In the upcoming Leagues Cup matches, several teams are facing critical situations that make this round particularly intriguing.
New York City FC will host Club León at Sports Illustrated Stadium at 6 p.m. ET. Both teams are in dire need of a victory; NYCFC is coming off a tough home loss to Puebla, where they struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Despite the promising debut of Seymour Reid and Nicolás Fernández Mercau, head coach Pascal Jansen will have to address the team’s offensive inefficiencies to find success against León.
At 7 p.m. ET, the Columbus Crew will take on Club Puebla at Lower.com Field. Surprisingly, the reigning Leagues Cup champions find themselves in a precarious position early in the tournament, while Puebla enjoys a comfortable spot with a goal differential of +3. This matchup is a must-watch as Columbus seeks to avenge their previous performance against Puebla.
Later, at 8:30 p.m. ET, the Houston Dynamo FC will face Mazatlán FC at Shell Energy Stadium. This will be their first encounter, and both teams aim to secure three points. Houston is looking to bounce back from a loss against Tigres UANL, while Mazatlán, led by former Tigres coach Robert Siboldi, hopes to capitalize on their recent momentum after earning points in their match against LAFC.
Toluca and CF Montréal will clash at 9 p.m. ET, both teams aiming to improve their standings after drawing in their initial matches. With Toluca’s potent offense and Montreal’s cautious approach, the match could offer plenty of intrigue as both sides search for a crucial victory.
Finally, at 10:30 p.m. ET, LAFC will host Pachuca in a matchup that promises excitement. Both teams have shown prowess in the FIFA Club World Cup, yet neither secured a win in that competition. Pachuca is currently enjoying a streak of four consecutive victories, while LAFC looks to recover from a bitter defeat against Mazatlán in the previous round.
As the tournament unfolds, each match presents an opportunity for teams to shift their fortunes and build confidence in their campaigns. Fans can expect thrilling clashes as clubs vie for advancement in the Leagues Cup.