LAFC Standings: Season-by-Season Performance History
Track LAFC's MLS standings from their 2018 debut through 2025, including regular season finishes, playoff runs, and key moments.
Los Angeles Football Club has been one of the most successful expansion franchises in MLS history. Since joining the league in 2018, LAFC has posted some of the best regular-season records ever seen, won the Supporters' Shield, claimed an MLS Cup title, and established themselves as a perennial Western Conference contender.
This article tracks LAFC's standings performance year by year, covering their regular-season finishes, playoff results, and the key factors behind their success. For a broader look at how MLS standings work, see our guide to MLS standings.
LAFC's Season-by-Season Standings
2018: The Debut Season
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 3rd (Western) | | Record | 16W - 9L - 9D | | Points | 57 | | Goals Scored | 68 | | Playoff Result | Knocked out in Conference Semifinals |
LAFC entered MLS with a $110 million expansion fee and immediately proved they were no ordinary expansion team. Head coach Bob Bradley assembled a roster anchored by Carlos Vela, who scored 14 goals and added 13 assists in the club's inaugural season. LAFC finished third in the West and hosted a playoff match in their first year -- something that took most expansion clubs multiple seasons to achieve.
The team played at Banc of California Stadium (now BMO Stadium), a purpose-built 22,000-seat venue in the heart of Los Angeles that became one of the best atmospheres in MLS from day one.
2019: The Record-Breaking Year
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 1st (Western) | | Overall Finish | 1st (Supporters' Shield) | | Record | 21W - 4L - 9D | | Points | 72 | | Goals Scored | 85 | | Playoff Result | Eliminated in Conference Finals |
The 2019 season was a masterpiece. LAFC broke the MLS points record with 72 points, and Carlos Vela won the MVP award with a staggering 34 goals and 15 assists -- the best individual season in league history. The team's +45 goal difference was the best ever recorded.
Despite dominating the regular season, LAFC fell to the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in the Western Conference Final, a result that highlighted the gap between regular-season excellence and playoff success in MLS. For more on how the playoff format works, see our MLS playoffs guide.
2020: The Pandemic Season
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 7th (Western) | | Record | 9W - 8L - 6D | | Points | 33 | | Playoff Result | Eliminated in First Round |
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 season significantly. MLS played a shortened schedule, and LAFC struggled with consistency. Carlos Vela missed a large portion of the season due to personal reasons and injury, and without their talismanic attacker, the team could not replicate previous form.
LAFC still qualified for the playoffs but were knocked out in the first round, ending a disappointing campaign by their high standards.
2021: Transition and Rebuilding
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 9th (Western) | | Record | 12W - 13L - 9D | | Points | 45 | | Playoff Result | Did not qualify |
The 2021 season marked LAFC's first time missing the playoffs. Bob Bradley departed, and the club began a period of transition. Key players from the 2019 squad had moved on, and the roster was being retooled. It was a humbling year for a club that had set the standard just two seasons earlier.
2022: The MLS Cup Championship
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 2nd (Western) | | Record | 21W - 9L - 4D | | Points | 67 | | Playoff Result | MLS Cup Champions |
Under new head coach Steve Cherundolo, LAFC roared back with the signing of Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini. The team finished second in the West with 67 points and then navigated a thrilling playoff run.
The 2022 MLS Cup Final against the Philadelphia Union is widely regarded as the greatest match in MLS history. LAFC trailed 3-2 in the 128th minute before Gareth Bale headed in a dramatic equalizer. Goalkeeper John McCarthy, who had entered as a substitute, saved the decisive penalty in the shootout to deliver LAFC their first MLS Cup title.
2023: Defending the Title
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 3rd (Western) | | Record | 17W - 10L - 7D | | Points | 58 | | Playoff Result | Eliminated in Conference Semifinals |
LAFC remained competitive in 2023 but could not repeat as champions. Denis Bouanga emerged as the team's primary attacking threat with 20 goals, while the club continued to blend experienced internationals with homegrown talent. A semifinal exit ended their title defense.
2024: Sustained Contention
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Conference Finish | 4th (Western) | | Record | 16W - 11L - 7D | | Points | 55 | | Playoff Result | Eliminated in First Round |
The 2024 season saw LAFC remain in the playoff picture but face earlier-than-expected elimination. The Western Conference's depth made every playoff spot competitive, and LAFC's first-round exit raised questions about whether the squad needed significant reinforcement.
2025: Last Season
The 2025 season saw LAFC continue to compete in the Western Conference, building on the foundation established during their championship-winning 2022 campaign. The club maintained its commitment to investing in Designated Players and fielding one of the deeper rosters in the conference.
2026: The Current Season
The 2026 campaign is underway with LAFC looking to recapture the form that made them the league's best team in 2019 and 2022. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to bring unprecedented attention to soccer in the United States, LAFC is well-positioned to capitalize as one of the league's flagship clubs.
Key Factors in LAFC's Standings Success
Home-Field Advantage
BMO Stadium has been a fortress for LAFC since it opened. The 22,000-seat venue, located in the Exposition Park neighborhood, consistently produces one of the best home records in MLS. The intimate design, steep stands, and passionate supporter group (the 3252) create an atmosphere that visiting teams find genuinely difficult to play in.
Designated Player Strategy
LAFC's approach to the Designated Player rule has been central to their success. The club has consistently invested in high-profile DPs -- from Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi to Gareth Bale and Denis Bouanga -- ensuring they have difference-makers who can elevate the team above the salary cap's constraints.
Coaching Stability and Quality
Bob Bradley built the foundation, and Steve Cherundolo delivered the championship. LAFC has avoided the revolving door of coaches that plagues many MLS clubs, instead investing in tactically sophisticated managers who get the most from their rosters.
How LAFC Compares to Other Expansion Teams
LAFC's trajectory stands out among MLS expansion clubs. While Atlanta United also had immediate success (winning MLS Cup in their second season in 2018), LAFC's consistency across multiple seasons sets them apart. In their first five full seasons, LAFC accumulated more points than any expansion club in MLS history over the same span.
For the full story of how expansion teams have fared, see our MLS expansion teams history.
Looking Ahead
LAFC's standings history shows a club capable of both historic highs and occasional setbacks. Their record-breaking 2019 season and dramatic 2022 MLS Cup victory define the franchise, but the 2021 playoff miss and early exits in other years demonstrate how thin the margins are in MLS. With continued investment in the roster and stadium infrastructure, LAFC remains one of the teams most likely to challenge for top spots in the Western Conference table for years to come.