Battle for Survival: LAFC and Esperance Fight for Hope at Club World Cup
Geodis Park stadium in Nashville will witness a dramatic clash today between two teams standing on the brink of elimination. Los Angeles FC and Tunisia's Esperance will meet in the second round of Group D at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, with both sides literally fighting for their footballing lives. The Club World Cup in its new format brings ruthless mathematics. Only the top two teams from each group advance, meaning today's loser will almost certainly find themselves in the stands come Monday. The atmosphere before the match is therefore charged with nervousness and anticipation. Americans on Unfamiliar Territory Los Angeles FC reached this year's tournament via a path they couldn't have imagined just months ago. When FIFA expelled Mexican club León for violating multiple ownership rules, an unexpected opportunity opened up. LAFC seized it in a playoff against Club América, reaching the highest club stage for the first time in their history. The reality of th...