FIFA Club World Cup: What awaits LAFC in Group D?

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·4 de junio de 2025

FIFA Club World Cup: What awaits LAFC in Group D?

By MLSsoccer staff

LAFC were the final qualifier for the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, which takes place from June 14 to July 13 across the United States.

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LAFC slot into Group D, which also features English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea, Brazilian titans Flamengo and Tunisian side ES Tunis. The top two teams per group advance to the knockout phase.

The Black & Gold join Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC as one of three MLS clubs participating in this year's expanded, 32-team tournament.

LAFC's Club World Cup schedule

June 16 - 3 pm ET vs. Chelsea | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Ga.)
June 20 - 6 pm ET vs. ES Tunis | GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
June 24 - 9 pm ET vs. Flamengo | Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)

Full schedule: FIFA Club World Cup

Chelsea Football Club

Country: England
How they qualified: 2021-22 UEFA Champions League winners
Key players: Cole Palmer (M); Nicolas Jackson (F); Enzo Fernández (M); Moisés Caicedo (M); Marc Cucurella (D)
Head coach: Enzo Maresca

One of the most famous clubs in the world, Chelsea are no stranger to domestic and continental success, with five English Premier League titles, eight FA Cup victories and a pair of UEFA Champions League titles. They also won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021.

The Blues enter the Club World Cup after a top-four finish in the EPL and winning the UEFA Conference League. They're led by England international Cole Palmer, one of the top young players in the world, as well as Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson and Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández.

MLS alums Gaga Slonina (Chicago Fire FC), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United) and Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution) are all on the London club's books.

Esperance Sportive de Tunis

Country: Tunisia
How they qualified: Best-ranked eligible team in CAF four-year ranking
Key players: Yan Sasse (F); Youcef Belaïli (F); Mohamed Amine Tougai (D); Yassine Meriah (D); Houssem Tka (M)
Head coach: Maher Kanzari

ES Tunis are among the most successful clubs in Africa and are making their fourth FIFA Club World Cup appearance. They've won 34 league titles, lifted the Tunisian Cup 16 times and captured the CAF Champions League crown four times.

ES Tunis have a pair of FIFA Club World Cup wins under their belt, beating Chivas Guadalajara on penalties in the fifth-place match in 2018 and defeating Al-Sadd during the fifth-place match in 2019.

Head coach Maher Kanzari's group is one of four African teams at this year's tournament.

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo

Country: Brazil
How they qualified: 2022 Copa Libertadores winners
Key players: Gerson (M); Pedro (F); Nicolás de la Cruz (M); Wesley (D); Giorgian De Arrascaeta (M)
Head coach: Filipe Luís

Flamengo are one of Brazil's most successful clubs with seven Série A titles, five Copa do Brasil crowns and three Copa Libertadores triumphs.

A club known for developing some of Brazil's top players, Flamengo's roster includes current Brazilian internationals Gerson and Danilo. Jorginho reportedly could join the team from Arsenal ahead of the Club World Cup, and ex-Atlanta United winger Luiz Araújo is among their top attackers.

The storied club are led by Filipe Luís, a former club legend and Brazilian international left back. They play their home matches at the famed Maracanã.

Los Angeles Football Club

Country: United States
How they qualified: Play-in match winners
Key players: Denis Bouanga (F); Igor Jesus (M); Nathan Ordaz (F); Hugo Lloris (GK); Aaron Long (D)
Head coach: Steve Cherundolo

One of Major League Soccer's most successful clubs, LAFC reached the Club World Cup after defeating Club América in a play-in match following Club León's disqualification due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

Steve Cherundolo's side are off to yet another strong start in MLS and will look to add to a trophy case that includes two Supporters' Shields, one MLS Cup and a US Open Cup. They've also twice reached the Concacaf Champions Cup final.

On a club that boasts World Cup winners Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, Denis Bouanga is the unquestioned star. The Gabon international is coming off back-to-back 20-goal campaigns and scored the extra-time winner against América to book LAFC's ticket.