The first round of action in both the Copa Libertadores and the CONCACAF Champions Cup wrapped up this week, setting the stage for another compelling stretch of football across North and South America. From penalty shootout drama in South America to heavyweight clashes taking shape in CONCACAF, here are your highlights.
Penalty Kick Drama in Copa Libertadores
Two of the three first-round Copa Libertadores ties in 2026 were decided by penalty kicks, underscoring just how thin the margins were at this early stage.
Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela, hosting the second leg, stormed back to a 1-0 victory over Bolivia’s The Strongest and sealed advancement 5-3 on penalties. Táchira generated nearly three times as many chances in the home leg, and Uruguayan striker Rodrigo Pollero emerged as the hero. Once the match reached penalties, Táchira never looked in danger.
Juventud of Uruguay delivered one of the most remarkable results of the round, knocking out Ecuadorian side Universidad Católica on penalties after a stoppage time goal in the 92nd minute to force that outcome. After losing the first leg 1-0, Juventud traveled to Quito and produced a stunning four-goal performance in a 4-3 win, forcing penalties. Playing at altitude, it was the visiting side that held its nerve, winning the shootout 4-3 after Católica missed their final two kicks. It was the biggest match Juventud has ever won on the South American stage.
The third tie saw Paraguayan club 2 de Mayo pull off an upset of Alianza Lima. After a 1-0 home win, 2 de Mayo needed only to avoid defeat in Lima. They did just that, converting a penalty to earn a 1-1 draw and advance 2-1 on aggregate. Online observers were quick to note that 2 de Mayo were playing in Paraguay’s second division less than a decade ago and are now into the second qualifying stage of the Libertadores.
Libertadores 2nd Round Matches Set
The second round of Copa Libertadores qualifiers will be played from February 17–26. Juventud faces Paraguay’s Guaraní, while Deportivo Táchira is drawn against Colombian side Deportes Tolima. 2 de Mayo will take on another Peruvian club in Sporting Cristal.
Elsewhere, Barcelona SC, who recently hosted Inter Miami, will face Argentinos Juniors. Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Bahia will be favored in their ties, with Botafogo facing Bolivia’s Nacional Potosí and Bahia drawn against Chile’s O’Higgins. Venezuela’s Carabobo meets Huachipato of Chile, while Independiente Medellín takes on Uruguay’s Liverpool.
Cruz Azul and Monterrey Set CONCACAF Clash
The opening phase of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup also concluded this week, with several marquee matchups now locked in.
San Diego FC advanced despite a 1-0 loss in Mexico, delivering a strong home performance to win 4-2 on aggregate against Pumas. The Liga MX side under Efraín Juárez is under fire for poor performances in both the Liga MX and CONCACAF. For San Diego, it marked the club’s first-ever CONCACAF victory in just their second year of existence. Their reward is a heavyweight second-round matchup against Liga MX bicampeones Toluca.
The most anticipated second-round tie will see defending Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul face Monterrey Rayados, one of the competition’s most successful clubs historically. Monterrey struggled away in Guatemala against Xelajú but closed the tie with a 2-0 home win to advance 3-1 on aggregate. A penalty goal from a struggling Lucas Ocampos and a goal from young midfielder Iker Fimbres sealed the result.
Cruz Azul, meanwhile, overwhelmed Canadian side Vancouver FC 8-0 on aggregate and will enter the next round as favorites. Monterrey, under manager Domenec Torrent, continue to search for attacking rhythm in Liga MX, and Cruz Azul will host the decisive second leg.
Club América showed modest signs of recovery under André Jardine, earning a 2-1 win over Honduras’ Olimpia after a scoreless draw in Mexico. The performance was far from convincing, but América is now one match series win away from a likely quarterfinal clash with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. New Brazilian midfielder Raphael Veiga has quickly become the focal point of the side, supported by fellow Brazilian arrivals Rodrigo Dourado and Lima.
Tigres finally broke through against Canadian club Forge FC, running rampant in a 4-1 home win. New striker Rodrigo Aguirre found the net, adding intrigue given his past with both Club América and hated rival Monterrey. The Uruguayan international was signed late in the window to compete for a starting role and wasted little time making his presence felt.
