Olivier Giroud has won the World Cup and UEFA Champions League during his decorated career, yet even Los Angeles FC's famed French striker is impressed by the extraordinary nature of the stakes when his team hosts Club America on Saturday night.
The winner of this one-game play-in match gets the final spot in the FIFA Club World Cup and the remarkable chance for a North American team to face world soccer powers in the biggest-ever edition of this summer competition.
"To get the opportunity to play that kind of competition is a big chance for the boys," Giroud said. "We need to grab the opportunity."
What's more, the winning team at BMO Stadium will be guaranteed at least 9.55 million for its Club World Cup berth, along with a shot at nearly 100 million from the tournament's biggest-ever prize pool of nearly 1 billion.
Even the setting is tantalizing: Thanks to equal ticket distribution, LAFC's sold-out arena will be packed with raucous supporters of both the home team and the biggest professional club in Mexico. Los Angeles' passion for all forms of Mexican soccer is famously rabid, and America has legions of Southern California fans.