How many times has LAFC won the MLS Cup?

LAFC are preparing to go head-to-head against Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup Final, to be played on Saturday 9 December at Lower.com Field in Ohio (Kick-off pm ET / 1pm PT). Carlos Vela’s side have recent history to back them as they come into the game as reigning champions, but what is their record in the MLS Cup? How many times have they won?

The long, gruelling MLS season has drawn to a close with just one match remaining that pits the best team from either side of the country against each other to win the famous trophy and the title of champions of the USA.

Who are the favourites to win MLS Cup?

The side from Los Angeles have, at times, played scintillating football on the pitches across the United States, overcoming Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo to get to the final, but they are not the favourites, with opponents Columbus Crew, arguably the team with the most exciting style of play in the country, slightly ahead in the odds as kick-off draws closer.

LAFC do, as mentioned, have recent history on their side. Playing the MLS Cup final as reigning champions, in a game that Chiellini said could be his last, must bring with it some sense of confidence before the first whistle goes at Columbus’ daunting ground.

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How many times has LAFC won MLS Cup?

LAFC’s 2022 MLS Cup win, a dramatic game against Philadelphia Union, was their only cup final win to date. The team was founded in 2014 and joined the league in 2018. Since then, across five seasons, they have finished in the playoff position 4 times, making it to the final stage only once, in 2022.

Prior to that game, their closest appearance in the MLS Cup final was in the MLS Conference Final, played at their home ground - back then known as Banc of California Stadium - against Seattle Sounders. The game was a tense affair but the team in green ran out eventual 1-3 winners with Ruidíaz and Lodeiro getting the goals after Eduard Atuesta had put LAFC in front before 20 minutes.

Their only appearance in the MLS Cup final, last year’s event, was even more dramatic than the Conference final of 2019. After a long battle against Philadelphia Union, which finished 2-2 after 90 minutes with two late goals in the final 10 minutes of the game, fans in black and gold thought their opponents had stole the show on 120+4 minutes when Jack Elliott found the net. But it was Gareth Bale, after 128 minutes of action, who equalised for LAFC, taking the game to penalties, where they won with Ilie Sánchez getting the decisive kick, and LAFC claimed their first ever title of MLS Cup champions.