Table of Contents
San Diego FC now knows its path for the 2026 Leagues Cup, with the tournament schedule officially unveiled on Thursday.
SDFC will open the competition on the road in Mexico City against Club América, one of the biggest clubs in Liga MX, at Estadio Banorte. The exact date for that match has not yet been confirmed.
After the trip to Mexico, San Diego will return home to Snapdragon Stadium for two group-stage matches. SDFC will host Club Tijuana on August 9, followed by a matchup against Puebla FC on August 12.
The Leagues Cup runs from August 4 to September 6 and will feature 36 teams — all 18 clubs from Liga MX and 18 qualifying teams from Major League Soccer. Every match in the opening phase pairs MLS teams against Liga MX opponents, continuing the cross-league rivalry that defines the tournament. The top teams will advance through the knockout rounds, with three clubs earning spots in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
This will be San Diego’s second appearance in the tournament after competing in the 2025 edition during the club’s inaugural season. SDFC fell to C.F. Pachuca and Tigres UANL, before closing their campaign with a 2–0 win over Mazatlán F.C.
With a trip to Mexico City and two home matches in San Diego, the 2026 Leagues Cup will give SDFC another opportunity to test themselves, and their squad depth, against some of the top teams in Mexico.
San Diego FC's Leagues Cup Schedule
- Match 1: San Diego FC vs Club America (TBD - Estadio Banorte)
- Match 2: San Diego FC vs Club Tijuana (Sunday, August 9 - Snapdragon Stadium)
- Match 3: San Diego FC vs Puebla (Wednesday, August 12 – Snapdragon Stadium)
Tournament Schedule
- Phase One: 8/4–8/14
- Quarterfinals: 8/25–8/27
- Semifinals: 9/1–9/2
- Third-place match & Final: 9/6
Club Rankings
About Leagues Cup
The Leagues Cup has quickly grown into one of the most exciting competitions in North American soccer, bringing together clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX in a tournament built entirely around interleague matchups.
Fan interest continues to rise each year, highlighted by more than 69,000 fans attending the 2025 final at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Beyond the trophy, the tournament carries major stakes. Three clubs will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the champion earning a direct spot in the Round of 16 and a pathway toward global competitions like the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 2026 edition features 36 clubs evenly split between MLS and Liga MX, with teams seeded based on their domestic performance. Interleague matchups are guaranteed through the quarterfinals, ensuring plenty of MLS vs. Liga MX battles throughout the tournament.
