LAFC’s Club World Cup Collapse Exposes MLS’s Global Ceiling

At GEODIS Park in Nashville, LAFC suffered a 1-0 loss to Espérance de Tunis, crashing out of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup without scoring a single goal.

Two games, two defeats, zero goals — and a mountain of unanswered questions. What was supposed to be MLS’s global showcase turned into a shattered mirror reflecting the league’s fragilities and contradictions for the world to see.

Missed Chances, Harsh Lessons

The lone goal came in the 70th minute, when Youcef Belaïli capitalized on a scramble in the LAFC box. Steve Cherundolo’s side had its moments — a disallowed goal for offside in the first half and a last-gasp penalty opportunity. But Denis Bouanga’s miss from the spot sealed LAFC’s fate.

Hugo Lloris was a standout once again with four key saves, but even the veteran keeper couldn’t mask the truth: LAFC weren’t up to the challenge.

Espérance Fans Take Over — While LAFC Fans Stay Home

GEODIS Park felt more like a home match for Espérance, with Tunisian fans painting the stands red and yellow. LAFC’s famously devoted supporters? Largely absent. With weekday flights nearing $400 and many fans already having traveled to see the Chelsea match in Atlanta — or saving up for what was supposed to be a decisive match against Flamengo — the stands told a story of practical limits.

Bouanga Under Pressure, Cherundolo on the Clock

Bouanga, usually one of the league’s brightest stars, looked out of sync and ineffective against international competition — missing a sitter against Chelsea and blowing LAFC’s last hope of avoiding a last-place finish in Group D.

It raises the uncomfortable question: is Bouanga merely “MLS good”? Or is he a victim of a system that doesn’t suit him — like fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud, who looked stranded in “Dolo-ball,” LAFC’s pragmatic, low-block, possession-light style.

Cherundolo has already announced his departure after the 2025 season. Internally, Ante Razov is seen as the favorite to replace him, though names like Jim Curtin and Josh Wolff surface with skepticism. The real question: does LAFC need someone outside the MLS coaching echo chamber?

2025: The Year Thorrington Got It Wrong

GM John Thorrington has built a strong résumé — but 2025 may haunt it.

• Lewis O’Brien departed despite having Designated Player potential.
• Cengiz Ünder arrived injured and left.
• Javairô Dilrosun just arrived and remains unproven.
• Matty Bogusz was sold… and went on to win the CCC with Cruz Azul.
• Odin Holm, Frankie Amaya, and Ryan Raposo haven’t come close to filling Eduard Atuesta’s shoes.

It’s hard to argue that this was the best version of the LAFC project.

Giroud, Lloris, and the Griezmann No-Show

Giroud is expected to leave at year’s end. Lloris is undecided, though a return to Europe seems more likely now — especially after LAFC’s failed pursuit of Antoine Griezmann.

To European stars, LAFC no longer looks like an alluring project. Who wants to play deep blocks and chase shadows when you’ve lifted the World Cup?

Cherundolo, to his credit, acknowledged the rigidity: “If they press like this, it’s because I’m annoying in training.” But against teams like Espérance, who also know how to suffer without the ball, LAFC’s lack of creativity was glaring.

Broken Expectations, Shattered Narratives

This early exit is more than a disappointment — it’s a reality check for MLS. Outside of Messi, LAFC was the league’s most globally viable project: tactically coherent, ambitious, based in a World Cup host city.

What the world saw, instead, was a team overly reliant on a few names, boxed in by roster rules, and out of ideas under pressure.

Even rising talent David Martínez — billed as LAFC’s big hope — remains raw. He was offside on the disallowed goal and days earlier struck teammate Nathan Ordaz in the head during the Chelsea game, causing a concussion that ruled him out against Esperance.

What Comes Next: Roster Reset Incoming

With contracts set to expire in December for Hollingshead, Tillman, Giroud, Lloris, Amaya, Palencia, and Marlon, GM Thorrington faces a complete roster overhaul.

The dream of a global, modern, dominant LAFC has stalled. Even loyal fans are asking: What’s the plan now?

Club World Cup Was MLS’s Global Test — And It Failed

The 2025 Club World Cup was MLS’s golden chance to prove it could hang with the elite. Instead, LAFC’s early exit said the quiet part out loud. Seattle, at least, fought. LAFC folded.

The curtain closes — and this time, there’s no applause.