LOS ANGELES – After an eventful June for Los Angeles Football Club, a game against the Vancouver Whitecaps sought to push the team past the flurry of attention.
In the past month for LAFC, the Southern Californians became the final team to qualify for FIFA’s Club World Cup, experienced a silent protest demonstration by fans and announced the departure of French star attacker Olivier Giroud. With a Pride Night celebration announced for their match Sunday, the game seemed to be a culmination of a whirlwind stretch.
The action on the pitch was generally uneventful. A goal in the 20th minute by Vancouver Whitecaps forward Emmanuel Sabbi was the only time either team found the net. However, the night did not lack big events outside of the on-field play.
LAFC spent the past two weeks preparing for and competing in the FIFA Club World Cup. Two losses and one draw eliminated Los Angeles in the group stages. After their draw to Brazilian club Flamengo, it was announced that French striker Olivier Giroud, who signed for LAFC last summer, would play his final game for the Black and Gold on Sunday, leaving for French team Lille afterwards.
With Sunday being LAFC’s return to MLS play, it also meant a return to BMO Stadium. After playing three Club World Cup games in the South, it was a cathartic return to downtown Los Angeles.
After fans hosted a silent protest of ICE raids in the last home game, noise from LAFC’s supporter group, the 3252, was back. Passionate screaming, singing and drumming finally returned to the north end of BMO Stadium.
While playing his final game for LAFC on Sunday, Giroud noticed the return of cheering.
“All through the year since I arrived, the three months I played last year and the four months this year, unconditional support,” said Giroud, who is on a short list of players to win both the World Cup and UEFA Champions League. “I was watching them tonight. We were losing one-nil and (they) kept singing with the same intensity.”
Sunday was also LAFC’s annual Pride Night.
LAFC, which has hosted a Pride Night every year since its inception, excluding 2020, did not disappoint with the celebration. Rainbow fireworks, rainbow training jerseys and rainbow streamers in the supporters section were only the background to the main event of pre-match Pride festivities.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the first ever LGBTQ+ mariachi group, held multiple performances on the concourse of BMO Stadium before the match. The group also played the national anthem before the match started.
Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles 🌈 pic.twitter.com/IEjmNxLn32
— LAFC (@LAFC) June 30, 2025
As the match kicked off, the usual 90 minutes of chanting from the 3252 returned to BMO Stadium.
The Club World Cup, and LAFC’s group stage elimination, was still fresh in the minds of players and fans. Despite the unfortunate results, the experience of playing against teams from around the world is seen as a positive.
“It was good to see how we played against those big teams. For example, like Chelsea, just to see how far we are from that level,” said goalkeeper David Ochoa, who had not played an MLS game since 2022 until getting the starting nod Sunday. “We obviously lost but gave a good performance against Chelsea. I think we can go far in this MLS season.”
Giroud generated the most attention in the leadup to the game. Giroud was 37 when he joined LAFC last summer to help bolster the attack. The Frenchman played all around Europe before joining LAFC. With clubs like AC Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea on his resume, the signing excited LAFC fans everywhere.
Giroud helped LAFC win the 2024 US Open Cup, but struggled to find consistency, scoring five goals in 38 games. After a shaky 2025 season, it was announced on Friday that the game against Vancouver would be his farewell match, with a return to Europe already in motion.
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo saw Giroud’s value as more than just an athlete.
“As you move throughout a career, you learn things, you pick up things and you gain experiences in locker rooms but also on the field,” said Cherundolo, who led LAFC to win the MLS Cup in 2022. “His time here he was able to share that with a lot of the younger players. We thank him for all of his knowledge and his experience that he has openly shared with LAFC and of course his effort on the field and the couple goals.”
Before becoming the oldest member in LAFC’s locker room, Giroud scored 17 goals in 48 games during his final season at AC Milan. LAFC was a new challenge for Giroud, and he was able to take away positive memories in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been a bit emotional because it’s always tough to leave in the middle of the season like that,” Giroud said. “I’m leaving behind me a lot of friends, a lot of great people, especially working at the club. I had a really good relationship and understanding with the boys in the dressing room. So many friends.”
June was a whirlwind month for the Angelino club. At the heart were LAFC’s supporters.
“They love us no matter what and that’s great,” Giroud said. “That’s great. That’s amazing for a football player to feel that support. You just want to give more and give them back. They deserve a successful team and I’m pretty sure that the boys know that and we’ll do our best to make them proud.”
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