The North and South American club calendars are heating up as leagues and continental competitions move toward decisive stages. From the release of the 2026 Leagues Cup schedule to dramatic qualifying matches in South America, several major storylines are playing out in March.
MLS and Liga MX Release Leagues Cup 2026 Schedule
The 2026 Leagues Cup will run from August 4th to September 6th. Taking place after the North American World Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup, clubs from MLS and Liga MX will once again face off for regional bragging rights and significant prize money.
Despite earlier discussions about moving more matches to Mexico for this edition of the tournament, only four games will be played in the country. Toluca will host two home matches, while Tigres and Club América will each host one. The remaining games will take place in the United States.
Other venues have yet to be announced, but several notable matchups already stand out on the Leagues Cup schedule. These include LAFC vs. Chivas Guadalajara, Toluca against the Seattle Sounders, Cruz Azul against the Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami vs. Monterrey, Pumas facing both FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, Tigres vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, and Club América vs. San Diego FC.
All to Play for in Copa Libertadores Third Stage
All four 2026 Copa Libertadores third-stage qualifying ties remain competitive heading into second-leg action next week. Juventud drew Independiente Medellín 1-1 at home, while O’Higgins secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Deportes Tolima. Sporting Cristal were 1-0 winners over Carabobo, and Barcelona SC managed only a 1-1 draw with Botafogo at home.
Barcelona SC will likely regret not pressing harder for a win on their home ground, while Sporting Cristal’s conversion of a crucial penalty delivered the slim advantage they were hoping for heading into the return leg. O’Higgins also benefited from a long stretch with a man advantage against Tolima, but their one-goal lead may not be enough as they now travel to Colombia for the decisive match.
Copa Sudamericana Group Stage Set: Millonarios Stuns Atletico Nacional
The single-elimination Copa Sudamericana qualifying matches were played this week, finalizing the clubs that will join the competition’s group stage.
Palestino upset Universidad de Chile 2-1 in a dramatic finish. All three goals came in stoppage time, with Ian Garguez scoring in the 96th minute after Maxi Guerrero had equalized for Universidad in the 94th.
Torque were 1-0 winners over Defensor, while Boston River also secured a 1-0 victory against Racing thanks to a late goal from Fredy Martínez.
Audax Italiano defeated Cobresal 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Cienciano also needed penalties, beating Melgar 5-4. Recoleta (Paraguay) defeated Nacional 5-4 in a shootout, while Olimpia earned a 1-0 win over Trinidense.
Both Venezuelan ties went to penalties following scoreless matches. Puerto Cabello defeated Monagas 5-3 from the spot, while Caracas edged Metropolitanos 4-3.
Club Independiente from Bolivia advanced 3-2 on penalties against Guabirá, while Macará beat Orense 1-0 in Ecuador. Cuenca were convincing 3-0 winners over Libertad, and Blooming defeated San Antonio 3-0 in the most lopsided results of the round.
Colombia’s Sudamericana ties provided some of the most compelling drama. América de Cali advanced with a 2-1 victory over Bucaramanga, while Millonarios sent rivals Atlético Nacional into crisis after a 3-1 win.
Rodrigo Contreras, a 30-year-old Argentine forward, opened the scoring with a remarkable strike from beyond midfield, catching veteran Nacional goalkeeper and Colombian international David Ospina far off his line. The early goal set the tone, and Contreras added another in the 75th minute, while Leonardo Castro had earlier converted a penalty.
Despite a goal from young talent Nicolás Rodríguez, it was a disastrous night for Diego Arias’ Nacional side in front of a sellout crowd. Arias is now reportedly on the verge of being fired, and Atlético Nacional will not feature in any continental competition in 2026. For Millonarios, the result represents an important step forward as the club attempts to return to its historic standards.
Club America in Crisis After Loss to FC Juarez
Liga MX also featured midweek action, with the biggest headline being Club América’s 2-1 home defeat against FC Juárez. Juárez midfielder Guilherme Castilho scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute to secure a dramatic victory.
The defeat leaves América outside the top eight Liguilla playoff positions. Las Águilas have scored only nine goals this season, one of the lowest totals in Liga MX, and with Victor Davila injured for the season, the club faces a major gap at the striker position.
This is not the América team supporters are accustomed to watching. With seven matches remaining in the Liga MX Clausura 2026 regular season, the club will need significant improvement to ensure playoff qualification.
By contrast, Toluca (6-3-0) continued their undefeated run with a 3-2 victory over fellow contenders Pumas after coming back from a 2-1 second-half deficit. Atlas also remain in the playoff positions after a 2-1 win over Tijuana and have been one of the refreshing surprises of the season.
Ahead of Monterrey’s upcoming Clásico Regio, new Rayados manager Nico Sánchez oversaw an emphatic 4-0 home victory against Querétaro. Tigres experienced the opposite result, suffering a 3-1 defeat away to Puebla.
If the Clásico Regio produces a winner, it could prove decisive for playoff positioning. After nine matches, Tigres sit 8th while Monterrey are 7th in the standings. Neither side has anything to be proud of yet, but the second half of the Clausura campaign could quickly reshape the playoff picture.
As the season progresses across both North and South America, the coming weeks promise decisive moments—from Libertadores qualification battles to Liga MX playoff races and the build-up toward the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
