By Tony Álvarez
One of the most consistent squads in MLS will face one of the most popular and beloved teams in North America as two talented teams square off to begin their championship journey.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st matchup between them
- Record at Leagues Cup: LAFC (9-4), Chivas (2-5)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- LAFC:
- 4 Wins, 1 Draw, 0 Losses
- Four game winning streak ended after a 1-1 draw against Whitecaps on August 1
- Chivas:
- 1 Win, 2 Draws, 2 Losses
- Currently in 12th place in Liga MX´s Apertura 2026 after three games
MAIN STORYLINES:
- LAFC returns to Leagues Cup after reaching the quarterfinals in 2023, finishing runner-
up in 2024 and falling in the group stage in 2025. - Chivas is seeking its first knockout-stage appearance.
- LAFC enters Leagues Cup with great momentum, they are currently in second place in the MLS´s Western Conference.
- Chivas will play a Los Angeles team for a second time, as they faced LA Galaxy in 2024
- BMO Stadium is expected to provide one of the tournament's most electric atmospheres as Chivas returns to Southern California, home to one of the club's largest supporter bases outside Mexico.
KEY FACTORS:
- LAFC:
- Denis Bouanga leads the team in goals this season with 10; and is the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history (13).
- Have only lost two games at BMO Stadium in all competitions this year.
- Have won eight matches against Liga MX teams in their home stadium with only two losses.
- Chivas:
- Roberto Alvarado is coming off participating with Mexico in the World Cup, and has already scored two goals in Liga MX´s Apertura 2026.
- Will play their first Leagues Cup match at BMO Stadium, a hostile environment for any road team.
- Chivas will have great support from their fans even on the road.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
There is only one goal set in mind for both LAFC and Chivas as they are seeking their first Leagues Cup championship trophy and they face each other to start the 2026 edition Wednesday at BMO Stadium at 10:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
LAFC has come close to capturing the desired hardware, as two of their three participations have been notable; in the 2023 edition they reached the quarterfinals and in 2024 they lost the final against Columbus Crew by a score of 3-1.
Now they hold one of the most feared rosters in North America with Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min leading the way. The representative of Gabon has scored 10 goals already in the current MLS season and the player from Korea has the same number of assists in the league, something to think of for the Guadalajara back line.
Chivas, on the other hand, is looking for a more efficient Leagues Cup appearance, one that lives up to their rich history. Their late international struggles have taken a toll on one of the most traditional teams in Mexico and the high expectations have not been met, yet.
Head coach Gabriel Milito took over the team prior to the Apertura 2025 and the following semester set a new team record for points, as well as games won. All this has created a positive atmosphere around the team and after disappointments in Leagues Cup play, with players like Mexican International Roberto Alvarado and young striker Armando Gonzalez, this trophy is one very much in reach.
Fireworks are expected in Southern California for this one, as LAFC and Chivas meet for the first time ever to open their Leagues Cup schedule in a game that will have everyone tuning in even since warmups.
Polymarket sees virtually no separation between these two clubs, with both LAFC and Chivas Guadalajara receiving 36% of the market heading into one of the marquee matchups of Leagues Cup's opening week.
