In Saturday’s high-stakes play-in game for León’s vacated Club World Cup slot, LAFC edged América 2-1, and secured Major League Soccer a third place in the expanded global tournament. For LAFC, it’s redemption against a Mexican side in a high-profile setting after losing to León in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup final.

LAFC will also join fellow MLS sides Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders in the Club World Cup, while América is left to lick even more wounds, playing in Saturday night’s event fresh off falling short in the Liga MX final vs. Toluca. Pachuca and Monterrey will remain as Mexico’s lone Club World Cup entrants.