FIFACWC: Lloris hopeful of LAFC upset against Chelsea

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is hopeful Los Angeles FC can cause a major upset when they face Chelsea in their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group D opener in Atlanta on Monday, Afrosport reports.

The Major League Soccer giants took the spot of Mexican side Club Leon who were barred from the tournament due to multi-club ownership which was a violation of FIFA’s rules.

LAFC are seen as outright underdogs for this tie at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and while Lloris acknowledged that, he still believes the 2022 MLS Cup champions could get a massive result against the London giants.

“We have nothing to lose, especially against an opponent like Chelsea,” Lloris, who signed for LAFC in 2024, the retired France goalkeeper said.

“We want to compete, we want to give our best, even if we know that our chances are really thin.

“We just want to make our fans, our club, proud of us.

Meanwhile, LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo is not latching on to hope for an upset but actually facing Chelsea head on to get the desired result.

“I’ve learned when you start hoping as a coach, you’re doomed,” he said.

“It’s kind of the beginning of the end. So we try not to hope, we prepare and have plans for everything that can come our way.”