By Noah Guttman
Or was their 2025 season more than an anomaly?
After winning the MLS Cup in 2024, the expectations for LA Galaxy were sky-high (or star-high, depending on the space expert you ask) heading into 2025.
Safe to say that the Galaxy did not live up to expectations.
Losses in twelve of their first sixteen MLS matches put the Galaxy in a very deep hole early; their first win of the season didn’t come until Matchday 17 in what was a 2-0 decision over Real Salt Lake. Despite going 7-5-6 to close out the 2025 MLS season, the Galaxy could only muster a fourteenth-place finish in the Western Conference. The mere thirty points that they mustered that season was a good eleven short of Real Salt Lake, who finished ninth and secured the Western Conferences’ final playoff berth.
Though the Galaxy did finish third in the Leagues Cup, ensuring that they would make it to the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, they would find themselves eliminated from the 2025 edition of the North American continental club tournament after the quarterfinal round.
Despite the team’s shortcomings, there should be some optimism for the 2026 season.
On the transfer side of the business, LA Galaxy was able to acquire defensive midfielder Justin Haak from New York City FC. His defensive capabilities played a big role in New York City FC’s run to the Eastern Conference Final last season; that same defence gave up the joint-third-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference. He’ll play a big part for an LA Galaxy defence, particularly when it comes to alleviating pressure from the league’s top attacks.
On top of Justin Haak, the Galaxy acquired Jakob Glesnes and Jamir Johnson via trade with the Philadelphia Union. Alongside the move for Justin Haak, both trades will help reinforce the Galaxy’s defence; this is especially true when considering that Glesnes and Johnson were part of a Philadelphia Union side that won the Supporters Shield and that gave up the fewest goals in the entire league.
But even with those acquisitions, the Galaxy are still going to have to go through the 2026 season without their best player: Riqui Puig. After previously tearing his ACL during the 2024 Western Conference Final, he’ll have to receive another operation that will keep him out for the entire 2026 season. Not only does that offset any roster reinforcements made, but it could very well jeopardize the Galaxy’s 2026 season before it even starts.
That said, even without Riqui Puig, the team found a way to go on a run in the Leagues Cup and have a winning record throughout the season’s second. And their 7-5-6 run to close the season was good enough for 26 points over an eighteen game span; over the course of a thirty-four game MLS campaign, that same points per game pace would hypothetically put the Galaxy well into the playoff positions.
Statistically, it’s also possible to see the potential for the LA Galaxy. In 2025, the Galaxy were fifth in key passes completed, fourth in total passes, and fourth in total corner kicks. Defensively, the Galaxy conceded the fourth fewest fouls in the entire league.
In all, the attacking and defensive potential is there for this Galaxy side. It’s also clear that this team is capable of maintaining possession and pushing the ball up the field.
If they can clean up their early-season act – ie not losing twelve of sixteen games to start the season – and continue to play like a winning side even without one of the best players in MLS, then there’s every reason to think that the LA Galaxy is capable of making a playoff return.
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