LAFC vs. Galaxy season opener at the Rose Bowl called off

No one wants to be stuck in traffic while it rains in Los Angeles, especially the city’s rival Major League Soccer teams.

With heavy downpours and chances of thunderstorms expected across the area into Saturday, the season opening “El Trafico” has been postponed due to safety considerations, the L.A. Galaxy, the Los Angeles Football Club and the league announced Friday, one day before their scheduled early evening kickoff at the Rose Bowl.

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More information about the rescheduled match at the Rose Bowl will be announced at a later date. Tickets originally purchased for Saturday’s opener will be honored.

A flood watch remains in effect through the afternoon on game day, according to the national weather service, with rainfall rates forecasted up to an inch an hour as a storm from the Gulf of Alaska brings the coldest temperatures of the winter so far.

Light rain and temperatures in the low 40s were expected during Saturday’s match in Pasadena, pitting the defending MLS Cup champions and their five-time league champion rivals in what was trending toward a sellout crowd and a new MLS attendance record.

LAFC will open its season hosting the Portland Timbers on March 4 at BMO Stadium at 1:30 p.m. PT.

The LA Galaxy begins its 2023 by visiting FC Dallas next Saturday at Toyota Stadium at 5:30 p.m. PT.

The teams are scheduled to play again April 16 (at Dignity Health Sports park) and Sept. 16 (at BMO Stadium).

Finding a date to reschedule the Rose Bowl match will be challenging. Major League Soccer will pause following the games on July 15, resuming Aug. 20 for the expanded Leagues Cup against the teams from Liga MX in Mexico. Teams are also competing in the Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup and LAFC is in the CONCACAF Champions League.