LAFC vs ES Tunis Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Group Stage
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Los Angeles FC qualified late for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as Steve Cherundolo’s side head into their second group stage game against Esperance de Tunis this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN & Channel 5 / US – DAZN
LAFC team news: Ordaz a doubt
Key midfielder Timmy Tillman returned to full fitness about a week ago and was able to start against Chelsea in their opener. However, another starter from that game, El Salvador international Nathan Ordaz, is a doubt for their second outing.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Lloris; Sergi Palencia, Long, Eddie Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Igor Jesus, Delgado; Yeboah, Giroud, Bouanga
Unavailable:
Questionable: Ordaz (Injured)
ES Tunis team news: Nothing fresh
There doesn’t appear to be any fresh injury concerns for ES Tunis this week, and they have no suspension issues either. However, after their defeat, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see half-time substitutes Abdramane Konate and Elias Mokwana start.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ben Said; Ben Ali, Meriah, Tougai, Ben Hamida; Guenichi, Ogbelu; Konate, Mokwana, Belaili; Rodrigo Rodrigues
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Key stats
- This is the first FIFA club competition match between teams from the USA and Tunisia.
- LAFC were unbeaten in ten competitive matches prior to their defeat against Chelsea in their opening fixture.
- Espérance were unbeaten in 11 competitive matches prior to their defeat in their opening game against Flamengo.
- Only two of Espérance’s last 33 matches in all competitions finished without a goal being scored.
- There has been at least one goal scored in each of LAFC’s last 41 competitive matches.
- LAFC are unbeaten in their last two visits to this stadium in the MLS, both times against Nashville SC. They drew 1-1 in 2023 with a goal from Denis Bouanga and won 2-1 in 2022.
- Among LAFC squad members are two winners of the FIFA Club World Cup™, with Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud both having won the global showpiece with France in 2018, the former lifting the trophy as captain. Neither player featured when France faced Tunisia at Qatar 2022.
- Espérance defender Yassine Meriah played for Greek side Olympiacos against a Tottenham team with LAFC’s Hugo Lloris in goal on Matchday 1 of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League – a 2-2 draw in Piraeus.
LAFC vs ES Tunis prediction
Having defeated Club America in their play-in earlier this month, LAFC began their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage campaign with a 2-0 loss to Chelsea at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They made things difficult for the Blues, but eventually succumbed to a defeat due to goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.
They now face an ES Tunis side that qualified for the tournament as one of the best-ranked eligible sides from Africa, and they are one of the weaker sides in the tournament. They began their group stage campaign with a 2-0 loss to Brazilian giants Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia the other day.
ES Tunis did manage to frustrate Flamengo for large parts of that game so, whilst LAFC are firm favourites for this one, it may not be a dominant hammering by the Americans.
LAFC vs ES Tunis tip: LAFC to win & under 3.5 goals
