Club World Cup Team Betting Predictions: Los Angeles

Los Angeles FC were the last team added to the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, beating Mexican side Club America in a play-in earlier this month after Club Leon were expelled from the competition. LAFC will now take on Chelsea, Flamengo and Esperance Sportive de Tunis in Group D of the tournament, which kicks off in the USA on June 15.

Below are my Los Angeles Fifa Club World Cup 2025 predictions, where I pick out a player to watch and assess the MLS club's chances of making the latter stages of the 32-team competition.

Group D: Chelsea, Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Los Angeles

Fixtures: Chelsea vs Los Angeles (20:00 BST, June 16), Los Angeles vs Esperance Sportive de Tunis (23:00 BST, June 20), Los Angeles vs Flamengo (20:00 BST, June 25)

Player to watch: Denis Bouanga

Los Angeles, or LAFC, may be a late addition to this year's Club World Cup, but they won't be heading to the tournament to make up the numbers.

With plenty of experienced heads in the camp, notably Hugo Lloris, Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga and Cengiz Under, as well as talented youngsters such as Igor Jesus and David Martinez, the Black and Gold will be full of belief that they can make an impression on the competition.

Steve Cherundolo's side battled back from a goal down in their play-in tie with Club America on June 1, equalising through Igor Jesus in the 89th minute before taking the lead five minutes before the end of extra time and avoiding a penalty shootout.

LAFC are 10 games unbeaten, last tasting defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Inter Miami on April 10, highlighting just how tough they are to beat at present.

Of course, they're likely to find things tougher in the Club World Cup, but momentum is a big thing in football, and LAFC have plenty of that behind them.

Club World Cup 2025 Odds

In Group D, LAFC will face Chelsea first, followed by fixtures against Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Flamengo. It's a tough start for Cherundolo's charges, but they're expected to brush aside the Tunisians in their second game, which would potentially leave them with a winner-takes-all clash against the Brazilians on the final day.

To qualify ahead of Flamengo, LAFC might need to tighten things up in defence, as they've kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 matches, shipping 18 goals in that run, which has seen them concede at least twice in six.

On a more positive note, they don't lack for goals at the other end, netting 2+ times in their last 11 contests. Bouanga (eight goals) is their leading marksman in MLS, but five others have scored multiple times in the competition this season.

Under and Giroud haven't exactly lit up America with their performances since joining LAFC, and neither is expected to start their side's first game at the Club World Cup, but the quality of both players cannot be underestimated, and they could be two hugely effective substitutes in the latter stages of a match.

Player to watch: Denis Bouanga

I waxed lyrical about LAFC forward Bouanga's big-game prowess in my Los Angeles-Club America preview, ahead of their play-in tie earlier this month, and the Gabon international duly delivered, popping up toward the end of extra time to send his side through to the Club World Cup.

The 30-year-old is now on 12 club goals for the season, and nine have come in his last 10 appearances.

Playing from the left-hand side of a front three, Bouanga likes to get in behind defences and shape shots with his right foot towards the far corner of the goal, a la Thierry Henry at Arsenal.

He's someone who never shies away from an opportunity, as evidenced by his shots-per-game average of five in MLS this year and the eight attempts he mustered against Club America earlier this month.

Bouanga isn't passive in defence, though, averaging 0.9 tackles and 1.9 fouls per game in America's top-tier league, and he'll need to be at the top of his game in all areas if LAFC harbour any ambitions of a deep run in this tournament.

Football Odds

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Prediction: Third in Group D

For me, it's a straight shootout between LAFC and Flamengo for second place in Group D. I'm not overly convinced by Chelsea, but I do think they have enough quality to claim top spot, leaving the Americans and Brazilians to battle it out for runners-up on the final day.

The familiarity of playing in the USA may benefit LAFC, but their defence can be got at, and Flamengo, who have struck 24 times in 11 Serie A games this season, are a side that can punish any mistakes made.

Cherundolo's side are heavily reliant on Bouanga to do the business, and if he's not on top form, they are likely to struggle.

I wouldn't totally put you off backing LAFC to qualify from Group D at 6/5, but it's not a selection that I could tip with much confidence.

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