LAFC plays Seattle for playoff seed

Los Angeles Football Club plays the Seattle Sounders on Saturday at Lumen Field in a match that will finalize the Western Conference standings for the MLS Cup playoffs. LAFC is currently in sixth place, while Seattle holds 43 points and is still seeking a berth in the postseason.

The team entered this week after a 3-1 loss to Minnesota United FC at BMO Stadium. That defeat locked in the sixth seed for LAFC, as they had previously held a range of positions from third to ninth. Interim head coach Xavi Tamarit stated that the specific seed matters less than the competitive mindset the squad builds for this final regular season game.

Tamarit took over on Oct. 1 after Marc Dos Santos was fired. Since that change, LAFC has led 50 of the 450 minutes played. However, the team has failed to score from open play in five consecutive first halves. This pattern has resulted in two leads, a situation that often leads to losses for a group that struggles from behind.

The season has been the most challenging for the club since 2021, when they missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years. A strong start to the season, where they secured 16 of 18 points, initially placed them in the postseason. They confirmed that spot with a 2-2 comeback against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 25. The loss to Minnesota later removed the possibility of a higher ranking.

The outcome of Saturday's game affects other clubs as well. If San Jose Earthquakes win at Minnesota, they will host LAFC in the opening round. If San Jose drops points, Houston or St. Louis could take the third seed. LAFC is 3-6-7 on the road this season, a record that complicates their history of advancing via home-field advantage in previous years.

Forward Denis Bouanga needs two goals to reach 20 for a fourth consecutive season, which would be an MLS record. The team has not scored six points against a conference opponent this season. They lost to both the Galaxy and Minnesota in matches they had previously won against those same clubs earlier in the year.

Seattle is in a precarious position. After a 7-1-3 start, they lost eight straight games. Since play resumed on July 16, they are 4-9-7. If they avoid a loss and specific results align, the Sounders will secure a playoff berth for the 17th time in 18 seasons. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday.