LAFC team guide: History, trophies won and notable former players of 2025 FIFA Club World Cup club

The Black and Gold qualified for this summer's tournament after defeating Club America in a play-in match, and they are one of three American sides looking to make a splash on home soil.

They go into the competition as debutants, although they have played in many big matches over their short history.

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LAFC team guide

Location

LAFC are one of two Los Angeles-area clubs in Major League Soccer (MLS), and one of four from the state of California.

BMO Stadium, their home ground, is located in the Exposition Park neighbourood of Los Angeles and sits adjacent to the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Origin

LAFC were formed in 2014 after the dissolution of Chivas USA, a team owned by Liga MX's CD Guadalajara (Chivas) that shared the home stadium of the LA Galaxy.

However, LAFC preferred to play closer to downtown Los Angeles and built a new stadium in the heart of the city that opened during LAFC's inaugural season (2018).

Los Angeles FC was originally a placeholder name for the expansion club but ownership ultimately decided to keep the moniker.

Nicknames

• LAFC
• The Black and Gold

Trophies won

• MLS Cup (1)
• MLS Supporters' Shield (2)
• U.S. Open Cup (1)  

The club have won each of the three major trophies available to American sides.

Notable former players

• Carlos Vela (2018-2024)
• Gareth Bale (2022)
• Giorgio Chiellini (2022-2023)
• Walker Zimmerman (2018-2019)
• Diego Rossi (2018-2022)

LAFC's history is short, but the team can boast some big names among their alumni.

Top scorer (MLS 2025) - Denis Bouanga (6 goals)

The main man at LAFC since his arrival on the U.S. west coast in 2022, Bouanga has continued his fine form into 2025 as he's struck for five goals so far in the MLS season.

Bouanga also scored the winning goal in LAFC's 2-1 victory over Club America to qualify for the Club World Cup.

Manager - Steve Cherundolo (USA)

A longtime U.S. international during his playing days, Cherundolo is a veteran of two World Cups and he helped the Americans win the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

After his 15-year playing career ended at Hannover 96, Cherundolo stepped into a youth coaching role at the German club for the first four years following his retirement from playing. The American then returned to home soil to coach second division side Las Vegas Lights before taking the LAFC gig in 2022, leading the club to a domestic double in his first year in charge.

How LAFC qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

LAFC are one of five North American clubs competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and qualified as the winners of the play-in qualifier after Mexican side Club Leon was disqualified from the summer tournament.

The Black and Gold were runners-up to Leon in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, which eventually earned them a spot in the play-in game. 

LAFC group, schedule at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

LAFC have been drawn into Group D with Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis and Chelsea.

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