Are the LA Galaxy's Playoff Hopes Over? | OneFootball

Major League Soccer had its inaugural season in 1996. The league featured ten teams with the Los Angeles Galaxy being one of them.

That year, they were not only in the playoffs, but the Galaxy also appeared in the first MLS Cup Finals. Despite losing, the franchise enjoyed ten straight seasons making the playoffs.

The LA Galaxy would lose two more MLS Finals before winning the title in 2002 and 2005. The first time that they did not make the postseason was the next year in 2006.

After a three-year absence from the playoffs, the Galaxy returned to make eight straight appearances in the postseason. Unfortunately they lost in the 2009 MLS Cup Finals, but won three titles during a four-year span (2011, 2012, and 2014).

Since the 2016 MLS season, the Los Angeles Galaxy have only made the playoffs three times. As of now, it appears they will be missing out from the postseason, yet again.

What would it take for the LA Galaxy to make it?

Losing 4-0 to the Seattle Sounders at home on Sunday night didn't help their case at all. The defending MLS Cup winners have the fewest amount of wins and points in the Western Conference standings. They also have the worst goal differential in the West (-24).

The Los Angeles Galaxy's next opponent is Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team. Both teams gave up four goals in their losses this past weekend.

Saturday's match at Chase Stadium is virtually a must-win for the LA Galaxy. They still have two matches against Dallas FC, and rematches against the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City. All three of those teams are ahead of the Galaxy in the MLS Western Conference standings.

Furthermore, the LA Galaxy still have rematches against the Sounders, the Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United FC. Those three teams are in the thick of the playoff picture.

To disrupt that, the LA Galaxy will need strong games from Marco Reus, the three-time LA Galaxy Player of the Month. Head Coach Greg Vanney will have to rely on scoring from last year's newcomers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil.

The goalkeeper is in question after Novak Micovic allowed four goals on Sunday. This came fresh off of the 4-0 shutout against Santos Laguna during Phase One of the 2025 Leagues Cup.