LAFC are gearing up for a Friday showdown at GEODIS Park, where they’ll lock horns with Tunisian giants ES Tunis in a bid to climb the Group D ladder at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Facing Chelsea right out of the gate was always going to be an uphill battle, and the Black & Gold were handed a 2-0 loss in their opening act. Still, they weren’t without their moments—had Denis Bouanga and David Martínez packed a little more punch in front of goal, things might’ve looked a whole lot different.
As for ES Tunis, they were also dealt a 2-0 defeat to open their tournament run, with Flamengo’s Luiz Araújo and Giorgian de Arrascaeta doing the damage under the lights on Monday night.
Eager to steer clear of back-to-back losses, the Tunisian side will be counting on crafty Algerian playmaker Youcef Belaïli to stir up trouble in LAFC’s backline and tip the scales in their favor.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Where to watch Los Angeles FC vs. Esperance: Live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this FIFA Club World Cup match in the U.S.:
TV channel: None
Live stream: DAZN
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in the United States. For fans who prefer to stream on the go, the tournament will also be shown live on DAZN.
All of the 63 matches throughout the tournament will be on DAZN and new users can sign up to watch every game for FREE.
Los Angeles FC vs. Esperance start time
- Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET | 3:00 p.m. PT
Los Angeles FC vs. Esperance will kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 20, from the Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee.
Los Angeles FC vs. Esperance predicted lineups, team news
LAFC kicked off their Club World Cup journey with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, and while the scoreboard wasn’t kind, the performance showed a bit of grit—especially in the first half.
Now sitting at the edge of a cliff, LAFC know it’s do-or-die time—only a win over Espérance will keep their tournament hopes alive. Anything less, and it’s likely curtains for their campaign.
Denis Bouanga had a couple of golden chances to change the script against Chelsea, but the finishing touch went missing at the worst possible moments. If the same story plays out against Espérance, it could come back to bite. On a brighter note, Ryan Hollingshead turned in a steady shift at left back, and his presence will be vital as LAFC look to flip the script in their second outing.
Los Angeles FC predicted XI (4-1-2-3, right to left): Lloris (GK) — Hollingshead, Segura, Long, Palencia — Igor Jesus — Tillman, Delgado — Bouanga, Ebobisse, Ordaz.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Espérance Tunis stumbled out of the gates in their Club World Cup opener, falling flat in a 2-0 loss to Brazilian heavyweights Flamengo. For much of the match, the Tunisian outfit looked second-best, struggling to string together any meaningful attacking rhythm while being stifled by a rock-solid Flamengo defense.
It took them a staggering 67 minutes to register a shot on target—courtesy of the ever-lively Youcef Belaïli, who was easily the brightest spark in an otherwise dim performance. The Algerian playmaker tried to breathe life into a stale offense, but he was fighting an uphill battle on his own.
Creativity was in short supply, and the backline didn’t help matters either, leaving gaps that Flamengo exploited with ease. If Espérance don’t tighten the screws defensively, LAFC’s attack—still licking its wounds from the Chelsea clash—could slice through like a hot knife through butter.
Esperance predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): B Said (GK) — Ben Hamida, Tougai, Meriah, Ben Ali — Ogbelu, Guenichi — Belaili, Jebali, Yan Sasse — Rodrigues.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
FIFA Club World Cup fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Friday, June 20
- Benfica vs. Auckland City (12:00 p.m.)
- Flamengo vs. Chelseao (2:00 p.m.)
- LAFC vs. ES Tunis (6:00 p.m.)
- Bayern Munich vs. Boca Juniors (9:00 p.m.)
Saturday, June 21
- Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Bor. Dortmund (12:00 p.m.)
- Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds (3:00 p.m.)
- Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD (6:00 p.m.)
- River Plate vs. Monterrey (9:00 p.m.)
Sunday, June 22
- Juventus vs. Wydad (12:00 p.m.)
- Real Madrid vs. Pachuca (3:00 p.m.)
- Salzburg vs. Al Hilal (6:00 p.m.)
- Man City vs. Al Ain (9:00 p.m.)
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