Denis Bouanga delivered in the clutch, blasting home a late goal in extra time to send LAFC to the FIFA Club World Cup with a thrilling 2-1 win over Club América on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Igor Jesus ignited the comeback in the 89th minute, threading through a sea of defenders and burying a header—his first goal for LAFC—to level the score and force extra time.
Then, in the 115th minute, it was Bouanga’s moment. Seizing a deflection at the top of the box, he unleashed a rocket that found the back of the net and sparked bedlam in the stands. That strike sealed LAFC’s first-ever ticket to the Club World Cup.
LAFC will now take the global stage, joining giants like Chelsea (England), Flamengo (Brazil), and ES Tunis (Tunisia) when group play kicks off in two weeks across the Southern U.S.
"This is probably our best performance of the season, even with the mistakes," said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. "To go down, fight back, stay dangerous, and manage the game like we did... it shows our togetherness—players, coaches, everyone."
"As a club, this puts us on another level—not just in MLS, but globally. It’s a huge step for us and for the league."
The win also comes with a massive payday—LAFC is now guaranteed $9.55 million just for qualifying, with a shot at nearly $100 million more from FIFA’s $1 billion prize pool.
Club América had taken the lead midway through the second half, with Brian Rodríguez slotting home a penalty kick against his former club. Despite a sea of fans in gold and blue, América couldn’t hold on.
The open Club World Cup slot came after FIFA disqualified León due to ownership conflicts. León and Pachuca, run by the same group, fell afoul of FIFA’s rule banning multiple clubs with shared ownership. León lost its final appeal just weeks ago.
Inside a packed stadium, with supporters for both teams roaring from kickoff, the first half was cautious—only one shot on target each.
In the 64th minute, Rodríguez broke the deadlock. After a video review confirmed Mark Delgado’s reckless studs-up challenge on Érick Sánchez, América earned a penalty, and Rodríguez coolly beat Hugo Lloris. It was a poetic twist—Rodríguez, once an LAFC fan favorite (2019–2022), returned to haunt his old team.
Momentum shifted when Olivier Giroud entered as a second-half sub. The Frenchman nearly scored in the 81st minute, only to be denied by Luis Malagón. But LAFC kept surging behind Giroud and Bouanga.
The breakthrough came when Jesus, the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder, nodded home a clutch header past Malagón.
In extra time, Lloris made a crucial save on Javairo Dilrosun, keeping LAFC alive before Bouanga sealed the deal.
Ticket allocation was split evenly between both sets of supporters—but with América’s massive following in LA, the atmosphere was electric. South Stand fans were in place nearly 90 minutes before kickoff, while LAFC’s North End was already rocking.
Once the match began, fireworks and smoke bombs lit up the night sky, setting the tone for the epic summer ahead.
The upcoming Club World Cup, the biggest ever with 32 teams, will serve as the warm-up act for the 2026 FIFA World Cup returning to North America. Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders have already locked in spots from MLS, while Pachuca and Monterrey are in from Liga MX.
Description:
"LAFC clinched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Club América in extra time to secure their first-ever spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. Denis Bouanga's 115th-minute winner and Igor Jesus' late equalizer powered LAFC past the Liga MX giants at BMO Stadium. Discover how this thrilling match earned LAFC a place among global football elites and a multi-million dollar prize."