Denis Bouanga scored an extra-time winner to lift Los Angeles FC to a 2-1 victory over Club América in a Club World Cup qualifying playoff match at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The winger, who had orchestrated much of LAFC’s attacking output in the match, scored the winner in the 115th minute after unleashing a shot that took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.
After a goalless first half, Mexico’s Club América were awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute, when referee Wilton Sampaio went to the pitchside monitor and ruled that Mark Delgado had fouled Erick Sánchez.
Substitute Brian Rodríguez, who made 64 appearances for LAFC between 2019 and 2022, stepped up to the spot and fired his effort past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
LAFC pressed hard for an equaliser and their pressure paid off when Igor Jesus headed home from a corner in the 89th minute to score his first goal for the club and take the match into extra time.
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The Major League Soccer side go into Group D alongside Brazil’s Flamengo, Tunisian club Esperánce de Tunis and Premier League side Chelsea.
They’ll start off with a game against Chelsea in Atlanta on 16 June at 3pm ET / Noon PT. They’ll then face Espérance de Tunis in Nashville on 20 June at 6pm ET / 3pm PT. Group play closes with a matchup against Brazilian power Flamengo in Orlando at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on 24 June.
The playoff was held to decide the 32nd team in the Club World Cup after Club Leon were kicked out of the tournament in March due to an ownership rule breach. The Mexican club also had their appeal rejected at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The expanded 32-team Club World Cup runs from 14 June to 13 July in the United States with prize money of $1bn at stake. LAFC’s victory is extraordinarily lucrative for the Major League Soccer power, guaranteeing at least $9.55m in prize money for making the tournament field. The club also has a chance at nearly $100 million more in prize money from Fifa’s pool.
Tickets for the match were distributed equally between the clubs’ supporters — and América has a large fan base in Los Angeles, where Mexican teams and players are greeted with massive support whenever they visit. América fans mobbed the south stands at BMO Stadium 90 minutes before kickoff, while LAFC’s famed North End crowd was packed.
Both sections set off fireworks and smoke bombs after kickoff, underlining the remarkable atmosphere and giving a taste of what’s to come in June and July.
The largest Club World Cup to date will be held across the U.S. as a precursor to the Fifa World Cup’s return to North America in 2026. Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders already qualified from Major League Soccer, while Pachuca and Monterrey already qualified from Liga MX.
