Both teams showed just how dangerous they can be on Matchday 1 of the Leagues Cup — to the point where, frankly, we almost wish neither of them had to lose.
Club América put on a show in a 3-1 win over San Diego FC, delivering one of the strongest performances by a Liga MX side in the opening round. Portland, meanwhile, had absolutely no mercy on Puebla, cruising to a 5-2 victory.
Of course, because this is the Leagues Cup — a tournament that has never been shy about giving MLS teams a few convenient advantages — the Timbers will once again have the upper hand on Sunday. They get to play at Providence Park, in front of their own fans, without having to travel thousands of miles.
But this time, they won’t be facing Puebla.
They’ll be facing Club América, the most successful club in Mexican soccer, a team that currently sits at the top of the Apertura 2026 table and has looked every bit like a team capable of making a deep run.
Guillermo Almada vs. Martí Cifuentes should be a proper chess match, with both coaches knowing exactly what’s at stake. The winner will take a major step toward the next round, while the loser could be left with very little control over their own destiny.
And yes, for once, this feels like one of those Leagues Cup games that is actually worth talking about, and watching. Kickoff is at 10:15pm ET / 7:15pm PT and it will be broadcast on FS1, Univision and streamed on Apple TV+.
América head coach Guillermo Almada said the club’s new additions are not expected to be ready to make their debuts during the first round of the Leagues Cup. That means Óscar Perea and Edwin Cerrillo will have to wait a little longer before making their first appearances in an América jersey.
A rematch with some history
This matchup also comes with a bit of international history.
América and Portland previously met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Concacaf Champions Cup. The teams drew 1-1 in Portland before América took care of business at the Estadio Azteca, winning 3-1 to advance.
Five years later, the setting is different, the tournament is different and the stakes are different — but the rivalry has another chapter to add.
San Diego FC vs. Xolos de Tijuana
Kickoff: 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT
Streaming on Apple TV+
This one promises plenty of quality as well, although the circumstances are very different from América vs. Portland. Here, neither team can really afford to lose.
San Diego FC and Xolos meet at Snapdragon Stadium with both sides desperate for their first points of the tournament. Lose, and their Leagues Cup adventure could be over before it really gets going.
It could also be the beginning of a new border rivalry.
Tijuana had a rough opening night against Austin FC, falling 2-0 at Q2 Stadium. Both goals came in the first half, and Xolos never managed to produce the reaction they needed after halftime.
That result left Tijuana without a point and with a -2 goal difference, making a result against San Diego extremely important if they want to remain in the fight for one of the four Liga MX spots available in the quarterfinals.
San Diego finds itself in a remarkably similar position.
The California club opened its tournament with a 3-1 loss to América in Mexico City and will now have the chance to collect its first points in front of its own supporters.
After traveling to Mexico, San Diego will play its next two Leagues Cup matches at home, starting with a matchup against a Xolos side with whom it shares considerably more than just geographical proximity.
The two clubs are separated only by the Mexico-U.S. border, adding another layer to a matchup between teams from different leagues.
And the atmosphere should be something special.
The Snapdragon Stadium is expected to be packed after tickets sold out for a game featuring Mexican national team star Gilberto Mora. So, if the football doesn’t provide enough drama, at least the crowd probably will.
Austin FC vs. Puebla
Kickoff: 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT
Streaming on Apple TV+
Austin FC has a golden opportunity to strengthen its position near the top of the Leagues Cup standings.
Davy Arnaud’s side already took care of the difficult part by beating Xolos 2-0 at Q2 Stadium. Now comes what should, at least on paper, be the easier assignment: beating a Puebla team that just conceded five goals against Portland.
Puebla is also one of the Liga MX teams facing some of the longest travel demands during the tournament. After opening with a heavy defeat, the road ahead suddenly looks even longer — literally and figuratively.
Austin, meanwhile, knows exactly what’s on the table.
A win could put the club in a very strong position to reach the knockout stage and give itself a real shot at making the playoffs.
For Puebla, the objective is much simpler: stop the bleeding.
La Franja head coach Gerardo Espinoza Ahumada acknowledged that the team is going through a difficult moment following the defeat, but insisted that the only way forward is through work.
“Working. For me, it’s always about working and looking ahead. This has already happened, we have to learn from this situation, and make sure that in the next games we compete much better, get better results and improve day by day,” Espinoza said.
In other words, there is no magic formula, no secret button and apparently no time machine to erase that 5-2 scoreline.
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