Los Angeles FC Overview
Los Angeles Football Club, commonly known as Los Angeles FC or LAFC, is a professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California. The club competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference and plays its home matches at BMO Stadium, a 22,000-seat soccer-specific venue in Exposition Park. Founded on October 30, 2014, LAFC began competitive play in the 2018 season and has since emerged as one of the league’s most prominent clubs. The team is identified by its black and gold colors, a passionate supporters’ section known as The 3252, and a roster that has featured global stars such as Carlos Vela and Son Heung-min.
LAFC’s ownership group is led by managing owners Bennett Rosenthal, Brandon Beck, and Larry Berg, with Peter Guber serving as executive chairman. The club’s broader investor base includes entertainers, athletes, and business figures such as Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, and Mia Hamm. The current head coach is Marc Dos Santos, supported by general manager John Thorrington and co-presidents Larry Freedman and John Thorrington. Across its short history, LAFC has captured two Supporters’ Shield titles, one MLS Cup, and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, establishing itself as a major force in American soccer.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Los Angeles FC was founded on October 30, 2014, when Major League Soccer awarded an expansion franchise to Los Angeles following the complete dissolution of Chivas USA. The official team name, Los Angeles Football Club, was confirmed on September 15, 2015, after early references to the club had used the name as a placeholder. The club’s colors and logo were unveiled at Union Station on January 7, 2016, featuring an Art Deco-inspired shield with a winged “LA” monogram designed by Thai Nguyen and the creative team of Tue Nguyen and Matthew Wolff.
In 2016, three local investors—Brandon Beck, Larry Berg, and Bennett Rosenthal—assumed control as managing owners, with Berg serving as lead managing owner. The ownership group has grown steadily to include a wide range of part-owners and investors, contributing both capital and visibility to the club’s launch. In February 2020, owners completed a buyout of a 20 percent stake held by Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan, valuing the club at $700 million, the highest recorded valuation for an MLS team at the time. Tom Penn served as the club’s first president before stepping down on August 18, 2020, with Larry Freedman and John Thorrington later taking on co-president roles.
The club’s identity was shaped with significant input from supporters, who were consulted on team colors, the crest, and the design of the new stadium. Marketing efforts focused on younger audiences, which informed the decision to place the club in downtown Los Angeles. LAFC also founded its youth academy and began signing promising prospects, including Walker Zimmerman, Tristan Blackmon, João Moutinho, and Diego Rossi, as part of a long-term plan to build the club from the ground up.
Growth Into Major League Soccer Competition
LAFC took concrete steps toward joining MLS by selecting the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena site in Exposition Park in May 2015 to build a 22,000-seat stadium, a project estimated at $250 million. The Los Angeles City Council approved the stadium plan on May 6, 2016, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place on August 23, 2016. At the same event, the club announced a 15-year, $100 million naming rights deal with Banc of California. The stadium opened on April 18, 2018, with a public ceremony, and LAFC’s first home match, a 1–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on April 29, 2018, was won on a stoppage-time goal by Laurent Ciman in front of a capacity crowd.
On the personnel side, LAFC named Bob Bradley as head coach in July 2017, joining general director John Thorrington in building the first roster. Mexican forward Carlos Vela was signed as the club’s first designated player on August 11, 2017, signaling the club’s intent to compete at a high level from the outset. The team played its first MLS match on March 4, 2018, defeating Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 at CenturyLink Field, with Diego Rossi scoring the club’s first competitive goal in the 11th minute. By the end of its inaugural season, LAFC had set the standard for MLS expansion teams, earning 57 points and finishing second in goals scored by an expansion team with 68.
Behind the scenes, the club built infrastructure to support long-term growth. The LAFC Performance Center, located on the California State University, Los Angeles campus, opened through a partnership that began in 2017, providing 4,000 square feet of indoor space and a training field matching the home stadium surface. LAFC also invested in broadcasting innovation, partnering with YouTube TV in 2018 to become the first major U.S. professional sports team to sell regional broadcast rights to an online streaming service.
Los Angeles FC Competitive Journey
Since its founding, Los Angeles FC has progressed from a brand-new expansion side to a consistent contender in Major League Soccer, capturing two Supporters’ Shield titles and an MLS Cup championship. The club’s competitive arc has featured record-breaking regular seasons, deep playoff runs, and notable performances in continental competition, including two appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Early Seasons and Development (2018)
LAFC’s debut season in 2018 set a high bar for MLS expansion clubs. The team won 4 of 6 road matches to open the year, becoming the first club to earn 12 points from a season-opening road trip of six or more games. LAFC also tied the post-shootout era record with seven road wins, finishing with 57 points and surpassing the 56-point mark set by the 1998 Chicago Fire. Offensively, the club scored 68 goals, trailing only Atlanta United FC’s 70 for most by an expansion team.
The inaugural season was not without挫折, including a 4–3 loss to LA Galaxy on March 31, 2018, in the first edition of the El Tráfico rivalry. LAFC also experienced growing pains in the playoffs, clinching a postseason berth on October 6, 2018, with a 3–0 win over the Colorado Rapids before being eliminated at home by Real Salt Lake 3–2 in the first round. Despite the early playoff exit, the season established a foundation of attacking soccer and resilience that would define the club’s identity.
