Hugo Lloris and LAFC Set for Club World Cup Showdown Against Chelsea
Los Angeles FC is set to take the field on Monday in Atlanta for their first match in the Club World Cup, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stepping into a familiar encounter against Chelsea, a team he knows well from his time at Tottenham Hotspur. The Club World Cup represents a significant highlight in Lloris’ brief career in the United States, which commenced last year, as well as LAFC’s biggest opportunity to make a mark on the international stage.
According to The Guardian, Lloris expressed his excitement about the upcoming match, stating, “It’s huge, even for me,” The Guardian reported. “I used to play against Chelsea so many times in my career. I still have my friends, close friends [in the Premier League]. With the time difference, we go through text messages.”
Lloris played a crucial role in securing LAFC’s spot in the tournament by making a vital save late in extra time during the play-in match against Club América. The score was tied 1-1 in the 109th minute when Club América’s Javairô Dilrosun fired a blistering shot from eight yards out. However, Lloris reacted quickly and deflected the ball away from the near post. Six minutes later, Denis Bouanga scored, securing a 2-1 victory for LAFC.
LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead praised Lloris, saying, “He knows where shots are going before they’re hit,” as quoted by The Guardian. “He’s got a read on players and their body in the way that they move that is just different.” Hollingshead believes Lloris’ awareness reflects his ability to analyze situations and coordinate defenders quickly.
Fellow defender Aaron Long, LAFC’s captain, commended Lloris’ physical skills, stating, “Everyone talks about what a great shot stopper he is,” The Guardian reported. “But I think he’s amazing with his feet building out. I think it’s a really underrated skill of his.” Long also praised Lloris’ temperament, saying, “I think there’s absolutely no ego when it comes to Hugo. He’s one of the nicest players we have.”
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo described Lloris’ leadership, stating, “When nobody in the locker room wants to speak, Hugo speaks at the right moments with the right content,” The Guardian reported. “I think his emotional intelligence in the locker room and off the field has been very important and has been quite impressive.”
Lloris experienced a challenging start to his first season in Major League Soccer last year, allowing 19 goals in his first 11 league matches. However, he collected five successive clean sheets and compiled a personal streak of 502 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal. With his help, LAFC forged a 10-game unbeaten streak, which included nine wins.
The World Cup winner also had to adjust to the league’s unique demands, including long-distance travel. “The away game is clearly a difficult task,” Lloris said. “It’s not easy to travel three, four, five hours, sometimes, and manage a good performance.”
Lloris has enjoyed embedding himself in LAFC’s communal atmosphere, stating, “It’s more a club with a human dimension,” The Guardian reported. “Tottenham is a great club with great people but [here] there is more proximity between people. It makes relationships easier.”
The play-in match against Club América provided an example of this camaraderie. After the victory, Lloris was being interviewed while holding his five-year-old son, Leandro. “We had an amazing night,” Lloris said. “From the preparation of the game through the warm up, during the game and after the game, the communion with the fans, with owners, with coaching staff, medical staff, all the club was great.”
As LAFC prepares to face Chelsea in the Club World Cup, Lloris remains motivated, stating, “It reminds me what I’m playing football for, to live those types of moments,” The Guardian reported. “That’s why you wake up every day, why you’re working every day. It doesn’t matter which level you are at.”
This article is based on a report by The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/13/hugo-lloris-lafc-club-world-cup.
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