contests for everyone involved across a trio of points-focused matches and the quarterfinal round.
“To just play Liga MX teams is, I think, a lot of fun for us,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “It poses different challenges, for us on the field and tactically, especially as a coaching staff.”
From July 29 through Aug. 7, three dozen American, Canadian and Mexican clubs — 11 fewer participants than the previous two tournaments — will compete in eastern and western regions evenly divided between the leagues based on last year’s regular season results.
The MLS-Liga MX format is set to feature in at least 58 of the competition’s 62 games, with the semifinals, third-place match and the final on Aug. 31 serving as the only unknowns.
For Tier 1 LAFC (ranked sixth overall), the first step of the journey keeps the team at BMO Stadium, where it is 6-0-1 in Leagues Cup games, outscoring opponents 24-6.
Denis Bouanga has thrived in Leagues Cup and enters as the all-time leading scorer with 12 goals in 10 appearances. Six assists also makes the 30-year-old winger No. 1 in goal contributions (18).
The first of three chances Bouanga has to add to his eye-popping tally brings him in contact with Tier 3 Mazatlán FC (No. 33 overall). Last year Mazatlán finished 14th and 16th out of 18 teams in Liga MX’s two 17-game sessions. Three matches into the 2025 Apertura schedule, Mazatlán is 1-1-1.
“One thing that we’ll see for sure is intensity all over the field,” Cherundolo said. “Intensity and competitiveness, I think that’s something they’ll absolutely bring. On top of that, they’ll bring some individual qualities, too. And it’s a team, if you succumb to their way of playing, it’s going to be a long evening. You’ll get pulled and stretched all over the park. But for us, it’s a matter of sticking to our ideas, our match plan and having the positional integrity and tactical discipline to do that for 90 minutes. If we can manage that, then I like our chances of winning this game.”
On the first of August, the Black & Gold welcome fellow Club World Cup entrant C.F. Pachuca (Tier 2, No. 26).
LAFC’s last guaranteed match also takes place in Exposition Park, yet Club Tigres (Tier 1, No. 5) will have hosting privileges on Aug. 5.
Regulation wins equal three points. Losses, zero. Ties automatically go to penalties, with the winner taking two points to the loser’s one.
The top four teams from each league go through to the knockout stage.
Unlike the last two editions, Leagues Cup in 2025 won’t come with a month-long break from the domestic schedule. So Liga MX and MLS roster depth will be tested as Leagues Cup knockout rounds unfold midweek.
The first of several anticipated transfers for LAFC was confirmed Monday, when Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choinière joined on loan through the end of the year from LAFC-owned Grasshopper Club Zürich of the Swiss Super League. The signing includes an option to purchase. The 26-year-old Quebecer, a two-time MLS All-Star, is expected to integrate quickly once he clears the immigration process.
Meanwhile, fullback Sergi Palencia returns after missing LAFC’s 1-0 loss to Portland on Saturday. The Spaniard traveled to his country as part of the process to receive a green card.
Next up on that front is French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who secured four clean sheets in last year’s tournament. He will miss the match on Tuesday after traveling to France to sort through his green card details.