Now things get real. LAFC are on the doorstep of another final. One step closer to adding more silverware to the cabinet and just one more test away from the chance at winning a competition they have had their eyes on since they became a club. Leg one of the Concacaf Semifinals gets played tonight and it doesn’t get any easier after the team cruised past Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals. Los Angeles are set to host Toluca, a Liga MX side in some mixed form, but having a really great showing in this particular competition this year.
Matchday: #LAFCvTOL
⏰ 7:30 PM PST
🖥️ FS1 & TUDN
🎧 @espnlosangeles & K-Radio 1230 pic.twitter.com/cnaXuUsrpF— LAFC (@LAFC) April 29, 2026
Toluca come into this match having won four of their last six outings. Two of those four wins coming in the Champions Cup quarterfinals, where they got past the other Los Angeles side, LA Galaxy, in dominating fashion with an aggregate scoreline of 7-2. Toluca have lost just once this tournament, the first leg competition opener to San Diego FC 3-2. Since then, they’ve won out, scored 11 goals, and conceded just two goals on the road to the semifinals. While this wont be their first trip to Los Angeles, it will be their first-ever meeting with LAFC. Toluca is a side that can get goals from anywhere on the pitch. Defense, midfield, attack, they have goal scorers everywhere. A couple of players to really keep focus on are forwards Alexis Vega and Sebastián Córdova, who tend to play in the middle of the pitch and while they can score, tend to be more service for the rest of their team.
“The important thing is to win the first leg, and go with an advantage to Toluca” said LAFC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos when speaking to media ahead of this match. “It’s [the tie] against a very difficult opponent, and right now one of the best teams in Concacaf.” Obviously, every team would say they want to win the first leg in a tie like this, but for MLS teams, when the first leg is at home and the second leg looming is in Mexico, it becomes even more crucial to go into that second leg with a lead. Preferably a sizable one. That said, the real goal is winning, no matter the scoreline. For LAFC, not just winning, but getting their attack back on track would be a great as well. Denis Bouanga and Heung-Min Son have found it a bit of a struggle early on this season to really find some consistency, at least when compared to how great they looked to close out last season. If Los Angeles are going to put themselves in to the Champions Cup finals and into a position to win that trophy, they will need their superstars to step up a bit more.
How To Watch
The first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals kicks off at 7:30pm PST from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The match will be broadcast live and can be watched on FS1 as well as TUDN. The match can 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 the big test against Toluca tonight? Drop a comment below!