By Kurtis Ottey

Los Angeles, when it comes to soccer in America the City of Angels could arguably be considered The Mecca. From 2004 to 2014 the west coast paradise was home for two MLS teams, Chivas USA and The LA Galaxy. The natural rivalry created some memorable moments, but unanimously the league decided to shut down Chivas due to an array of problems. A couple years went by with LA being a one team city, as club was formed that would shake up the league in a way no one could have possibly predicted.

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is a professional soccer club based in Los Angeles, California. The club was founded in 2014, and it began playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2018. In just a few years, LAFC has quickly become one of the most successful and popular soccer clubs in the United States.

LAFC was founded with the help of a group of investors led by American businessman Peter Guber and Vietnamese-American businessman Henry Nguyen. The club's first head coach was former United States national team coach Bob Bradley.

The team played its first game on March 4, 2018, against the Seattle Sounders FC. LAFC won the game 1-0, with Carlos Vela scoring the team's first goal. In its first season, LAFC finished third in the Western Conference and reached the playoffs, where they were eliminated by Real Salt Lake in the knockout round.

Off the field, LAFC has been successful in building a strong and passionate fan base. The club's home stadium, Banc of California Stadium, has become a popular destination for soccer fans in Los Angeles and around the country. The team's supporters group, the 3252, is one of the largest and most vocal in the MLS.

The rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC is one of the most intense and exciting rivalries in Major League Soccer (MLS). The two teams, both based in Los Angeles, California, have a history of fierce competition both on and off the field.

The two teams played their first game against each other on March 31, 2018, at StubHub Center (now Dignity Health Sports Park), the Galaxy's home stadium. The game ended in a 4-3 victory for the Galaxy, but it was the beginning of what would become a heated and intense rivalry.

*Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images*

The rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC fittingly known as “El Traffico” is fueled by several factors. One of the main reasons is the fact that the two teams are both based in Los Angeles, a city with a large and passionate soccer fan base.

Another factor is the difference in the teams' histories and identities. The Galaxy, founded in 1996, have a long history of success in the MLS, with five MLS Cup championships to their name. LAFC, on the other hand, were founded in 2014 and have quickly become one of the most successful and popular teams in the league.

The two teams also have different styles of play and different approaches to building their rosters. The Galaxy have traditionally relied on high-profile international signings, such as David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while LAFC have focused on building a more balanced and cohesive team. LAFC in 2022-23 would slightly divert from their strategy to sign Welsch striker Gareth Bale. A move that would lead to the club winning it's first MLS Cup.

The rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC has had a significant impact on the soccer scene in Los Angeles and the MLS. The two teams have helped to raise the profile of soccer in a city that is known for its love of basketball and American football.

The rivalry has also led to increased interest and passion among fans. Games between the two teams are always highly anticipated and often sell out well in advance. The rivalry has also helped to create a sense of community and identity among fans of both teams.

The rivalry has also had an impact on the MLS as a whole. The league has traditionally struggled to attract fans and generate interest outside of its core fan base. The rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC has helped to change that, by creating a compelling and exciting narrative that attracts casual fans and generates media attention.

The rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC is expected to continue to be one of the most intense and exciting in the MLS. Both teams have strong ownership groups and talented rosters, and are expected to be contenders for the MLS Cup championship in the coming years. The real question is which team will be dubbed The Los Angeles Lakers effectively making the other team The Los Angeles Clippers.

The rivalry is also expected to continue to have a positive impact on the soccer scene in Los Angeles and the MLS. It has helped to raise the profile of the league and attract new fans, and has created a sense of excitement and energy around soccer in the city.

According to Forbes, LAFC has an estimated value of 1 billion dollars, making it the valuable team in the MLS, ahead of Atlanta United and LA Galaxy. This value has grown steadily since the team's founding, driven by a number of factors.

One of the main drivers of LAFC's value is its ownership group, led by earlier mentioned entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Henry Nguyen, and Hollywood producer, Peter Guber. The group has invested heavily in the team's facilities, including the construction of the Banc of California Stadium, a state-of-the-art soccer-specific stadium that opened in 2018. The stadium, which seats 22,000 fans, has become a major asset for the team, both in terms of generating revenue and building the team's brand.

In addition to its financial value, LAFC has also had a significant cultural impact, both in Los Angeles and beyond. The team has helped to elevate the profile of soccer in a city that is known for its love of basketball and American football. The team's ownership group has also made a concerted effort to connect with the local community, both through its support of local charities and through initiatives such as the LAFC Foundation, which focuses on promoting youth soccer and healthy living in underserved communities.

LAFC has also become a major cultural touchstone for soccer fans across the United States and around the world. The team's distinctive black-and-gold branding, along with its passionate fan base, has helped to create a strong sense of identity and community around the team. The team's supporters, known as the "3252," have become a fixture at Banc of California Stadium, bringing a level of energy and passion to games that is unmatched in the MLS.

LAFC has had a significant impact on the soccer scene in Los Angeles and the MLS as a whole. The club has helped to raise the profile of soccer in a city that is known for its love of basketball and American football. LAFC has also brought a new level of professionalism and sophistication to the MLS, with its state-of-the-art stadium, innovative marketing campaigns, and international roster of players.

One of the most significant impacts of LAFC has been on the diversity and inclusivity of the MLS. The club has made a concerted effort to reach out to and connect with the Latino and immigrant communities in Los Angeles, which make up a significant portion of the city's population. This has led to increased interest and participation in soccer among these communities, and has helped to make the MLS a more diverse and representative league.

The future looks bright for LAFC. The club has a strong foundation of ownership, management, and coaching, and a talented roster of players. The team's star player, Carlos Vela, is one of the best players in the MLS and has been linked with moves to top European clubs.

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