Xelajú, Monterrey write new chapter in Champions Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continues its first week with CSD Xelajú MC hosting CF Monterrey in the first leg of their Round One series on Wednesday at Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Xelajú and Monterrey meet again in the Champions Cup after facing each other in the Quarterfinals of the 2012/13 edition, a series won 4-2 on aggregate by the Mexican side. 

Xelajú returns to the competition for the first time since that 2012/13 edition, qualifying as one of the finalists of the 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup. Los Chivos’ goalkeeper Ruben Darío Silva, who was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper of the 2025 Central American Cup, midfielder Jesús López and forward Pedro Báez will likely be among the players to keep an eye on throughout the series for the Guatemalan side. 

Five-time Champions Cup winners Monterrey secured its latest participation as runners-up of the Apertura 2024 in Liga MX. Rayados aims to secure its first crown since 2021 after reaching the Round of 16 in the 2025 edition.  

Monterrey will look to its stellar roster, which includes Spanish midfielders Sergio Canales and Oliver Torres, as well as attackers Jesús Manuel “Tecatito” Corona, Lucas Ocampos and Anthony Martial.

All-Time series

The first leg was played on March 6, 2013, at Estadio Mario Camposeco in Quetzaltenango (GUA), where CF Monterrey earned a 3-1 victory with goals from Hiram Mier, Aldo de Nigris, and Jesús “Tecatito” Corona, while Édgar “Chinchi” Chinchilla scored for the home side. The second leg was played on March 12, 2013, at Estadio Tecnológico de Monterrey (MEX), ending in a 1-1 draw. The Guatemalan club took the lead through a goal by Fredy Santiago, and Walter Ayoví equalized to secure the “Rayados” place in the Semifinals.

Club Xelajú has faced Mexican clubs in two-legged series on three occasions. It advanced only once, against Cruz Azul in the 1982 edition, after the Mexican club withdrew from the tournament, in the North & Central America First Round. The other two series ended in defeat, against Tigres UANL in the North & Central America First Round of 1981 (4-2 aggregate in favor of Tigres) and against CF Monterrey in the Quarterfinals of the 2012-13 edition.

CF Monterrey, meanwhile, has faced Guatemalan clubs three times in two-legged series and advanced on all three occasions. In the Quarterfinals of the 2004-05 edition, Monterrey eliminated Municipal with a 2-1 aggregate score; in the Quarterfinals of the 2012-13 edition, it defeated CSD Xelajú 4-2 on aggregate; and in the First Round of the 2024 edition, it eliminated Comunicaciones FC with a 7-1 aggregate score.