MLS · Western Conference · Los Angeles, California, US · BMO Stadium
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.
Updated March 16, 2026
Watching the Galaxy lift MLS Cup in 2025 was a gut punch for LAFC and their supporters. The Black & Gold had positioned themselves as the new kings of LA soccer, and losing bragging rights stings deeply. The El Trafico rivalry will be even more charged in 2026, with both clubs desperate to establish supremacy in the nation's biggest soccer market.
Denis Bouanga has been one of the most consistent goal-scorers in MLS since arriving at LAFC, combining predatory finishing with tireless work rate. The Gabonese international's numbers have been elite across two full seasons, and he enters 2026 as the focal point of an attack that needs him firing on all cylinders to keep pace with the Galaxy.
Promoted from Steve Cherundolo's coaching staff after the departing head coach returned to Germany, Marc Dos Santos brings intimate knowledge of LAFC's roster and culture. The former Vancouver Whitecaps boss oversaw LAFC's 2022 MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield run as an assistant, and his continuity appointment ensures the pressing intensity and tactical identity remain intact while he adds his own attacking wrinkles.