From Glory to Collapse: The story behind LA Galaxy’s fall from the MLS summit

Just nine months ago, the LA Galaxy were on top of the world. With a thrilling 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup Final, the Galaxy secured their record-setting sixth league title, ending a decade-long championship drought and reasserting themselves as one of MLS’s premier clubs.

They were bold, resilient, and explosive in attack, a team that looked poised to build on their success. But in 2025, that dream came undone.

This week, after a 2–1 loss to FC Dallas sealed their fate, the Galaxy were officially eliminated from playoff contention, becoming the first defending MLS Cup champion to miss the postseason outright in over a decade. From the highest high to the lowest low, their fall has been swift, surprising, and sobering.

Much of it started with what they lost, not just players, but structure and identity. The offseason was brutal. Gaston Brugman, the 2024 MLS Cup MVP and midfield engine, was traded to Nashville just weeks after lifting the trophy. Mark Delgado, another key presence in the midfield, also departed (for bitter rivals LAFC). Star striker Dejan Joveljić was also moved onto Western Conference rivals SKC after growing out of his U-22 tag.

While the Galaxy were champions on the pitch, they were still working within the constraints of the MLS roster and salary rules. Keeping a title-winning core intact proved impossible, and they entered 2025 thinner in depth and cohesion.

The departures forced tactical adjustments and lineup reshuffles early in the season, changes that never quite clicked. Add in a long-term injury to Riqui Puig, the club’s creative heartbeat, and suddenly the Galaxy weren’t just weakened, they were fragile.

The attacking chemistry that had lit up the 2024 playoffs fizzled. Finishing became inconsistent, and even when the buildup looked promising, there was a lack of conviction in the final third. The very same team that set a playoff scoring record just months earlier often looked toothless in front of goal.

Injuries and fatigue played their role too. With depth already compromised, the rigors of MLS’s demanding travel and midweek schedules stretched the roster thin. Players who stepped up heroically in the postseason began to falter, and backup options lacked the same quality or experience to steady the ship. The Galaxy didn’t just look tired physically, they looked emotionally exhausted, burdened by the weight of expectations they were no longer meeting.

There was also the matter of being hunted. In 2024, LA had momentum and something to prove. In 2025, they had a target on their back. Teams raised their game against them. Coaches designed gameplans specifically to neutralize their playmakers and press their fullbacks. And for all the tactical brilliance that defined their championship run, there was little evolution the following year. LA struggled to adapt, and opponents quickly learned how to exploit their vulnerabilities.

Internally, questions began to grow. Manager Greg Vanney, lauded for engineering the 2024 turnaround, now faced criticism for tactical rigidity and his inability to inspire consistent performances. Some wondered if the locker room lost its edge, whether the hunger that drove them through the playoffs had faded in the afterglow of triumph. Yet in the midst of the turmoil, Vanney was offered a new contract by club hierarchy.

More than anything, though, LA’s collapse illustrates a harsh truth about Major League Soccer — success is fragile. With parity baked into the league's DNA, staying on top is far harder than getting there. The best teams evolve. The smartest ones prepare for departures before they happen. The Galaxy, despite their pedigree, were caught flat-footed, and now they’ll have an entire offseason to reckon with what went wrong.

The postmortem begins with difficult questions. Does Vanney return in 2026? Can Puig stay healthy and rediscover his dominant form? Who steps in to fill the leadership void left by Brugman and Delgado? Can the front office build a team that isn’t just talented, but balanced and battle-tested?

Because the Galaxy aren’t just any MLS club. They’re the MLS club, standard-bearers of the league’s first era of dominance. When they win, it feels like the league is working. But right now, the machine is broken.

From champions to afterthoughts in less than a year, LA’s collapse is a cautionary tale about how quickly glory can fade, and how small the margin for error really is in Major League Soccer.