By Victor Araiza
Reigning MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy host Orlando City SC for Third Place in the 2025 Leagues Cup, and the accompanying berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 9th meeting all-time (1st in Leagues Cup)
- Orlando City leads all-time series with 5 wins and 3 losses
- Record at Leagues Cup: Orlando City (7-5), LA Galaxy (5-5)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Orlando City
- 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
- Defeated Toluca in quarterfinals but lost to Inter Miami in semifinals.
- LA Galaxy
- 2 Wins, 0 Draws, 3 Losses
- Defeated Pachuca in quartefinals but lost to Seattle in the semifinals.
MAIN STORYLINES
- Regardless of the result both of these teams will obtain their best Leagues Cup finish.
- The Galaxy are looking to secure their 12th appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Orlando City has lost back-to-back games; prior to that had won five straight games.
- Orlando City will seek to secure their 3rd consecutive appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
- LA Galaxy's Mauricio Cuevas and Orlando City's Martín Ojeda co-lead the tournament with three assists each.
KEY FACTORS
- Orlando City
- Pedro Gallese has been a key player in the penalty shootouts with three stops.
- Martín Ojeda and Luis Muriel lead the team with three goals each. Ojeda is tied for the tournament lead with six goal contributions.
- The Lions will be without David Brekalo, who was red carded against Inter Miami.
- LA Galaxy
- Joseph Paintsil leads all players in the Leagues Cup with shots on target, co-leads shots with Luis Suarez.
- Paintsil and Matheus Nascimento lead the Galaxy with three goals each.
- Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec each have two goals for the Galaxy.
WHAT TO EXPECT
After having the Leagues Cup trophy within their grasp, LA Galaxy and Orlando City SC will now have to reset and refocus, with the third place game and a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup at stake.
The Galaxy will relish the opportunity to salvage their season—one in which they currently sit at the bottom of MLS’ Western Conference and have been without star man Riqui Puig due to injury.
Despite their struggles in league play, a rejuvenated LA Galaxy had won nearly every Leagues Cup match up until the Semifinal. Their only loss came in Phase One via a penalty shootout against Liga MX giants Cruz Azul.
Barring a historic run to win out and defend their MLS Cup title, this is essentially Greg Vanney’s squad’s last chance to qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
Orlando City, meanwhile, will be eager to end a two-match losing streak that includes their semifinal defeat to rivals Inter Miami. Marco Pašalić struck in first-half stoppage time, but Oscar Pareja’s side could not hold on as Lionel Messi scored twice late to seal Miami’s comeback.
Coincidentally, the Lions’ most recent victory also came at Dignity Health Sports Park—the site of Sunday’s match—when they eliminated Liga MX champions Deportivo Toluca FC in the Quarterfinals via penalties. Pedro Gallese made two saves and converted the winning spot kick in that encounter.
The statistics suggest another physical contest, as Orlando City (16) and LA Galaxy (14) are the two most carded teams in this year’s Leagues Cup. The Lions will be without defender David Brekalo, who was sent off in the Semifinal and misses the chance to have started all six of their tournament matches.
The two clubs last met in March, when Orlando City earned a 2-1 away victory against the Galaxy. Martín Ojeda and Luis Muriel found the net in the second half to overturn a first-half goal from Christian Ramirez.
