LAFC face Chivas de Guadalajara in historic first meeting to open 2026 Leagues Cup
LAFC hosted Chivas de Guadalajara at BMO Stadium on August 5, 2026, in what reports described as the first-ever meeting between two clubs linked by Los Angeles soccer history.
LAFC hosted Chivas de Guadalajara at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on August 5, 2026, in a Leagues Cup Phase One match. Reports described it as the first-ever meeting between the two clubs and the 2026 Leagues Cup opener for both teams.
LAFC hosted Chivas de Guadalajara at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on August 5, 2026, in a Leagues Cup match that served as the tournament opener for the MLS side. ESPN carried live coverage of the game, with scores, highlights and updated statistics, while multiple outlets published viewing information and predicted lineups in the build-up. According to reports, the fixture was the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and reportedly the opening Phase One match for both teams in the 2026 Leagues Cup, which pits MLS clubs against Liga MX opposition. The pairing carries particular weight in Los Angeles: Chivas USA, a subsidiary of C.D. Guadalajara, competed in MLS from 2005 to 2014, playing its home games at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, before folding. The match mattered beyond the result itself. Reports suggested it could divide loyalties among Los Angeles fans who still support Chivas, and LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos indicated he intended to field his strongest available lineup, signalling how seriously his club was taking its Leagues Cup campaign from the outset.
LAFC host Chivas in first-ever meeting at BMO Stadium
LAFC welcomed C.D. Guadalajara to BMO Stadium on August 5, 2026, for the opening match of their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign. According to pre-match coverage, the contest was the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and reports indicated it formed part of Phase One of the competition, which pits MLS sides against Liga MX opposition. It was also reported to be Chivas' first game of the tournament.
The build-up drew heavy media attention. Multiple outlets published viewing guides ahead of kickoff, detailing the TV channel, live stream options and start time for audiences in both countries. Preview pieces included predicted lineups for each side, reflecting the interest surrounding a cross-border clash between one of MLS's most prominent clubs and one of Mexico's most decorated teams.
ESPN carried live coverage of the match, providing a running score, highlights and updated statistics as the action unfolded in Los Angeles. The fixture placed an MLS club and a Liga MX giant in direct competition at the outset of the tournament, with coverage framing it as a landmark occasion for both fanbases.
Chivas USA begins play in MLS
Chivas USA's final season in MLS
LAFC hosts Guadalajara (Chivas) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in a Leagues Cup Phase One match — the first-ever meeting between the two clubs and the 2026 Leagues Cup opener for both teams
The Chivas USA legacy that hangs over this fixture
The fixture carries a particular weight in Los Angeles because of what came before. Chivas USA, an MLS club operating as a subsidiary of C.D. Guadalajara, competed in the league from 2005 to 2014, playing home matches at StubHub Center in Carson, in the Greater Los Angeles area. That decade-long presence means a generation of local football fans grew up supporting a team wearing Chivas colours on LA soil.
Coverage of the August 5 meeting has leaned on that history. According to reports, the match could create divided loyalties among fans in Los Angeles who continue to support Chivas, even as LAFC has become the city's dominant club. The meeting has also been described in preview coverage as the first between two clubs with historical connections, a framing rooted in that shared geography.
Carlos Vela, the Mexican former professional footballer who played as a forward, winger, or attacking midfielder, was among the figures named in coverage of the fixture.
Dos Santos signals full-strength LAFC for the opener
LAFC were not treating the opener as an exercise in squad rotation. According to reports ahead of the match, head coach Marc Dos Santos intended to field his strongest available lineup and, in the words attributed to him, "go for it."
That approach, if carried through, said much about how the club viewed the fixture. Tournament openers against Liga MX opposition are often used to rest players, particularly early in a competition. Dos Santos appeared to see it differently. A first meeting with Chivas, in front of a home crowd at BMO Stadium, was not a night for experimentation. It was an occasion to be won, and LAFC's selection plans reportedly reflected that.
What the result means for the rest of the Leagues Cup
The August 5 fixture opened Phase One of the 2026 Leagues Cup for both clubs, according to pre-match reports, with further MLS-versus-Liga MX fixtures set to follow in the competition's opening stage. What the outcome meant for each side's path through that phase was not part of the coverage available beforehand. The final result, the attendance at BMO Stadium, and the lineups each coach ultimately fielded all remained unconfirmed in pre-match reporting, which focused instead on viewing information, predicted lineups, and the historical framing of the first meeting between the two clubs.
Frequently asked questions
When did LAFC play Chivas in the Leagues Cup?
LAFC faced Guadalajara, known as Chivas, in a Leagues Cup match on August 5, 2026. The game was played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles and served as LAFC's first game of the 2026 Leagues Cup. According to reports, it was also Guadalajara's first game of the tournament and the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.
Where was the LAFC vs Guadalajara match played?
The match was played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, LAFC's home ground. Los Angeles carries extra significance for this fixture: Chivas USA, a subsidiary of C.D. Guadalajara, competed in MLS from 2005 to 2014 and played its home games at StubHub Center in nearby Carson, California, giving the meeting a local historical dimension.
How could fans watch LAFC vs Chivas on TV and streaming?
Multiple outlets published viewing information ahead of the match, including TV channel, live stream options, and kickoff time, though the specific details were not confirmed in the briefing. ESPN provided live coverage of the game, including a live score, highlights, and updated statistics throughout the match.
Was this the first meeting between LAFC and Chivas?
According to reports, the August 5, 2026 fixture was the first-ever meeting between LAFC and Chivas. The two clubs share historical connections, most notably through Chivas USA, the MLS club based in the Greater Los Angeles area that operated as a subsidiary of C.D. Guadalajara from 2005 to 2014. Reports also suggested the fixture could create divided loyalties among Los Angeles fans who support Chivas.
What did LAFC's coach say about the Chivas match?
LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos indicated he intended to field his strongest available lineup for the match, reportedly signaling his intent to go for it. Preview coverage of the game included predicted lineups for both sides, though the actual lineups that took the field at BMO Stadium were not confirmed in the briefing.
Compiled from reporting by 9 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
