The jet touched down at a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport at about 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, and off stepped Olivier Giroud, the internationally coveted French forward who has joined LAFC for what promises to be a memorable journey.
A 2018 World Cup champion and the all-time leading scorer in the history of France’s mens national team, Giroud was introduced to Los Angeles at a press conference Thursday afternoon in downtown LA.
"It was a bit crazy, if I can say that, because my dream was to one day play in MLS," Giroud told reporters. "This is the best club in the league … In six years, already two MLS finals, two Champions League finals. And I’m very pleased that I have the opportunity to play with Hugo [Lloris].
“We are second in the table, with two games in hand, and the target is to finish at the top.”
The club has set no timetable for Giroud’s on-field debut for the Black & Gold. LAFC advanced into the Round of 32 in Leagues Cup 2024 by virtue of a thrilling draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday night at BMO Stadium, and is awaiting word of its next opponent in that competition. Giroud is expected to be on hand for that Round-of-32 match, which is tentatively set for Wednesday night, August 7, either at home in Los Angeles, or in Houston.
LEAGUES CUP POSSIBILITIES
LAFC is the only team in its three-team group (Vancouver and Tijuana are the others) that has secured a spot in the knockout stage of Leagues Cup, the World-Cup-style tournament that includes every team in MLS and Liga MX, and lets them battle it out until champion is decided in the final on August 25.
LAFC’s opponent in the next round will be determined Saturday night, based on the outcome of two matches that both kick off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, August 3: Vancouver vs. Tijuana, and Pumas UNAM vs. C.F. Monterrey. All Leagues Cup matches can be seen on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LAFC supporters eager to host a home game in the next round will be pulling for Pumas to defeat Monterrey on Saturday. That result would – due to Leagues Cup rankings and location rules – place LAFC’s next match at BMO Stadium.
The outcome of the Vancouver-Tijuana match will also have a say in LAFC’s next opponent. Click here for the full Leagues Cup standings and tournament breakdown.
VIEWS ON VANCOUVER
No one will hang it in the Louvre, but Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Vancouver (followed by a penalty shootout that gave the ‘Caps an extra point) was a master class in grit and never-say-die determination. Two early Vancouver goals put the visitors ahead, 2-0, inside match’s first 18 minutes. The scoreboard stayed that way during a torrent of LAFC shots, until late goals from Kei Kamara and Mateusz Bogusz snatched a tie from the jaws of defeat.
“That's what I shared with the guys in the locker room,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said afterward. “We advanced. We didn't lose in 90 minutes, however you wanna put that, and that was the objective tonight. Now we'll see who we play.
“Putting yourself in that in that deep of a hole is always difficult, but I was happy with chasing the game, and then getting a point in the end was fantastic.”
Added defender Sergi Palencia: “It was a great team effort, we didn't give up until the end. Thanks to the supporters— they are always there behind us supporting us, giving us strength to come back. With all the atmosphere it was a shame that the penalties we were not at that level. But we have to take these things as a positive for us and try to build from here.”
LEWIS LANDS
It has been a week of stirring matches and exciting new arrivals. Amidst the hubbub around Giroud’s flight from Europe came Tuesday’s announcement that LAFC has added energetic, relentless midfielder Lewis O’Brien on loan from English Premier League club Nottingham Forest. The 25-year-old O’Brien (who just got married last month), took in the Vancouver match on Tuesday night.
Here's a primer on the Black & Gold’s newest member, on and off the pitch.
HIS NAME IS LUCA
LAFC2 defender Luca Bombino, donning the No. 15 shirt, has been a consistent starter and key contributor for the United States’ U-20 squad that just qualified for the 2025 U-20 World Cup. The Americans haven’t conceded a goal in the Concacaf Under-20 Championship tournament that’s going on now. Bombino and team will face Panama in the semis this Friday, in León, Mexico.
