LAFC was founded in 2018 by a group that included influential celebrities and investment specialists. According to the Forbes list, LAFC is the richest team in MLS with a value of \$1.25 billion, and globally, it ranks among the 25 wealthiest clubs.

Since its inception, it has competed for multiple titles both in the United States and at the CONCACAF level. In its short history, it has won 1 MLS Cup in 2022, 2 Supporters’ Shields in 2019 and 2022, and 1 U.S. Open Cup.

By securing a spot in the 2025 Club World Cup with a 2-1 victory over a prestigious team like Club América, the Los Angeles-based team is gaining prestige and establishing its name in professional football.

Building for the Future on a Solid Foundation

LAFC aims to increase its presence in Europe by signing cooperation agreements with football clubs and acquiring stakes in them.

On March 13, 2024, LAFC and Bayern Munich signed a cooperation agreement to create a youth development platform called “Red & Gold Football,” in which both clubs own 50%. This initiative will allow for the training and exchange of players between the two teams.

A month later, on April 18, the Los Angeles club announced the purchase of shares in Austrian team FC Wacker Innsbruck, which currently plays in Austria’s fourth division. The goal is for the club to climb the ranks and eventually play in Germany’s Bundesliga.

On January 17, 2024, LAFC also announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich, which plays in Switzerland’s first division.

One of the key objectives of these acquisitions is the development and promotion of players in Europe, as stated in a press release.

Although the amounts involved in these acquisitions have not been disclosed by the club’s management, the press continues to question how much was spent on these purchases.

Since 2022, LAFC has ranked first among MLS clubs in market value and earnings, with a valuation of \$1 billion and revenues reaching \$116 million that year.

Their European vision even extends to the creation of new roles in their organizational structure. On January 16, 2024, Harald Gärtner was appointed as LAFC’s first general manager in Europe.

The German executive will oversee commercial strategy and manage the club’s investments in Grasshopper Club Zürich and Austria’s FC Wacker Innsbruck.

Gärtner has experience as a coach and executive in Austria with FC Ingolstadt and Austria Klagenfurt, as well as in Germany.

In the upcoming Club World Cup, scheduled from June 13 to July 15 of this year, LAFC will compete in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and Espérance de Tunis.

The Los Angeles team was dismissed by the Mexican press and ranked below Club América. Even the Spanish media did not see it as a favorite, but the result highlights how the ambition of its owners continues to fuel LAFC’s determination to become a great club in both the present and the future.