Preview | LAFC vs. Alajuelense – Concacaf Champions Cup

🏟 | BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, CA

BMO Stadium is set to host another significant international fixture as LAFC, currently enjoying their strongest start in club history, welcomes L.D. Alajuelense to Los Angeles on Tuesday night. This match marks the first leg of their two-game, home-and-away Round of 16 series in the prestigious Concacaf Champions Cup.

LAFC enters this contest following a 1-0 triumph over FC Dallas in MLS regular-season play on Saturday night. That victory extended the Black & Gold’s club-record winning streak to five consecutive games to open the season, including three in MLS, thanks to a stunning 55th-minute goal from David Martínez.

The club must now refocus on the intense competition of the Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC), the premier regional trophy. This tournament pits the top 27 clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean against each other across four rounds, culminating in the CCC Final on May 30, 2026.

Costa Rican powerhouse Alajuelense—affectionately known as Los Leones (The Lions) or Rojinegros (Red-and-Blacks)—stands as one of Central America’s most decorated clubs. This encounter marks their second historic meeting with LAFC in CCC play.

In 2023, LAFC successfully navigated past Alajuelense with a 4-2 aggregate scoreline to reach the CCC Quarterfinals. That campaign began almost exactly three years prior, when LAFC’s Denis Bouanga netted his first career hat trick for the Black & Gold, securing a decisive 3-0 win over Alajuelense in the first leg held in Costa Rica.

Although Alajuelense outscored LAFC 2-1 in Los Angeles a week later, the Black & Gold maintained their aggregate advantage, progressing to face Vancouver in the 2023 CCC Quarterfinal. LAFC then dominated the Whitecaps 6-0 on aggregate, subsequently overcoming Philadelphia Union (4-1 agg.) before their impressive run concluded in the Final against Liga MX’s Club Leon, losing 3-1. This marked LAFC’s second appearance in the CCC Final.

Midfielder Timmy Tillman, who participated in both 2023 matches against Alajuelense, emphasized the team’s approach: “Winning Concacaf for the first time would be an incredible achievement, but our focus must be on each individual game. It’s a step-by-step process; we can’t be thinking about the Final before we’ve even played the Round of 16.”

These two formidable clubs will clash again next week in Costa Rica for the crucial second leg. The team with the higher aggregate score will advance to a Quarterfinal matchup against the winner of the Round of 16 series between Cruz Azul and Monterrey. To achieve this, LAFC must deliver a strong performance at home on Tuesday, then prepare for a challenging encounter next Tuesday at Alajuelense’s renowned Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, known for its 19,000 capacity and artificial turf.

Dos Santos remarked, “The initial match is in LA, with the return leg in Costa Rica. Therefore, we must manage the first leg optimally to position ourselves favorably for what will be a very demanding away game. We are well aware of the atmosphere in Costa Rica, so we need to set ourselves up for success in a tough environment.”

Alajuelense competes in the Liga Promerica, also recognized as the Costa Rican Primera División, the nation’s premier football league. Currently, the Rojinegros occupy sixth place in the Clausura table with a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, and 3 draws, having scored 14 goals and conceded 12.

Alajuelense secured their spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup by winning the 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup, earning them a Round One bye in this year’s CCC tournament.

MLSSoccer.com highlights that Alajuelense’s roster features “MLS veterans such as left back Ronald Matarrita, midfielder Alejandro Bran, and striker Ronaldo Cisneros. Alajuelense stands as one of only two teams in the competition not hailing from MLS or LIGA MX, alongside 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup winner Mount Pleasant (Jamaica).”

Hugo Lloris, who has conceded just a single goal in 360 minutes across all competitions this year, stated: “It’s a Champions Cup game, and regardless of the opponent, you must perform at the required level of the competition. It comes down to small details as well… and ensuring we put ourselves in a strong position for the second leg.”

LAFC will emerge victorious if they disregard recent positive headlines surrounding their five-game unbeaten run and instead channel their complete focus on the upcoming 90 minutes against their Costa Rican visitors. Dos Santos remarked, “I don’t believe anyone in the locker room is dwelling on past games; our attention is fully on the match ahead. Every game presents a unique challenge. Alajuelense is a team we did not defeat at home when we last played them [in 2023]. We lost that game. We understand they are a complex opponent.”

Alajuelense can claim victory if they depart Los Angeles with a draw or limit their deficit to just one goal. Currently ranked 29th in Concacaf, Alajuelense holds the highest ranking among non-MLS and non-Mexican teams in this tournament. This illustrates their legitimate standing as a dangerous club with a rich history of 29 appearances in this competition. Alajuelense recognizes that returning home with a narrow aggregate score against their northern adversaries provides them a significant chance to shock the region, electrify their home crowd, and advance to the next round.