MLS side LAFC and Liga MX`s Club America are set to compete on Saturday for the last remaining berth in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a prestigious tournament commencing in two weeks. The Club World Cup boasts substantial financial rewards, with qualifying teams sharing a total fund of $1 billion. Each participant is guaranteed a minimum of $9.55 million, with potential for additional earnings based on their performance. The victor of the LAFC-Club America match will secure the final place in Group D, stepping in for Club Leon, who were disqualified due to regulations regarding multi-club ownership. If the match remains tied after regular time and extra time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The match is scheduled for kickoff at 10:30 p.m. ET at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. According to the latest odds, LAFC are priced at +170 on the 90-minute money line, while Club America are slightly favored at +155. A draw at the end of regular time is offered at +230. The over/under for total goals is set at 2.5. For progression to the tournament (winning the tie by any means, including penalties), Club America is at -115 and LAFC at -110 on the two-way line. To inform your betting decisions on this LAFC vs. Club America clash, consider the insights from SportsLine`s expert, Jon `Buckets` Eimer.
Jon `Buckets` Eimer was SportsLine`s leading soccer analyst in 2023, achieving a notable record of 248-234-12 (+25.93 units) on his published picks. More recently, he boasts a strong performance over a two-month period, with a 260-133-1 record and generating over 90 units of profit for his followers across different platforms. Those who followed his advice on sports betting platforms have seen significant positive results.
Here are Eimer`s recommended bets for the LAFC vs. Club America 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Play-In on Saturday:
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS) (-130)
- Over 2.5 Total Goals (-110)
- LAFC Team Total Over 1.5 Goals (+135)
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) (-130)
The two teams previously met in a friendly match on February 11, which LAFC won 2-1, with both sides finding the net. This upcoming encounter, however, carries significantly more weight due to the high stakes and the opportunity to qualify for a global tournament featuring elite clubs. The expert, Eimer, anticipates this heightened pressure will lead to both teams adopting aggressive tactics and fielding their strongest lineups for the full duration. He suggests an early goal wouldn`t be unexpected, potentially prompting the trailing team to switch to a more offensive counter-attacking strategy. Given their scoring performance against each other in February, Eimer expects both teams to score again on Saturday.
Over 2.5 Total Goals (-110)
While a penalty shootout is a possibility if scores are level, the perceived balance between the two teams, as reflected in the odds, suggests neither side will likely prioritize playing defensively to force penalties. LAFC`s recent form strongly supports the “over” bet, with four consecutive matches and eight out of their last nine exceeding 2.5 goals. Club America has also surpassed this goal total in three of their last six matches not involving aggregate scores, netting a total of 11 goals in those games. Eimer notes, “LAFC concedes a fair number of goals, but this is often because they trust their attacking ability to score multiple goals against any opponent. I anticipate LAFC will maintain this attacking approach and play a high defensive line against Club America, leading to a game that is very likely to feature goals.”
LAFC Team Total Over 1.5 Goals (+135)
LAFC has demonstrated consistent attacking strength by scoring two or more goals in their last eight consecutive matches. This indicates their commitment to an attacking style regardless of the opponent or stakes. Their offense is spearheaded by Denis Bouanga, who has scored seven goals, all within his last eight appearances. LAFC`s strong offensive output has been a key factor in their current eight-match unbeaten streak. Given his expectation for a high-scoring game, Eimer finds the odds of LAFC scoring over 1.5 goals, especially at plus-money (+135) following their impressive scoring run, to be a compelling bet, even when facing a Club America side known for solid defense.
