LAFC

LAFC has never started an MLS season without Carlos Vela on its roster.That could change Saturday afternoon when the reigning Western Conference champions face the Seattle Sounders at BMO Stadium since Vela, the team’s longtime captain and all-time leader in goals and assists, remains unsigned.But there’s still hope. Because not only has Vela failed to move on, he hasn’t even moved out.“He still has his locker there with all his stuff,” defender Aaron Long said Thursday at the team’s training site. “Maybe there’s…

For the third time in 18 months, LAFC has landed a big-name European star, announcing Saturday that it has signed Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on a free transfer. The one-year deal, which includes club options for 2025 and 2026, is for $350,000, according to multiple sources not authorized to speak publicly about the deal, a steal for the most capped goalkeeper in World Cup history.Lloris, 37, has started 20 World Cup games for France, including the 2018 and 2022 finals. He won the first and lost the second. But…

LAFC has been fined $100,000 and supporter group 3252’s privileges have been suspended pending an investigation by MLS due to allegations of “serious misconduct,” the league announced Wednesday night.The supporter group set off flares not authorized by MLS during LAFC’s Western Conference final match against Houston, creating so much smoke it delayed the game.MLS announced supporter privileges for 3252 attending MLS Cup Saturday will be restricted. Fans could face other sanctions next season after the league completes…

The longest season in MLS history will continue one more week for LAFC.With Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Western Conference final, LAFC earned a spot in next weekend’s Cup final with the Columbus Crew, adding a 53rd match to what has already been the league’s most exhausting schedule ever. But that’s not the only history the defending league champions hope to make in Ohio. With one more victory LAFC will become just the fourth team to win consecutive titles and the first to do so since the Galaxy…

The Galaxy returned to their first home Tuesday night, only to find out they don’t own the property anymore.When the MLS schedule-makers gave the Galaxy a second home date with crosstown rival LAFC this season, the team decided to hold that game at the Rose Bowl, where the Galaxy played during the league’s first six seasons. That paid off handsomely at the gate, with Tuesday’s match and the postgame fireworks show drawing a league-record crowd announced at 82,110.That appeared to be a healthy undercount.But giving up the…

Saturday’s MLS opener between the Galaxy and LAFC at the Rose Bowl has been postponed because of the possibility of heavy rains, flooding and lightning. A league official declined to comment publicly.A makeup date has not been announced.The game, the marquee matchup of league’s first weekend, was expected to break the MLS single-game attendance record of 73,019. More than 70,000 tickets already had been distributed as of midweek. However, the threat of flooding and lightning made going forward with the match untenable.…

Hello and welcome to the weekly L.A. Times soccer newsletter. I’m Kevin Baxter, the Times’ soccer writer, and today we look at the NWSL’s most successful season, the mounting injuries that continue to hurt the U.S. men’s national team and the chaos that reigns in Qatar less than three weeks before the World Cup.But we start with the MLS Cup final, which LAFC will host Saturday when it faces the Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium in a matchup the likes of which the league hasn’t seen in two decades.The last…

Hello and welcome to the weekly L.A. Times soccer newsletter. I’m Kevin Baxter, The Times’ soccer writer, and today we explore the Women’s World Cup draw and Kelley O’Hara’s take on the team’s two-game losing streak; LAFC’s playoff win over the Galaxy; and the growing evidence that Qatar isn’t ready for the World Cup despite a 12-year head start.But we start with the Cristiano Ronaldo soap opera, the final act of which could feature the Portuguese star heading for MLS by next season. And while Southern California would be…

The Galaxy are heading back to the old neighborhood, announcing Tuesday they will open next season at the Rose Bowl, where they played their first MLS game in 1996.But that’s not the biggest surprise because the Galaxy’s opponent in that Feb. 25 game in Pasadena will be their inter-city rival, LAFC. In just five seasons, the series between the teams has grown into the fiercest in U.S. club soccer. And while taking the season opener out of the friendly confines of Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson means the Galaxy will…