LA Galaxy Starting XI: GK John McCarthy; D Miki Yamane, D Emiro Garces, D Maya Yoshida ©, D John Nelson; M Edwin Cerrillo, M Mark Delgado M Gastón Brugman, M Joseph Paintsil, M Gabriel Pec, F Dejan Joveljić
Substitutes: GK Novak Mićović; D Julián Aude, D Mauricio Cuevas, D Jalen Neal, D Eriq Zavaleta, M Diego Fagundez, M Isaiah Parente, M Marco Reus, F Miguel Berry
Lineup Notes:
- 2022 MLS Cup MVP John McCarthy, who has recorded eight shutouts and 142 saves in 36 appearances (36 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts in goal in the MLS Cup Final. The Philadelphia, Penn., native made a career-high 32 appearances (32 starts), finished second in the league in saves (127) and posted six shutouts during the 2024 MLS Regular Season. The Galaxy hold a 23-8-6 record in 37 matches played across all competitions with John McCarthy playing in goal during the 2024 campaign.
- Japanese International defender Miki Yamane, who finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with six assists in 33 matches played (33 starts) starts at right back in tonight’s match against Seattle. Yamane has recorded an assist in three Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoff appearances (3 starts), and has tallied eight assists in 39 appearances (38 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign.
- Colombian defender Emiro Garces, 22, makes his ninth consecutive start across all competitions in tonight’s MLS Cup Final. Garces ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one assist in nine matches played (4 starts) in his first season with the Galaxy. Garces has recorded two assists in 14 matches played (9 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign.
- Japanese International defender Maya Yoshida captains the Galaxy in tonight’s MLS Cup Final against the New York Red Bulls. Yoshida ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with two goals and one assist in 34 matches played (34 starts) and was the only player on the Galaxy roster to start every league match. Yoshida has recorded two goals and two assists in 40 matches played (40 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign. Notably, Yoshida played in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) for the Japanese National Team. A win over the Red Bulls would mark Yoshida’s first career club trophy.
- John Nelson, who tallied two assists in the 6-2 win over Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 24, makes his 20th start (31st appearance) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign in tonight’s MLS Cup Final against New York. Nelson ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one assist in 23 matches played (12 starts).
- Mark Delgado, who has tallied one goal and 10 assists in 39 matches played (33 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts in midfield in his fourth MLS Cup (2016, 2017, 2019, 2024). Delgado has recorded five goals and 18 assists in 105 career appearances (93 starts) across three seasons played with the Galaxy (2022-Present).
- Edwin Cerrillo starts as the holding midfielder in the MLS Cup Final against the Red Bulls. The Waco, Texas, native has tallied one goal and three assists in 40 matches played (31 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign. Cerrillo ended the 2024 MLS Regular Season with one goal and two assists in 33 matches played (24 starts).
- Making his first start across all competitions dating back to Oct. 5 is Gastón Brugman. The Uruguayan midfielder has recorded five assists in 28 games played (13 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign. Brugman has recorded six goals and nine assists in 70 matches played (54 starts) across all competitions in three seasons played with the Galaxy.
- 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year Gabriel Pec, who finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 30 goal contributions (16 goals, 14 assists) in 33 appearances (30 starts), starts on the right wing against the New York Red Bulls. Pec has recorded 21 goals and 17 assists in 40 matches played (37 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign. Additionally, Pec has recorded 14 goal contributions (8 goals, 6 assists) in nine matches played (9 starts) across all competitions dating back to Sept. 18. Pec scored the fastest goal in LA Galaxy history (27 seconds; Regular Season & Playoffs) in the 4-2 win over Minnesota United FC on Nov. 24.
- Ghanaian National Team forward Joseph Paintsil, who has totaled 25 goal contributions (14 goals, 11 assists) in 36 games played (34 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts on the left in MLS Cup 2024. Paintsil has recorded four goal contributions (3 goals, 1 assist) in four matches played during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Additionally, Joseph Paintsil released his newest single “Blessings” on all streaming platforms on Nov. 27.
- Serbian National Team forward Dejan Joveljić, who has recorded 20 goals and eight assists in 32 appearances (27 starts) across all competitions during the 2024 campaign, starts up top in the MLS Cup Final against New York. Joveljić has recorded six goals and two assists in six career MLS Cup Playoffs matches played (4 starts) across 326 minutes played, which equals 2.21 goals and assists per 90 minutes played.