Breakthrough in MLS (2019–2022)
The 2019 season marked LAFC’s first major breakthrough, as the club won the Supporters’ Shield with a then-record 72 points. Carlos Vela won the MLS Golden Boot with a league-record 34 goals and was named league MVP. In the playoffs, LAFC defeated the LA Galaxy 5–3 in the Western Conference Semifinal, the club’s first postseason win over its crosstown rival, before being eliminated at home by Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 in the Western Conference Final. The 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but LAFC still reached the CONCACAF Champions League Final, where it fell 2–1 to Tigres UANL. After missing the playoffs in 2021, the club parted ways with Bob Bradley and hired Steve Cherundolo on January 3, 2022.
Under Cherundolo, LAFC returned to championship form in 2022, capturing its second Supporters’ Shield with 67 points and reaching its first MLS Cup. The final against the Philadelphia Union finished 3–3 after extra time, with Gareth Bale scoring a 128th-minute equalizer, the latest goal in MLS Cup Playoffs history. Substitute goalkeeper John McCarthy made two saves in the ensuing penalty shootout, which LAFC won 3–0, securing the club’s first MLS Cup title and completing a league double with the Supporters’ Shield.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2023–Present)
The years following the 2022 title have been defined by sustained competitiveness and significant roster turnover. LAFC finished as runners-up in MLS Cup 2023 to the Columbus Crew and again reached the CONCACAF Champions League Final, where it lost to Club León 3–1 on aggregate. The 2024 season saw the club acquire high-profile players including Olivier Giroud, Hugo Lloris, and David Martínez, while clinching the Western Conference regular-season title on goal difference over the LA Galaxy. LAFC advanced to the 2024 Leagues Cup Final, losing 3–1 to the Columbus Crew, before winning the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3–1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
In 2025, the club added Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur for an MLS transfer record of $26.5 million and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup after a 2–1 play-in win over Club América. On April 18, 2025, LAFC announced that head coach Steve Cherundolo would step down at season’s end for personal reasons. Marc Dos Santos now leads the coaching staff, supported by general manager John Thorrington, as the club navigates both domestic and international competition.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Los Angeles FC’s identity is built on attacking soccer, global star power, and a strong connection with its supporters. The club has consistently fielded creative, goal-scoring teams, evidenced by record-breaking offensive outputs in multiple seasons. A focus on technical players, combined with a high-tempo style and a loyal, vocal fan base in The 3252, gives LAFC a clear identity across Major League Soccer.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among the club’s most significant milestones are its 2019 Supporters’ Shield title, the 2022 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield double, and the 2024 U.S. Open Cup win. The 1–0 win at Seattle Sounders FC on March 4, 2018, marked the club’s first competitive match, while the 4–3 loss to LA Galaxy later that month launched the El Tráfico rivalry. The signing of Son Heung-min in 2025 set a new MLS transfer record and underscored the club’s ambition on the global stage.
Los Angeles FC Achievements and Results
Los Angeles FC has compiled a notable list of accomplishments since its inaugural 2018 season, including two Supporters’ Shield titles, one MLS Cup championship, and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club has also finished as runner-up in two CONCACAF Champions League finals and one Leagues Cup final, establishing itself as a consistent contender in North American soccer.
MLS Achievements
LAFC won its first Supporters’ Shield in 2019 with a record-setting 72 points, the highest single-season total in league history at the time. Carlos Vela’s 34-goal season set a new league record and earned him the MVP award. The club added a second Supporters’ Shield in 2022 with 67 points, becoming only the second MLS team to win two Shields within its first five seasons, before completing the double with a dramatic penalty shootout win over the Philadelphia Union in MLS Cup 2022.
Conference Achievements
LAFC has been a fixture near the top of the Western Conference, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2019 and 2022 and clinching the Western Conference regular-season title in 2024. The club’s deepest playoff runs include the 2019 Western Conference Final and the 2022 MLS Cup championship, both of which featured wins over the LA Galaxy. LAFC has also reached the Western Conference Semifinals in multiple postseasons, reinforcing its status as a conference powerhouse.
Divisional Achievements
Within the Western Conference standings, LAFC has consistently ranked among the top clubs, finishing third in the West in its 2018 expansion season. The club clinched first place in the Western Conference in 2024 on goal difference over the LA Galaxy, the closest margin in conference history. LAFC’s divisional consistency has been a key driver of its multiple playoff appearances since 2018.
Series Achievements
Beyond MLS play, LAFC has competed prominently in cup and continental competition. The club reached the CONCACAF Champions League Final in 2020 and 2023, finishing as runner-up to Tigres UANL and Club León, respectively. LAFC also advanced to the 2024 Leagues Cup Final, losing 3–1 to the Columbus Crew, before securing its first U.S. Open Cup title in 2024 with a 3–1 win over Sporting Kansas City. In 2025, the club qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup via a 2–1 play-in victory over Club América.
