If you thought the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a great time, buckle up for another summer classic, The Leagues Cup. The tournament that sees MLS sides take on Liga MX sides in a battle for bragging rights and a piece of silverware. It is also a tournament that LAFC has yet to see success in, so this is another chance for the club to really make a statement and come away with some silverware as they continue to push towards the MLS Cup Playoffs. As far as tournament kickoffs go, tonight will be a big one as, for the first time ever, LAFC will be taking on Mexican giants Chivas de Guadalajara, right in the heart of Los Angeles.
Día de partido: #LAFCvGDL
⏰ 7:30 PM PST
🖥️ @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/Tkg4LiWmvW— LAFC (@LAFC) August 5, 2026
Chivas have had a pretty rough sunny season. Before the World Cup pause they were dumped out of the Liga MX Clausura Semi-Final by Cruz Azul in May, then when play resumed and the Liga MX season stated anew, they lost their season opener, following it with a home win, before most recently salvaging a draw on the road. It is only three matches into their season and they are fresh off World Cup action, but Chivas real big issue so far this summer has been lack of scoring. An offense that doesn’t have bite and lacks a true superstar to carry them. That said, Los Angeles always seems to bring out the best in Mexican teams, and Chivas will be looking to make a statement of their own in Leagues Cup.
In a lot of ways, this tournament couldn’t have come at a better time for LAFC. After a very rocky stretch going into the break, they have come back from the World Cup pause refreshed and looking a lot more like the side we all thought they were in those first few matches. Heung-Min Son is back to his scoring ways, having bagged a goal in every match he’s played in post World Cup, including his MVP performance with a brace during the MLS All-Star Game. While this might be the first-ever meeting with Chivas, the black & gold aren’t strangers to nights like this. They know just how much matches against their Mexican counterparts mean and they also know being in Los Angeles, the crowd tonight will be as divided as it gets in BMO Stadium. The big key for the boys tonight will be remaining calm. Not letting the moment get to them. They are the better team, in the better form, at home. As long as they don’t play outside themselves, they should see a big result tonight.
How To Watch
Hard to kickoff a tournament with a matchup like this one. For the first time ever, LAFC will meet Chivas and they do so at home. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm PST from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The match will be broadcast live and can be watched on AppleTV. The match will also be streamed on Coupang Play (Korea) as well as SpoTV (Korea). The match will also be available on radio broadcast on 710 AM Los Angeles, 980 AM La Mera Mera for Spanish broadcasting, and KYPA 1230 AM for Korean broadcasting.
Thoughts on LAFC’s Leagues Cup chances? Let us know in the comments below!