Why the Playoffs for the LA Galaxy is Their Leagues Cup Match vs. Pachuca | OneFootball

It would take a miracle or an unconventional series of events to allow the Los Angeles Galaxy to qualify for the postseason this year. Too many factors, such as roster changes and injuries, got in the way of the defending MLS Cup champions.

In the history of both the league and their franchise, the LA Galaxy made the playoffs every season for the first ten years. From 1996 through 2005, the Galaxy were a part of the postseason picture. Half of those times, they also made a Finals appearance.

If the Los Angeles Galaxy hope to be in any title picture this year, the 2025 Leagues Cup is the only one that they have. Wednesday night's game against the La Liga superteam of Pachuca is the next obstacle for the six-time MLS Cup winners to overcome.

What did head coach Greg Vanney have to say about their match vs. Pachuca?

After winning the title last year, Vanney is now a two-time MLS Cup winner as a coach. So is his nephew and current LA Galaxy defender Eriq Zavaleta.

The LA Galaxy have just three wins in their MLS season and only eight games left. Even if the 2024 MLS Cup champions win out, they would need every other team above them to drop.

"This is our playoff. This is our postseason in a way, even though I know we have more games after this, said Vanney. "This is our chance to win a trophy in a meaningful even, get a [Concacaf] Champions [Cup] spot, all those things that come with it. This is for us."

Last year, the LA Galaxy did not advance past the group play stage. A 3-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders ended their efforts in the 2024 Leagues Cup.

The Los Angeles Galaxy won 5-2 against Club Tijuana and 4-0 against Santos Laguna. Even in their only blemish during Phase One of this year's tournament, losing 8-7 in penalty kicks to Cruz Azul, they still found a way to move on to the Knockout Round.

Vanney and his team showed that they can beat competitive Mexican La Liga teams. On Wednesday night, the LA Galaxy welcome Pachuca to their home grass in the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup.

"Everybody in our locker room over there understands the importance this game. We have a pretty good sense of who they [Pachuca], what they like to do, the qualities of their players, things like that.

Standout performances from Joseph Paintsil, Matheus Nascimento (three goals, one assist) each, and Gabriel Pec (two goals) is what helped get the LA Galaxy to this game on Wednesday. If they can produce again for their team, the defending MLS Cup champions aren't done this year.

Kickoff is at 10:45 p.m. at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday night. The victor will face the winner between La Liga's Puebla and the LA Galaxy's nemesis from MLS and the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Sounders FC.