Luiz Araújo has emerged as one of Flamengo’s standout performers under manager Filipe Luís and is currently enjoying the most productive season of his career. With eight goals in 30 appearances this year, he ranks as the team’s second-highest scorer, trailing only Uruguayan playmaker Giorgian De Arrascaeta.

Versatile and attack-minded, Araújo can operate on either wing or in midfield, and he's never shy about taking his chances. He averages 1.83 shots per game and puts 0.8 of those on target — a figure that could climb against an LAFC side struggling defensively and likely to face a rotated Flamengo squad.

Araújo has played a key role during Flamengo’s six-match winning streak, appearing in five of those games, scoring three times, and adding two assists. In their Club World Cup opener against Espérance, he was the standout player, scoring a brilliant goal and setting up the other in a commanding 2-0 win.

Brimming with confidence, Flamengo’s No. 7 looks poised to cause problems for LAFC and help the Brazilian side finish the group stage with a perfect record.

Even with qualification already secured and a rotated lineup expected, Flamengo remain clear favorites against Los Angeles FC. The Brazilian giants come into the match off the back of commanding wins over both Espérance and Chelsea, and their squad quality far exceeds that of LAFC — a side whose lack of depth has been exposed in back-to-back defeats.

Flamengo are in red-hot form, riding a six-game winning streak and unbeaten in their last 10 matches. During that run, they’ve scored 21 goals and conceded just four, showcasing a balance of attacking firepower and defensive solidity.

Their front line has been relentless all season, with 73 goals scored in 2025 across all competitions. Led by Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Luiz Araújo, and Bruno Henrique, Flamengo’s attack has consistently delivered, while their defense — breached just 18 times in 37 matches this year — remains one of the stingiest in South America. They're currently top of the Brasileirão and through to the Libertadores Round of 16, underlining their dominant form.

By contrast, LAFC are in a rough patch. Already eliminated from the Club World Cup and sitting fifth in the MLS Western Conference, they’ve won just four of their last ten matches. While they’ve managed to score 19 goals in that stretch, they’ve failed to score in either of their tournament matches so far and have now conceded in six straight games.

Given Flamengo’s momentum and LAFC’s struggles, the Brazilian side is strongly tipped to close out the group stage with another win.

With both teams already knowing their fate in the Club World Cup group stage, the match between Los Angeles FC and Flamengo is shaping up to be a low-stakes affair, and that could translate to fewer disciplinary issues on the pitch. Recent trends suggest a calmer game is likely: over their last ten matches, LAFC have averaged 4.7 cards per game, while Flamengo sit slightly lower at 4.2.

In their primary 2025 competitions, both sides have shown only moderate discipline concerns. LAFC receive an average of 2.06 cards per match in MLS and draw 2.31 from opponents. Flamengo, meanwhile, are the least-carded team in the Brasileirão, averaging just 1.27 cards per game, and they rank fifth-lowest in fouls drawn (2.09 per match).

Further supporting the case for a low-card encounter is the referee appointment. Qatari official Salman Falahi has a reputation for keeping his cards in his pocket, averaging just 3.88 bookings per match across his career, and only 3.30 this season. In his sole Club World Cup appearance so far, he issued just three yellow cards during Benfica’s 6-0 rout of Auckland City.

All signs point toward a relatively calm match, with both teams likely to avoid unnecessary risks — and, as a result, the number of cards could stay below their usual averages.

Los Angeles FC and Flamengo are two sides known for relatively low corner counts in their matches — a trend that’s likely to continue in what’s expected to be a low-intensity, dead rubber game in the Club World Cup.

In MLS play, LAFC average just 4.44 corners taken per match and concede 4.75. Flamengo, meanwhile, average 6 corners per game in the Brasileirão and allow only 2.73, the fewest in the league, reflecting their ability to control possession and limit opponent attacks.

That pattern holds when looking at recent form. Over their last 10 matches, LAFC have averaged just under 5 corners per game while conceding 3.4. Flamengo have managed slightly over 5 corners per game and have allowed only 3.2. Both sides have shown a clear tendency toward modest corner totals.

Digging deeper, LAFC have had 7 of their last 10 matches finish with fewer than 10 total corners, including both of their Club World Cup fixtures. Flamengo have seen 4 of their last 5 matches end with 9 corners or fewer.

Given the context — a match with no qualification stakes and likely rotated lineups — the pace is expected to be slower, further reducing the likelihood of high corner numbers. A below-average corner total seems very much on the cards.