MLS · Western Conference · Los Angeles, California, US · BMO Stadium
Los Angeles Football Club
The black-and-gold insurgency that crashed into MLS with a purpose-built cathedral in the heart of the city, a supporter culture that rivals anything in the Americas, and the conviction that Los Angeles deserved a soccer club rooted not in celebrity but in community, street culture, and relentless intensity.
2018–2021
The Carlos Vela Era
A franchise built to win from day one
LAFC did not enter MLS quietly. The club's ownership group - which includes entertainment moguls, tech executives, and sports figures - invested heavily in both the on-field product and the matchday experience. Banc of California Stadium, a 22,000-seat venue in the heart of Los Angeles near the Exposition Park campus, opened in 2018 as one of the most architecturally striking soccer venues in the world.
On the pitch, Carlos Vela was the centerpiece. The Mexican international, signed as the club's first Designated Player, delivered one of the greatest individual seasons in MLS history in 2019: 34 goals and 15 assists, earning both the MVP award and the Supporters' Shield. Vela's combination of technical brilliance, vision, and finishing made him the most dangerous attacking player in the league and drew comparisons to the best players in the world.
Head coach Bob Bradley built a team that played aggressive, possession-based soccer with a high press. The 2019 Supporters' Shield season set the single-season points record with 72, but the club's quest for MLS Cup was derailed by a stunning playoff loss to the Seattle Sounders. Despite the silverware gap, LAFC had established themselves as one of MLS's elite clubs in just two seasons.
Key Facts
- Banc of California Stadium opened in 2018 in the heart of LA
- Carlos Vela scored 34 goals in 2019 - an MLS single-season record
- Won the 2019 Supporters' Shield with a record 72 points
- The 3252 supporter group created one of MLS's best atmospheres
2022–Present
Champions of MLS
A historic MLS Cup and continued ambition
The 2022 season was LAFC's coronation. Under Steve Cherundolo, who replaced Bob Bradley as head coach, and with the midseason arrival of Gareth Bale from Real Madrid and Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus, LAFC assembled a roster capable of winning it all. The Supporters' Shield again went to LAFC, and this time they followed through in the playoffs.
The 2022 MLS Cup final against the Philadelphia Union is widely regarded as the greatest match in MLS history. Trailing 3-2 in the final minutes, Gareth Bale rose to head home a dramatic equalizer in the 128th minute, sending the match to penalties. LAFC goalkeeper John McCarthy, a halftime substitute, saved two penalties to clinch the club's first MLS Cup. The match, played before a delirious home crowd at Banc of California Stadium, had everything: world-class goals, dramatic comebacks, and a penalty shootout finish.
Since the championship, LAFC have continued to invest in top talent and maintain their position among MLS's elite. The club's model - combining star Designated Players with a strong supporting cast and an elite matchday experience - has become the benchmark that other ambitious MLS clubs measure themselves against.
Key Facts
- Won the 2022 MLS Cup in one of the greatest finals ever played
- Gareth Bale's 128th-minute equalizer is one of MLS's iconic moments
- Signed Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini in the same summer
- Steve Cherundolo won MLS Cup in his first season as head coach