Denis Bouanga fired Los Angeles FC into the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup with a dramatic extra-time winner, sealing a 2-1 victory over Mexico’s Club América in a high-stakes playoff at BMO Stadium on Saturday night.
The winger, instrumental throughout the match, delivered the decisive moment in the 115th minute. His low-driven shot deflected wickedly off a defender and wrong-footed the goalkeeper, sparking celebrations in front of the home crowd.
After a tense, goalless first half, Club América broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. A VAR review led referee Wilton Sampaio to award a penalty against LAFC’s Mark Delgado for a foul on Erick Sánchez. Former LAFC forward Brian Rodríguez, now with Club América, calmly converted from the spot against World Cup winner Hugo Lloris.
LAFC responded with relentless pressure, and their persistence was rewarded in the 89th minute when Igor Jesus rose highest to head in a corner — his first goal for the club — and send the match into extra time.
Bouanga’s winner secured LAFC the final spot in the 32-team Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, with $1 billion in prize money on offer. LAFC joins Group D alongside Brazil’s Flamengo, Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis, and English giants Chelsea.
The playoff was necessitated after Mexico’s Club León was disqualified from the tournament in March due to a breach of FIFA’s ownership rules. Their appeal was later rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, clearing the way for LAFC to make history.
