The Los Angeles Football Club will celebrate Latin American Heritage Night presented by Ford on Sunday, Oct. 1 when LAFC hosts Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium at 5:00 p.m. PT. (Free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV/ESPN LA 710 AM/980 AM La Mera La Mera). The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive the first-ever LAFC Carlos Vela bobblehead courtesy of Ford, as LAFC will honor and embrace L.A.’s Latin culture with numerous activations throughout the day.
LAFC’s Latin American Heritage Night presented by Ford kicks off with LAFC’s pre-match Fan Fest on Christmas Tree Lane from 1 – 4:30 p.m. PT featuring food and drink specials as well as a booth from the Latino Coalition of Los Angeles and quality artisan Mexican candy the BMO Small Business of the Match, Dulces Colibri – a small family owned and operated business from Gardena.
A global icon of soccer, Vela was LAFC’s first-ever player on the Club’s roster signed as a Designated Player on January 1, 2018. One of the most prolific players in the league, the Mexican international has served as LAFC’s Captain since its inception and has helped lead the Black & Gold to two Supporters’ Shields (2019, 2022) and the 2022 MLS Cup title claiming the 2019 MLS MVP title and setting multiple MLS scoring records on the way.
Mariachi Las Catrinas, an all-female mariachi group from the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles is scheduled for pre-game and halftime performances, and fans will be treated to a Latin music in-stadium playlist thought the night.
The night will also feature an appearance as the Honorary Falconer by NASA Engineer and Astronaut José Hernández. The subject of the recently released biopic “A Million Miles Away,” Hernández grew up in a migrant family from Mexico, working in the fields for most of his childhood before overcoming rejection to be a part of the first space shuttle mission that sent two Latino astronauts into space in 2009.
LAFC is partnering with El Salvadorian-American Miki Guerra – founder of streetwear store and fashion brand MagPark and Mexican American artist Francisco “Nevermade” Reyes for special Latin American Heritage Night merchandise collaborations. Each collab will include a custom designed Latin American Heritage themed t-shirt, scarf and hat patch available exclusively at LAFC HQ at BMO Stadium. In addition, LAFC players will warm up in the 2023 adidas Hispanic Heritage pre-match top – available for purchase at LAFC HQ.
A limited number of tickets for the LAFC vs Real Salt Lake match on Sunday, Oct.1 are still available for purchase.
