LA Galaxy Snatch Concacaf Champions Cup Spot After Nightmare Season
Despite sitting at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference standings, LA Galaxy has secured their place in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup following a 2-1 victory over Orlando City SC in the Leagues Cup third-place playoff.
With only 19 points accumulated across 27 MLS matches, Galaxy discovered their rhythm during the MLS vs. Liga MX competition and earned their Champions Cup qualification for consecutive years thanks to strikes from Marco Reus and Joseph Paintsil in the bronze medal match.
"Ultimately, we aimed to reach the [final], but today our priority was securing our Concacaf berth and everyone delivered, which is what matters most, and we were determined to win," stated veteran midfielder Diego Fagundez following the club's 12th continental tournament qualification. "We understand this hasn't been our strongest campaign, but victories in these crucial matches are vital."
During the competition, Galaxy showcased some of their finest performances of the campaign, overcoming Club Tijuana and Santos Laguna in the opening phase, before suffering a penalty shootout defeat to 2025 Concacaf champions Cruz Azul. They knocked out Pachuca in the quarter-final stage before losing to Seattle Sounders FC in the semi-finals.
Different from the UEFA Champions League format, the Concacaf Champions Cup features exclusively elimination matches, with each stage consisting of two-leg ties until the final, which is decided in a single decisive encounter.
Through their third-place Leagues Cup finish, Galaxy will enter the opening round with 21 other clubs, while five teams — including the Leagues Cup winners — will receive direct passage to the Round of 16 to complete the 27-team field.
Previously, Galaxy earned automatic advancement to the Round of 16 as MLS Cup winners after defeating New York Red Bulls in the championship match. However, achieving Champions Cup qualification during one of the franchise's most difficult seasons represents an unexpected accomplishment.
"Galaxy deserves participation in every available competition, and we were determined to ensure that opportunity remained open, which we accomplished today," Fagundez continued. "We're pleased with this result, though we still have remaining fixtures, and while it's not ideal, we aim to conclude the season positively."
In the 2025 Champions Cup edition, Galaxy was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Tigres UANL, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC became the top-performing MLS representative by reaching the final.
Although Galaxy continues without star midfielder Riqui Puig, his return is anticipated for the Champions Cup commencement, scheduled between Feb. 3-5, positioning Galaxy as legitimate contenders in the elimination format.
Additional qualified MLS clubs include Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders, with potentially seven more teams able to secure spots before the season concludes.
Galaxy will have an opportunity for silverware on Oct. 1 when they meet Toluca in the Campeones Cup, which matches the previous year's MLS Cup and Liga MX champions. Following that, they'll focus on building momentum for 2026 through their remaining 2025 fixtures, despite playoff qualification being mathematically eliminated.
The 2026 Champions Cup draw is scheduled for Dec. 3, occurring two days prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.
"This represents a demanding competition featuring the elite clubs from both leagues, and reaching this stage has been difficult... but the squad delivered the necessary result," commented LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. "LA Galaxy belongs in the Champions [Cup]. It's among our organizational expectations, and the team fulfilled that requirement."