Defending champions Columbus Crew meet Liga MX winners Toluca in Leagues Cup kickoff | OneFootball

MIAMI – The Leagues Cup 2025 kicks off on Tuesday with six matches on Matchday One to start Phase One of the Concacaf-sanctioned competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs, as they battle for the crown and three spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Toluca FC vs. Columbus Crew

The Leagues Cup 2025 opener will see reigning champions Columbus Crew take on Toluca FC at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

The match presents the third official encounter between the sides after they faced off in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Concacaf Champions Cup. The first leg resulted in a 2-2 draw, while Toluca earned a 3-2 win in the second leg to claim the series.

Columbus Crew will kick off its title defense after winning the crown in 2024. Last year’s edition saw the Crew earn a bye directly to the Round of 32 as 2023 MLS Cup winners. The Crew defeated Sporting Kansas City before overcoming 2023 Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami CF in the Round of 16, NYCFC in the quarterfinals, and the Philadelphia Union in the semifinals. The Ohio club then claimed champions honors with a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC in the in the final.

Entering the tournament as the Liga MX Clausura 2025 and Campeón de Campeones winners, Toluca FC will aim to advance past the Round of 16 after concluding its participation in that stage in 2023 and 2024. Last year, the club finished first in the West 4 group after earning victories against Chicago Fire FC and Sporting Kansas City, respectively. Toluca then defeated the Houston Dynamo on penalties after in the Round of 32, prior to falling to the Colorado Rapids in the Round of 16.

CF Montréal vs. Club León

CF Montréal will welcome Club León to Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in what will be the first encounter between the sides.

Montréal will be competing in Leagues Cup for a third time. In 2024, the Canadians recorded a win and a loss and were one of two teams from East 2 that advanced to the Round of 32, where the team fell against the Philadelphia Union.

Club León, winners of the 2021 edition, most recently concluded its participation in the Round of 32 in 2023 and in the group stage in 2024.

New York City FC vs. Club Puebla

New York City FC will be hosting Club Puebla at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, USA. The meeting will be the first between the sides in an official competition.

New York City FC is set for a fourth League Cup appearance. NYCFC reached the quarterfinals in 2024 in the second edition of the one-month long format of the tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs.

Club Puebla will aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time, as La Franja was unable to make it out of the group stage in 2023 and 2024.

Tigres UANL vs. Houston Dynamo

Tigres UANL and Houston Dynamo will meet at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas, USA for what will be the third encounter in their history.

The sides previously clashed in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Concacaf Champions Cup, with Tigres victorious in both legs and winning the series with a 3-nil aggregate.

Tigres will compete in Leagues Cup for a fourth time, with its best finish coming as runners-up in the inaugural edition in 2019. In 2024, Tigres won against Puebla and Inter Miami CF, with both of those encounters played in Houston, to finish atop group East 3. Los Felinos then defeated Pachuca in the Round of 32 in Austin before falling against NYCFC in the Round of 16.

Houston Dynamo are set for a fourth appearance in the competition. The Dynamo most recently reached the Round of 32 in 2024, finishing first in West 8 before falling against Toluca in the Round of 32.

Los Angeles FC vs. Mazatlán FC

Los Angeles FC will host Mazatlán FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, for what will be the first meeting in their history.

LAFC will be making a fourth Leagues Cup appearance after finishing as runners-up in last year’s edition. In 2024, LAFC started off by recording a win a draw in West 7 to advance to the knockout stage. The California side then overcame Austin FC in the Round of 32, defeated San Jose Earthquake in the Round of 16, followed wins over Seattle Sounders and the Colorado Rapids in quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. LAFC ultimately fell against Columbus Crew in the final.

Mazatlán FC are set for a third League Cup appearance, with its best finish coming in 2024 by reaching the quarterfinals. Mazatlán advanced from East 5, winning against D.C. United in the Round of 32, defeating Cruz Azul on penalties in the Round of 16, and falling against the Philadelphia Union in quarterfinals.

Pachuca vs. San Diego FC

The final match of the day will see Pachuca and San Diego FC meet at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, USA.

Pachuca will take on its third Leagues Cup tournament in search of advancing past the Round of 32 for the first time. In 2024, Los Tuzos claimed one of the two top spots in East 6 with two points from two draws, before falling to Tigres UANL in the Round of 32.

San Diego FC, currently in its inaugural MLS season, is set for it first Leagues Cup appearance and its first participation in an official international competition. The California club takes the place of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, runners-up in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, who are unable to participate in the tournament as MLS rules limit clubs to two cup competitions per season.