2020 Outlook
Los Angeles FC had one of the shorter preseason campaigns with just four matches on their slate before the competitive action started in 2020, facing Uruguayan side Penarol on January 25, before matches against New York City FC, FC Dallas and Toronto FC.
LAFC will feature in the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in 2020. They lost to Mexican side Club Leon in the first leg on February 18 but host the return leg of the tie nine days later.
Just three days after that will be the start of their regular-season campaign as they host MLS new-boys Inter Miami CF in what could be a baptism of fire for the Floridian side. LAFC begin the term with a triple-header at the Banc of California Stadium as they then host Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers, before facing FC Dallas in their first road game, which comes on April 4.
The Black and Gold have another trio of home games in May, where they battle it out with city rivals LA Galaxy in the first El Trafico of the season, before clashes with New York City FC and Houston Dynamo in the rest of the triple-header. The second part of the El Trafico rivalry comes late on in the season on August 23, just six weeks before the end of the campaign. LAFC’s run-in features just three playoff teams from last season, as they face FC Dallas and D.C. United in September and the Houston Dynamo and San Jose Earthquakes before a Decision Day fixture with Real Salt Lake on October 4.
For the first time in their short history, Los Angeles FC will advance straight through to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, thanks to winning the Supporters’ Shield last season.
After such an impressive 2019 term, can LAFC back it up in 2020? Expectations will be high, but they might just be the most talented team in MLS history.