The 2026 Leagues Cup semifinals were completed on Wednesday, and now the final is set. Toluca will enter as favorites against Monterrey this Sunday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. The winner of the match will be given a bye in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the pride of a regional trophy.
Toluca Hammers Leon to Reach Another Regional Final
Defending CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Toluca continued their strong performance in regional tournaments under Antonio “Turco” Mohamed, after a routine 2-0 win over Liga MX opponent Leon in the Leagues Cup semifinals. Toluca outshot Leon 21-11, with two Uruguayan players on the scoreboard. Defender Federico Pereira scored a rebound goal in the first half, and then Uruguayan international striker Federico Vinas continued to show his form, finding space to beat the Leon goalkeeper in the second half. In the final, Toluca will be without Bruno Mendez who was red carded late.
Mohamed told the press: “If we win this cup, we will be in history. Let’s go for that,” a simple but impactful message for a Toluca team that has won so much over the last two years. Mohamed added that Portuguese international attacker “Paulinho is ready to play about 20 or 30 minutes on Sunday. Not anymore. Hopefully we don’t need it because it’s not a good sign. Hopefully he will return to his level and help us as always.”
Diego Rossi’s Form Propels Monterrey into Leagues Cup Final
The leadership of manager Matias Almeyda with his pressing style of football, and Uruguayan star Diego Rossi’s form as Monterrey’s key attacker has propelled Rayados into the Leagues Cup final. Monterrey advanced on penalties 5-4, after tying Club America in regulation time 2-2. The semifinal was played in Southern California in front of a 90% pro-Club America crowd, but they went away quietly after Alan Cervantes was the only player to miss his penalty in the shootout.
In an entertaining semifinal that was relatively evenly matched, Diego Rossi’s chip goal opened the scoring in the 49th minute. America would score twice, Ramon Juarez, and Cervantes’s golazo making it 2-1, before Orbelin Pineda drew a penalty and Lucas Ocampos converted it to level the game 2-2 before penalties.
America manager Guillermo Almada slammed the refereeing after the match, saying Pineda shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty, and Henry Martin for America should have.
Toluca and Monterrey Will Clash on Sunday
Toluca and Monterrey will contest the Leagues Cup final on Sunday in Houston, the clubs haven’t met since January, and since then Monterrey has effectively overhauled their lineup. Toluca will be favorites, as evidenced by their stronger tournament record and a 4-1-1 record in Liga MX thus far this season, while Rayados are 3-0-3. The fact the game is played in Texas means Monterrey will have more supporters present in the stadium however.
America and Leon will contest the third place match.
Other Americas Football News and Notes, Liga Argentina to Honor Messi
This weekend, Argentine professional football will honor #10 Lionel Messi, after he announced his retirement from the national team. In the 10th minute, the Liga Argentina will pause to pay tribute to Messi.
In the Brasileiro, Flamengo is now only 1 point behind Palmeiras at the top of the league after Lucas Paqueta and Jorge Carrascal scored goals in a 2-0 win over Mirassol, With a six point lead over the third place team in the standings, it looks like Brazil’s champion will again be decided between the two richest teams in the league.
In the Liga Betplay Dimayor, Santa Fe won the the clasico of Bogota 3-2 over Millonarios, a game played just after Fabian Bustos left his role as manager of Millonarios. Another of Colombia’s top clubs, Junior de Barranquilla, is also undergoing a managerial change from Alfredo Arias despite being the two-time defending champions of the league. Uruguayan Sebastian Viera, a longtime player for the club from 2011 to 2023 will return as the manager as Junior looks to win their first game of the season. They are currently buried near the bottom of the table with an 0-2-3 record.
Neymar went off injured at halftime in Santos cup elimination against Palmeiras in the Copa do Brazil, leaving the field in tears as there are concern’s he’s suffered yet another serious injury.
Chino Huerta Rejoins Pumas, Whittaker joins Colorado, and Other Liga MX and MLS Transfer News
The summer transfer window is nearly closed for Liga MX and MLS. Cesar “Chino” Huerta returned to Pumas UNAM after a stint in Europe in the Belgian league. The Mexican international will be a key attacker for the CDMX based side once more. Club America shipped off both young striker Patricio Salas to Famalicao in Portugal, while Sebastian Caceres joined RC Celta in Spain. Attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez, 23, is joining America from Levante in Spain.
Salas joins Hormiga Gonzalez from Chivas as a young Mexican striker in Europe, Hormiga has already scored his first goal with Olympiacos in Greece.
Tigres added Ricardo Monreal from Necaxa, while Atlas continued to invest, adding defender Adonis Frias from Santos.
MLS has had an active transfer window, Morgan Whittaker is arriving at Colorado Rapids from Middlesbrough, while Colorado sent Rafael Navarro to St. Louis City. Colorado also added Sayed Abu Farchi from Maccabi Tel Aviv.
St. Louis also added U.S. international Damion Downs from Southhampton in England. Atlanta United added River Plate’s Giuliano Galoppo on loan, Lewis Morgan went to Toronto from San Diego FC, and San Diego also transferred Luca Bombino to Stoke City for 4.3 million. Taylor Booth was loaned to Real Salt Lake from FC Twente in the Netherlands. Real Salt Lake moved Zavier Gozo to Crystal Palace for 13 million.
Santiago Rodriguez (Botafogo) joined Columbus Crew as a designated player, after previously starring with NYCFC earlier in his career. The Crew also added Morocco international Anass Zaroury on loan from Panathinaikos in Greece.
Inter Miami shipped out Noah Allen and David Ruiz, two local favorites, with Allen to Chicago and Ruiz to RB New York, while adding Riquelme Fillipi, a young attacker from Palmeiras, and Paraguay international Matias Galarza on loan from River Plate.
LAFC transferred David Martinez to FC Midtjylland in Denmark for 7.3 million. Sporting KC sold Dejan Joveljic to Seattle, and brought in Owen Wolff from Austin.
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