In its six seasons in Major League Soccer, LAFC has earned five trophies and a reputation for championship-level football. With Season 7 upon us, and with the Black & Gold’s 2024 schedule having just been announced, a few key dates and trends stand out as the Club readies itself for another title run.
A Distinguished Debut
For the fifth year in a row, LAFC will kick off its MLS season with a home game. This year the opponent is one of the Club’s biggest rivals, Seattle Sounders FC, who will be wearing a new crest and new colors when it visits BMO Stadium on Saturday, February 24.
The game presents a rematch of two of the most important contests in Black & Gold history: the 2023 Western Conference Semifinal, which LAFC won in Seattle, 1-0, just four weeks ago; and LAFC’s first-ever regular season game, in March 2018 (also a 1-0 win in Seattle). Last month LAFC captain Carlos Vela called that 2018 game his favorite moment in the series “because it was the start of something special, and we always have that in mind.”
“It’s a rivalry against a good team,” Vela added. “You always want to beat the best teams and Seattle is one of those teams.”
Also on the line – LAFC’s unbeaten record in season openers. The Black & Gold is 6-0 in season openers dating back to 2018, and is tied with FC Dallas (2012-2017) for the longest season-opener winning streak in league history.
Three Derby Days
There’s not much debate anymore that matches between LAFC and the Galaxy represent MLS’ highest-profile rivalry. Part of the series’ appeal is the teams’ physical proximity to each other, but the games themselves are almost always close, unpredictable, and full of fireworks. Last season the fireworks were literal in that the second of the three derbies in 2023 was played at the Rose Bowl on July 4.
The two clubs will face off on July 4 again this year and at the same historic stadium. Write these three dates on your calendar now:
Sat. April 6, 2024 | LAFC vs. Galaxy | BMO Stadium, Los Angeles |
Thurs. July 4, 2024 | Galaxy vs. LAFC | The Rose Bowl, Pasadena |
Sat. Sept. 14, 2024 | Galaxy vs. LAFC | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson |
The derby has a history, of course – from LAFC’s playoff wins over the Galaxy in 2019 and 2022, to last season’s three regular-season matches, which were decided by just four goals combined.
Last year’s Rose Bowl tilt on July 4, 2023 – originally scheduled for February – was postponed due to bad weather, and ended up setting a new MLS record for attendance (82,110) – a move that might become an Independence Day tradition.
MLS Cup Rematch
LAFC will host MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew at BMO Stadium on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in an anticipated sequel to the 2023 MLS Cup final.
Coming up short in a final always leaves a mark. LAFC played in three championship matches in 2023, and the Club’s losses to Leon and Tigres (in the CCL and Campeones Cup, respectively) were difficult, but its 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup Final was unique in that it could not be alleviated with a game a few days later.
That lingering discomfort can be eased – at least a little bit – when the Crew comes to Los Angeles this July.
West Side Connection
LAFC will not travel to the East Coast until May 25, when the Club takes on Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That means the first three months of LAFC’s 2024 schedule will be spent mostly in the western half of the U.S.
Following that visit to Georgia, though, LAFC’s travel demands increased. LAFC will head to Orlando on June 15, then stop in Austin on the way home (June 19). After that, LAFC will travel east of Texas once more in the regular season: a Sept. 28 trip to Ohio to face defending Supporters’ Shield champions, FC Cincinnati.
Rarities
That matchup against Cincinnati (and reigning league MVP Luciano Acosta) will mark just the third time the clubs have played one another. LAFC won both previous matches – a 2-0 home victory in Cincy’s first MLS season (2019), and a 2-1 result in Cincinnati in April 2022.
LAFC’s home match against the New York Red Bulls on April 20, 2024, will be its third game ever against that club (which made a splash last week by signing Swedish midfielder and 10-year Bundesliga veteran Emil Forsberg). LAFC defeated NYRB in Los Angeles 2-0, in June 2022, avenging a 2-1 defeat at Red Bull Arena in August 2018.
Cincinnati and Red Bulls both advanced to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2023. In all, 23 of LAFC’s 34 regular-season games this year will feature an opponent who made the playoffs last season.
Nineteen of LAFC’s final 25 regular-season games will be played against a team that made the 2023 playoffs.
Windows 24
Like every MLS Season, this one will include a few breaks to make room for other competitions:
June 2-14 | FIFA International Window |
July 21-Aug. 23 | Leagues Cup [TBD] |
Sept. 1-Sept. 13 | FIFA International Window |
October 6-18 | FIFA International Window |
That final FIFA international window (October 6-18) will precede LAFC’s final regular-season game, a Decision Day date at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on October 19, 2024.
Airtime
All 34 of the Black & Gold’s regular season matches will be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, including three broadcasts on FOX/FOX Deportes and three on FS1.
Single-match tickets will be made available for purchase in early 2024. Fans can fill out the form on the single-match tickets page to get notified when single-match tickets go on sale.
A limited number of seats for each match will be available for group tickets. For more information and to reserve group seats, visit the Group Tickets page.
