Preview, Leagues Cup Match: LA Galaxy Host Tijuana on Thursday Night

The Los Angeles Galaxy opens up play for the 2025 Leagues Cup on Thursday night at Dignity Health Sports Park. They will host Club Tijuana in a rematch of 2019's match in the same tournament.

Also, ahead for the LA Galaxy are Cruz Azul and Santos to wrap up Group play. The format for this year's tournament has changed a bit as cited by Major League Soccer.

According to MLS's website "In a new format for 2025, all Leagues Cup Phase One matches exclusively feature games between MLS and LIGA MX sides. Each club plays three matches against three opponents from the opposite league within their set. Leagues Cup Phase One matches are determined by the Leagues Cup Ranking, as well as by region."

How have the other California-based MLS teams fared?

The San Jose Earthquakes are not in this year's Leagues Cup. LAFC and San Diego FC are, however.

Both lost earlier in the week. LAFC lost via penalty kicks. Mazatlán tied the game 1-1 in the 31st minute. Fabio's goal countered the score by LAFC's David Martinez two minutes prior.

San Diego lost outright 3-2 to Pachuca. Victor Guzman scored first and then Alexéi Domínguez added two more one in each half). San Diego fired back late in the game.

Former LA Galaxy player Emmanuel Boateng ended the shutout in the 88th minute. Luca Bombino added one, himself, in the tenth minute of stoppage time before the final whistle blew.

Despite the loss, cutting the deficit from three goals to just one is big for San Diego. Anders Dreyer was also issued a red card late in the second half of play, too.

Who on Club Tijuana might look familiar to the LA Galaxy?

One of their former players, Joe Corona, will be making his return to Carson, California on Thursday night. He was a midfielder for the LA Galaxy in 2019 and 2020.

Corona scored one goal in each season for the LA Galaxy, and he recorded three assists in 2019.

Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. (PT) and 10:00 p.m. (CT). The game will be made available on MLS Season Pass.