This Sunday, Dignity Health Sports Park will honor Cobi Jones with a statue. This tribute marks the LA Galaxy’s third statue in Legends Plaza, joining David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The impressive 9-foot bronze statue is crafted by artists Oscar Leon and Omri Amrany from the Rotblatt Amrany Studio based in Chicago. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber is expected to attend the unveiling at 1 p.m., just before the Galaxy’s match against Real Salt Lake at 4 p.m.
Jones, now 55, hails from Detroit but grew up in California. He played for Westlake High School and UCLA before joining the Galaxy from 1996 to 2007, where he scored 70 goals. After hanging up his boots, he served as an assistant coach for the Galaxy for two years. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, marking his first year of eligibility.
Alongside the statue unveiling, the Galaxy has released limited-edition merchandise featuring Jones, available at the LA Galaxy Team Store. Earlier this year, he was named the official community ambassador for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. “L.A. is home,” he said, expressing his excitement. Jones has deep roots in the area, from youth soccer in the Conejo Valley to winning a national championship with UCLA and leading the Galaxy to multiple titles.
As a player, Jones represented the U.S. Men’s National Team in three World Cups—in 1994, 1998, and 2002. Over the past 30 years, he has played a pivotal role in raising soccer’s profile in the U.S. through his work as a broadcaster, coach, and co-founder of Angel City Football Club in the National Women’s Soccer League. According to recent data from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the sport has seen a significant rise in youth participation, with more than 3 million kids playing soccer. This growth can be partly credited to icons like Jones, who inspire the next generation.
Jones’s legacy is not just about goals on the field; he’s helped build a soccer community in the U.S. His journey reflects a broader trend of soccer gaining popularity and respect in American sports culture.
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