Orlando City at LA Galaxy (Leagues Cup)
When: Sunday, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (subscription required)
Radio: AM 810 Fox Sports Radio, (English), Mega 97.1 (Spanish)
Here are five storylines to watch for Sunday's third-place match vs the Galaxy:
Designated Dominance
Orlando City’s Designated Players are enjoying a remarkable run of form, contributing more to the scoresheet than any other DP trio in Major League Soccer. Leading the way is Martín Ojeda, who has been the most productive of the trio, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists for a total of 28 goal contributions in regular season play. Luis Muriel has been a consistent presence in the attack, recording 16 goal contributions with nine goals and seven assists, while Marco Pašalić has added to the firepower with 11 goals and four assists, bringing his total to 15. Altogether, the three have combined for an impressive 59 goal contributions, more than any other group of Designated Players in the league. The next closest challengers are Western Conference foes San Diego FC, whose DPs have totaled 51 goal contributions to date.
Gone Galactic
Deportivo Toluca is not the only reigning champion defeated by Orlando City in Carson this year. Back in March, the Lions secured a 2-1 victory over the defending MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy, thanks to late-match heroics from Luis Muriel. In the 90th minute, Muriel delivered a powerful free kick that deflected off goalkeeper John McCarthy’s hands and found the back of the net. Under Head Coach Óscar Pareja, Orlando City holds a perfect 3-0-0 record against the Galaxy, with wins in Carson in 2022 and 2025, and a home victory in 2023. The 2025 season marks the first time the two clubs have faced each other twice in a single year, and the first meeting outside of the MLS regular season.
Coast to Coast
Orlando City will return to Dignity Health Sports Park for the second time in 11 days, revisiting the site of their dramatic penalty shootout victory over reigning Liga MX and Campeón de Campeones champions Deportivo Toluca in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. This match marks the Lions’ fourth consecutive game on the road. From their initial departure to Carson, California on Monday, August 18, through their return late Sunday night, the team will have traveled approximately 9,359 air miles and spent 8 of the past 13 nights away from home.
Martín for MVP
Midfielder Martín Ojeda enters Sunday’s Third Place Match with 28 goal contributions in the 2025 MLS season, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists. Across all competitions, he has 35 total contributions, 17 goals and 18 assists. Ojeda has recorded a goal contribution in 12 consecutive MLS matches, tying Sebastian Giovinco’s 2018 mark for the second-longest streak in league history. He is now just three games away from matching Josef Martínez’s all-time record of 15, set in 2019. Notably, Ojeda maintained his streak despite not appearing in City’s recent match against Nashville SC. Over his last 41 MLS regular season starts, he has amassed 17 goals and 25 assists, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s most dynamic and productive playmakers. In the 2025 Leagues Cup, Ojeda is tied with Luis Suárez for the tournament lead in goal contributions with six, three goals and three assists, ranking third in goals and first in assists.
Continental Clashes
Sunday’s matchup between Orlando City SC and the LA Galaxy has plenty on the line, with the winner locking up third place in Leagues Cup 2025 and securing a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Orlando City has qualified for the Champions Cup twice before, first in 2023, after winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and again in 2024, following a second-place finish in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield standings. In their 2023 campaign, the Lions faced Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL, drawing 1-1 over two legs and narrowly exiting the tournament via the away goals rule. In 2024, Orlando defeated Canadian side Cavalry FC 6-1 before once again falling to Tigres in the next round.
Milestone Tracker
- Martín Ojeda is one goal contribution away from matching Facundo Torres’ Orlando City career record of 72 in all competitions.
- César Araújo is one appearance away from 150 for Orlando City in all competitions.
