Match Preview: SDFC Hosts Pumas in First Leg of Champions Cup

One of head coach Mikey Varas' most-used quotes last year was – "What's next?".

It's a question that kept the team humble. While the players and coaches celebrated victories and milestones along the way during their inaugural season, Varas wanted to keep the expectations high and egos low.

Enter Concacaf Champions Cup

A top club competition, featuring the best teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Played in a knockout, home-and-away format, the tournament places MLS, Liga MX, and other regional champions against one another to determine the best club in Concacaf.

The winner earns a coveted place in the FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup – which features the reigning club champions of each of FIFA’s six confederations, and finally: a $5 million dollar prize.

Surely, a pinnacle tournament-to-date for the second-year MLS club that is in its infancy stage. So, perhaps, this is the grandiose "What's Next?" for the club who came so close to playing in the MLS Cup but fell short by one game.

It's a new year. It's a new season with new competitions and new mountains to conquer.

Their first opponent, a three-time Champions Cup winner Mexican club, Pumas UNAM.

Preview - Pumas UNAM

The historic Mexico City club comes to San Diego Tuesday having already played four matches in the Liga MX Clausura. Pumas started this year without a loss, winning two and tying two matches, a streak they'll be aiming to continue at Snapdragon Stadium.

Their success is anchored by Keylor Navas, a veteran goalkeeper who played with the sports' giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Navas brings leadership and tremendous goalkeeper play, averaging 4.8 saves per game.

Pumas found their form by putting together balanced and structured performances stemming from defensive discipline. Having only allowed two goals in four matches, scoring against them won't be an easy task.

Head coach Efraín Juárez made it his aim to prioritize a compact backline and quick pressure in midfield to win the ball, then look to effectively utilize quick transition to create sharp counterattacks. This combination leaves Pumas both – difficult to break down and dangerous going forward.

Pumas VIP's (Very Important Players)

The left side of the pitch has been clicking for Pumas. Midfielders Adalberto Carraquilla and Jordan Carillo lead the team with two goals each on the season. If the left side of the field is scoring, the right is providing assists. Right midfielder Alan Medina has three assists in the last two games.

SDFC may see a familiar face on Tuesday. Pedro Vite joined Pumas this season from Vancouver Whitecaps. The speedy and always dangerous Ecuadorian right-winger looks to be in the starting XI on Tuesday as he did not start the last match on Friday night after three consecutive starts prior.

It remains to be seen just how serious Pumas will take the CCC. While a Liga MX title sits at the top of the club’s priorities, the Champions Cup carries significant incentives beyond silverware.

One early indicator of Pumas’ intent will be their starting XI on Tuesday. Will they lean on youth, signaled by the triple-digit jersey numbers often worn by emerging Liga MX players, or field a lineup closer to the one that powered last Friday’s 4–0 win over Santos Laguna?

Preview - San Diego FC

While the rest of MLS is still treating preseason as a tune-up, San Diego FC is being thrown straight into the deep end. Two matches (home and away) against a tough opponent like Pumas will surely provide a sharper and more realistic test than any preseason friendly could offer.

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the lineup Mikey Varas will carry into the start of the season, with the opening weeks likely serving as an extended audition for players pushing to secure starting roles.

New SDFC arrival and 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year Lewis Morgan will be counted on to inject energy and creativity into the attack.

Meanwhile, Amahl Pellegrino, who found his stride late last season, will aim to show his surge in form was no coincidence as he looks to carry his goal contributions into the new campaign.

Lineup questions are sure to be sorted out over the first month of competition, but one area offers a measure of certainty for San Diego FC. The back line appears largely settled, with Luca Bombino, Chris McVey, Manu Duah, and Oscar Verhoeven expected to anchor the defense. That group, which ranked among the league’s best last season, returns intact and should once again provide a reliable foundation in 2026.

Keys to Winning for SDFC

To break down Pumas defensively, SDFC will need to rely on their signature style of play. Holding possession while being brave on the ball in high-press situations will allow the home side to advance the ball into quick counterattacks. Varas will look for his wingbacks to join in the attack.

SDFC may hold a subtle physical advantage heading into the match, having yet to play a competitive fixture this season, while Pumas have already played four. Under Varas, SDFC’s system places heavy physical demands on the squad, particularly in transition, where quick tempo shifts and sustained running, especially from the wingbacks, are essential.

If SDFC can outwork Pumas and control wide areas by consistently winning transitional moments, they could create separation on the scoreboard and establish a multi-goal cushion.

What's Next?

Ultimately, this matchup represents more than just San Diego FC’s first competitive minutes of the year—it’s an early measure for a club still defining its ceiling.

Pumas arrive battle-tested and organized, but freshness, tempo, and belief can be powerful equalizers at home. If SDFC can impose its identity early, match Pumas’ discipline with intensity, and turn Snapdragon Stadium into a fortress, the question Varas has long preached may already have an answer.

What’s next?

For San Diego FC, it might be announcing themselves on a continental stage—one step sooner than anyone expected.