Champions Cup First Round Finishes in February
As MLS sides begin their domestic seasons, several clubs will kick off their CONCACAF Champions Cup journeys. FC Cincinnati faces O&M of the Dominican Republic, while Costa Rica’s Cartaginés meets the Vancouver Whitecaps. Philadelphia Union takes on Trinidad & Tobago’s Defence Force, and Atlético Ottawa faces Nashville SC.
Both Los Angeles clubs will also be in action. LA Galaxy squares off against Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito, while LAFC takes on Honduras’ Real España.
Struggles Continue for River Plate and Boca Juniors
In CONEMBOL domestic action, Argentina’s two biggest clubs are enduring difficult starts to the season.
Through four matches, Boca Juniors have collected just six points, with losses to Estudiantes and Vélez Sarsfield highlighting their inconsistency. A modest transfer window appears to have left the squad short of quality, and as.com reported that Boca Juniors is “going through a deep crisis”, having lost nearly 13 percent of its paying club members.
River Plate, Boca’s eternal rival, finds little comfort in those struggles. Marcelo Gallardo returned amid major expectations, but results during his latest stint have deteriorated sharply. River’s attacking football has been completely absent, with recent results including a scoreless draw against Rosario Central, a 4-1 loss to Tigre, and a 1-0 defeat to Argentinos Juniors. The club is able to move the ball forward with any urgency.
After five matches, it is Tigre and Independiente Rivadavia — two smaller clubs — leading the league. Early returns suggest that parity has returned to Argentine football, while the biggest spenders continue to search for answers.
Brasileirão Transfers Continue to Make Waves
Brazilian clubs continue to flex their financial muscle. Palmeiras made another splash by bringing Colombian international Jhon Arias back to the Brasileirão. The Copa América 2024 standout returns from Wolves in the Premier League in a deal reportedly worth €25 million, having previously shined at Fluminense.
Other notable moves include newly promoted Athletico Paranaense signing Juan Portilla from Talleres, Atlético Mineiro adding Renan Lodi from Al-Hilal, and Bahia bringing in 23-year-old Grêmio forward Kike Oliveira. Corinthians secured a loan deal for Al-Hilal attacker Kaio César, while Internacional added Rodrigo Villagra and Alerrandro from CSKA Moscow. Brenner joined Vasco da Gama from Udinese.
Brazil’s top flight continues to outspend the rest of CONMEBOL’s domestic leagues and may soon test itself directly against MLS and Liga MX clubs if the Libertadores extends invitations to CONCACAF teams in 2027.
Leagues Cup 2026 in Mexico?
While the CONCACAF Champions Cup remains the region’s most prestigious club competition, MLS and Liga MX continue to invest heavily in the Leagues Cup as a commercial venture.
ESPN reported that this year’s tournament, played after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will feature matches in Mexico for the first time after three editions hosted exclusively in the United States. The shift comes after concerns over empty stadiums and matches that often felt disconnected from domestic campaigns.
Mexico hosting games could add competitive edge to the tournament, particularly for MLS teams that still face a psychological hurdle when playing south of the border despite improved recent results. Potential host cities include World Cup venues in Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara, along with options such as Cancún or border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, which could attract traveling MLS support and closely connect the two leagues.
James Rodríguez Joins Minnesota United, Messi Injury Pushes Back Puerto Rico Friendly
Major MLS headlines include the surprise signing of Colombia captain James Rodríguez by Minnesota United. The Minneapolis-based club agreed to a short-term, non-designated player deal with Rodríguez, who had been without a club since leaving Liga MX’s Club León. On paper, it is one of the biggest signings in league history, though recent club performances suggest tempered expectations. James was a highflyer at Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, and a contributor for Everton, but his global odyssey since then suggests a lack of passion for the club game.
At 34, Rodríguez remains focused on representing Colombia at the 2026 World Cup, but his club impact remains uncertain. He scored just five goals in 31 matches for León in 2025 following underwhelming stints in Brazil and Spain.
Lionel Messi will also feature at the World Cup, but a muscle strain suffered in a preseason match against Barcelona SC has pushed Inter Miami’s final friendly in Puerto Rico against Independiente del Valle back two weeks. While the injury does not appear serious, it serves as another reminder that opportunities to see the game’s greatest modern player in the Americas are growing fewer.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
