It's not distance. It’s not colors.
It’s identity, connection, personality.
Rivalries aren’t shaped by mileage, they are shaped by contrast.
LAFC and the LA Galaxy are playing for just the second time tonight (10:30 pm ET | ESPN - Full TV & Streaming info). LAFC have only been a team for seven months, but a clear differentiation between the two is being established.
The Galaxy are an MLS original. They have won five championships, more than any other team in MLS. They are one of two teams with a continental trophy. They’ve welcomed David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They wear a sash across their chest. They get invited to competitions with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
LAFC won their first game as a franchise in March. They haven’t built a trophy case yet, let alone have anything to put in it. They established a social media department before a roster. They wear a tech company on their shirt. They had 22,000 people show up on a promise. They had Will Ferrell, a minority owner of the team, make the marquee appearance on ESPN for the home opener.
Galaxy success is expected – they’ve established the standard for Major League Soccer excellence. LAFC success this season has been a surprise; they’ve exceeded expectations.
The Galaxy build their teams around stars; LAFC have built around innovation.
It’s always been a player’s honor to play for the Galaxy; it was a risk to sign with LAFC.
Established vs. upstart. Tradition vs. experimentation. Berkshire-Hathaway vs. Instagram. The Crown vs. the Beckhams.
Clashing identities and stories make for the best rivalries. We are still in the way-too-early-to-tell category on where this will stand. But, so far, the divergent personalities of the clubs have made for a fun watch. Same city, different ethos. They've each honed in on an identity, a statement of who they are and, more so, who they intend to be.
What kind of person are you?
Galaxy or LAFC?
