LAFC hosts Chivas at BMO Stadium

Los Angeles FC opened its 2026 Leagues Cup schedule against Chivas de Guadalajara at BMO Stadium on Wednesday, August 5, in one of the higher-profile MLS-Liga MX matchups on the opening slate. The game was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Pacific time in Los Angeles, according to LAFC and the Leagues Cup match page. Apple TV carried the match, with LAFC also listing local radio options including 710 AM ESPN, KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera and KYPA 1230 AM. ### Why was this match one of the headline games on Wednesday? LAFC and Chivas were listed by Leagues Cup organizers as part of the August 5 showcase, with the official tournament schedule naming the Los Angeles meeting as one of the day’s featured U.S.-based games. LAFC said in March that it would open Phase One with three straight home matches against Liga MX opponents — Chivas, Toluca and Querétaro — at BMO Stadium. (lafc.com) Chivas is one of Liga MX’s best-known clubs, and the pairing gave the tournament an early MLS-versus-Liga MX draw in Southern California. World Soccer Talk’s advance listing called it a “marquee” Phase One matchup and published U.S. viewing details ahead of kickoff. (lafc.com) ### How does this year’s Leagues Cup format make the opener matter? Leagues Cup 2026 began on August 4 and runs through September 6, with 36 clubs in the field — 18 MLS teams and all 18 Liga MX teams. The tournament does not use a traditional group stage. Instead, clubs play Phase One matches within league-specific tables, and only the top four teams from each league advance to the knockout round, according to MLS and Leagues Cup organizers. (worldsoccertalk.com) MLS said the competition kept its no-draw format. Teams receive three points for a regulation win, one point each for a regulation draw, and an extra point to the penalty shootout winner if the match is level after 90 minutes. That structure raises the value of the opening match because early points immediately shape each league table. (leaguescup.com) ### Where could fans in the United States watch it? Apple TV was the primary platform for the match, and Leagues Cup said every one of the tournament’s 62 matches would stream globally there. The tournament also said select games would air on linear television in the United States, Canada and Mexico, though the LAFC-Chivas listings reviewed ahead of kickoff centered on Apple TV in the United States. (mlssoccer.com) World Soccer Talk listed the U.S. kickoff as 9:30 p.m. Eastern and 7:30 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, August 5. LAFC’s own match guide listed the same local start time in Los Angeles. ### What else is on LAFC’s Phase One schedule? March 5 was the date LAFC published its Phase One slate, which keeps the club at BMO Stadium for all three opening-round matches. (leaguescup.com) After Chivas on August 5, LAFC is scheduled to host Toluca on August 8 and Querétaro on August 11. The tournament’s next milestones come later in August, when the top four teams from each league table advance to the knockout rounds. (worldsoccertalk.com) Leagues Cup said the competition ends with the final on September 6, and the three top finishers qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. (leaguescup.com) (lafc.com)