Club World Cup Fantasy 2025: LAFC Best Picks, Predicted Line-up and Team Overview
Club World Fantasy 2025 is here! Continuing with our team previews, we take a look at the LAFC best picks, predicted line-up and team overview.
Knowing how a team could line-up and their best assets could be absolutely key for success in Club World Cup Fantasy. Helping us do that is MLS veteran @dmpwright.
Team Overview
Los Angeles FC (LAFC) earned their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Club América 2–1 after extra time in a special play-off match on May 31, 2025. This match was set up because Club León, who had originally qualified by winning the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, were removed from the competition. FIFA doesn’t allow two clubs with the same ownership to take part in the same Club World Cup, and León shares owners with Pachuca, who had already qualified.
As the runners-up of that same Champions League, LAFC were given a second chance and faced Club América, the highest-ranked CONCACAF side that hadn’t yet qualified. Club América went ahead through a penalty, but LAFC equalized late in the match with a header from Igor Jesus. Denis Bouanga then scored in extra time to win the game for LAFC.
That victory confirmed LAFC’s first-ever appearance at the Club World Cup.
Focusing on their current campaign, LAFC currently sit sixth in the Western Conference after winning six, drawing four and losing five of their first 15 matches. In that period they also scored 27 goals (an average of 1.8 per game), conceded 22 goals, and kept just five clean sheets.
Group and Fixtures
LAFC clash with the following: CR Flamengo (BRA), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN) and Chelsea FC (ENG) in Group D.
Their schedule looks like this:
- Matchday 1 – Chelsea
- Matchday 2 – Esperance
- Matchday 3 – Flamengo
LAFC head into the opening game against Chelsea as significant underdogs, even though the North American side have home advantage.
They then face Esperance, which is their best opportunity in the Group Stage to secure a win.
Closing the group stage, LAFC then clash with Flamengo, which is another game they go into as underdogs.
Predicted line-up
You can check out our Club World Cup Fantasy Ultimate Guide to help prepare you for the upcoming competition.
Top Picks
Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will understandably get the lion’s share of attention among the MLS clubs but don’t sleep on LAFC. Their backline in particular has a few interesting options. Hugo Lloris (€5.2 million) remains a solid pair of hands in goal, albeit very expensive considering some of the other ‘keeper options.
Their starting fullbacks, Ryan Hollingshead and Sergi Palencia (both €5m) like to get high up the field, with Hollingshead regularly among the top defenders in MLS for xG+xA and SoT per 90 (he is top five in both categories so far this season).
Aaron Long (€5m) should also start at centre-back and is an aerial threat from set pieces.
Midfield options are limited, which, Fantasy games aside, has been a big part of LAFC’s problems this season. One-time wunderkind Cengiz Ünder (€5.8m) could be one to watch if he nails a place in the starting XI. Although, recent reports suggest LAFC are unlikely to sign him permanently after his loan comes to an end, which, along with the emergence of David Martínez and Nathan Ordaz, may impact his game time.
Upfront, Denis Bouanga (€7m) is LAFC’s talisman. The Gabon international is not afraid to shoot and has been on a tear in recent weeks, recording no fewer than seven goals and two assists in his last eight league games. He is also on penalties and takes almost all set pieces, occasionally sharing corners with Ünder.
By contrast, Olivier Giroud (€6.5m) has struggled since joining LAFC – the Frenchman still only has two league goals for the club and, like Lloris, is overpriced for what he offers.
There we have it, our LAFC Best Picks, Predicted Line-up and Team Overview. Will you be picking any of their players?
