Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinals Field and Venues Set

The field is officially set for the Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinals, bringing together top clubs from LIGA MX and Major League Soccer in a series of single-elimination matches scheduled across the United States. According to the tournament’s official competition regulations, the upcoming bracket features high-stakes encounters hosted at neutral venues and select MLS home stadiums, as announced by tournament organizers.

Quarterfinal Schedule and Matchups

According to tournament scheduling, the quarterfinals kick off on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. LIGA MX side C.F. Monterrey will face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. On the same day, Club León travels to Commerce City, Colorado, to take on Real Salt Lake at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Action continues on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Toluca FC matches up against Austin FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. In the headline fixture of the round, Club América meets Columbus Crew at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, the official home stadium of the LA Galaxy, according to tournament officials.

Venue Selection and LIGA MX Hosting Rights

Tournament regulations dictated that the two highest-ranked eligible LIGA MX clubs—Toluca FC and Club América—earned hosting rights for the quarterfinals. However, according to tournament competition rules, these matches are being contested at neutral venues in the United States rather than the clubs’ home stadiums in Mexico. For Club América, this meant missing an opportunity to host the Columbus Crew at the Estadio Azteca, routing the team instead to Southern California, as reported by Infobae.

Conversely, lower-ranked LIGA MX entrants such as Monterrey and Club León did not secure hosting rights. Consequently, their respective quarterfinal fixtures are organized and hosted by their MLS opponents, Chicago Fire and Real Salt Lake.

Historical Context Between Club América and Columbus Crew

According to tournament history, the two sides previously met during the 2023 Leagues Cup group stage, where the MLS side secured a 4-1 victory over the Mexico City team, with Kevin Álvarez scoring for the LIGA MX squad.

More recently, the two clubs contested the 2024 Campeones Cup at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. In that match, Club América claimed the title in a 5-4 penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, denying Columbus Crew a third annual trophy mixing MLS and LIGA MX champions, as detailed in match archives.