LAFC Hosts San Jose Earthquakes in Sunday Night Soccer Showdown Los Angeles Football Club and the San Jose Earthquakes will clash in a pivotal matchup as part of Sunday Night Soccer, with LAFC aiming to strengthen its position in the Western Conference standings. The game, set for April 19 at BMO Stadium, pits the third-place Los Angeles side against the second-place Earthquakes, both vying for dominance in a tightly contested division. LAFC enters the match with 16 points, securing its third-place finish in the Western Conference after a mixed start to the 2026 season. The club’s recent performances have been marked by strong showings in the Concacaf Champions Cup, where it advanced past Cruz Azul with a 4-1 aggregate victory. Key moments in the CCC series included a 3-0 home win over Cruz Azul, where David Martínez scored a brace and Son Heung-Min opened the scoring, and a 1-1 draw in Mexico, where Denis Bouanga netted a goal. Despite these successes, LAFC suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers last weekend, prompting head coach Marc Dos Santos to rotate his squad heavily. The Black & Gold will look to capitalize on their home advantage, having recorded a league-low two goals conceded in seven games. The Earthquakes, meanwhile, sit second in the Western Conference with 18 points, having defied expectations despite losing their top stars from the previous season. Players like Cristian Espinoza, Josef Martínez, and Chicho Arango have moved on, yet the team has maintained its form without key winter signing Timo Werner, who missed their last two matches due to injury. San Jose’s recent victory over Sporting Kansas City, a 3-1 win, showcased their resilience, and Werner’s return this weekend could further bolster their attacking options.#concacaf_champions_cup #bmo_stadium #mexico #san_jose_earthquakes #los_angeles_football_club
LAFC vs. Cruz Azul: Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals Set for High-Stakes Clash Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) will host Cruz Azul of Liga MX in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 7, at BMO Stadium. The match, part of a two-leg series, marks a pivotal moment for both teams as they vie for a spot in the Semifinals. LAFC, which has remained unbeaten in its first 10 matches of the 2026 season, faces a formidable opponent in Cruz Azul, the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup champion and a club with a storied history in the competition. The second leg of the tie will take place on April 14 at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Semifinals, where they will face the winner of the other Quarterfinal between Toluca (Liga MX) and Galaxy (MLS). The Concacaf Champions Cup, a 27-team tournament spanning February to May, is the premier club competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The final, scheduled for May 30, will determine the team that earns a berth in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. LAFC’s campaign in the tournament has been nothing short of dominant. The club, which has never lost a match in its four previous Concacaf Champions Cup appearances, has advanced to the Quarterfinals in all four. This year, LAFC defeated Real España of Honduras and Alajuelense of Costa Rica to reach the Round of 16. The Black & Gold’s overall record in the tournament is 3 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw, with a goal difference of +11. In all competitions, LAFC has outscored opponents 24-3, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, LAFC’s captain, has been instrumental in the team’s success.#lafc #concacaf_champions_cup #bmo_stadium #cruz_azul #estadio_cuauhtemoc
Son Heung-min Aims to End Goal Drought in CONCACAF Champions Cup LAFC’s star player, Son Heung-min, is set to resume his goal-scoring campaign in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Despite leading the team’s attack early in the season with assists, he has struggled to find the back of the net in his last four matches, raising questions about his ability to regain his scoring form in the tournament. The South Korean forward will face Costa Rica’s LD Alajuelense in the Round of 16 first leg at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 11 (Korean time). The CONCACAF Champions Cup holds immense significance for LAFC, which reached the finals in 2020 and 2023 but fell short both times. The club sees this season as a chance to secure its first title in the competition. As the premier club tournament in North and Central America and the Caribbean, the Champions Cup offers a pathway to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, with 27 teams from CONCACAF member nations participating. LD Alajuelense, the reigning CONCACAF Central American Cup champions, will be a formidable opponent, though LAFC holds an edge based on recent form. LAFC has extended its official match-winning streak to five after a 6-1 victory over Real España in the first leg of the Champions Cup last month. The team has demonstrated strong defensive discipline, conceding no goals in their last four matches. Son Heung-min, the team’s attacking focal point, has been instrumental in this stability. With one goal and six assists in official matches this season, he has driven LAFC’s offensive efforts. His aggressive pressing and movement upfront have disrupted opponents’ buildups, contributing to the team’s four consecutive clean sheets. However, Son’s recent goal drought has sparked concerns.#lafc #ld_alajuelense #son_heung_min #concacaf_champions_cup #bmo_stadium
