The 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals are locked in – and it’s an all MLS vs Liga MX affair once again. Eight giants from North America’s two biggest leagues will clash over two legs in April, chasing continental glory and a ticket to the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
For the second straight year, no club from Central America or the Caribbean has reached the last eight, underlining the dominance of MLS and Liga MX in the modern Champions Cup era.
2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarter-final fixtures and schedule
CONCACAF has set the quarter-final window between 7–9 April for first legs and 14–16 April for second legs. MLS and Liga MX clubs will each host one leg, with the higher-seeded team at home in the return match.
| Teams | First Leg (Home) | Date & Time (ET) | Second Leg (Home) | Date & Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toluca vs LA Galaxy | Toluca (Estadio Nemesio Díez) | 8 April, 11:00 pm | LA Galaxy (Dignity Health Sports Park) | 15 April, 9:00 pm |
| Cruz Azul vs LAFC | LAFC (BMO Stadium) | 7 April, 10:00 pm | Cruz Azul (Estadio Cuauhtémoc) | 14 April, 9:00 pm |
| Nashville SC vs Club América | Nashville (GEODIS Park) | 7 April, 8:00 pm | Club América (Mexico, venue TBC) | 14 April, 11:30 pm |
| Tigres UANL vs Seattle Sounders | Tigres (Estadio Universitario) | 8 April, 9:00 pm | Seattle (Lumen Field) | 15 April, 11:30 pm |
All ties are two-legged, home-and-away, with aggregate score deciding who advances; if still level, the away goals rule applies before extra time and penalties.
These ties came after a dramatic Round of 16 in which Tigres overturned a 3–0 first-leg deficit against FC Cincinnati, Nashville knocked out Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on away goals, Toluca thrashed San Diego in the second leg, and Cruz Azul edged Monterrey on aggregate.
Dates and schedule
CONCACAF has confirmed that the quarter-final window is:
- First legs: 7–9 April 2026
- Examples from the TV schedule:
- Nashville SC vs Club América at GEODIS Park
- LAFC vs Cruz Azul at BMO Stadium
- Examples from the TV schedule:
- Second legs: 14–16 April 2026
All ties are two-legged, home-and-away, with aggregate score deciding the winner; away goals, extra time, and penalties apply if required, in line with the competition’s knockout rules.
How the bracket looks from here
The quarter-final bracket is already defined, so we know the potential semi-final paths:
- Winner of Toluca / LA Galaxy vs Winner of Cruz Azul / LAFC
- Winner of Nashville SC / Club América vs Winner of Tigres UANL / Seattle Sounders
This structure guarantees at least one MLS club and one Liga MX club in the semi-finals, keeping the rivalry narrative alive deep into the tournament.
How each tie shapes up
Toluca vs LA Galaxy
Toluca stormed into the quarter-finals by smashing San Diego FC 4–0 in the second leg, overturning a first-leg deficit and winning the tie 6–2 on aggregate. The Mexican side’s attack looked ruthless at home, a warning sign for anyone visiting Estadio Nemesio Díez.
LA Galaxy cruised through their Round of 16 clash, beating Jamaican side Mount Pleasant 6–0 on aggregate, with Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec scoring five goals across the tie.
Galaxy first edged Panama’s San Miguelito in Round One on away goals, showing they can survive tight situations and then explode in attack.
This tie has a classic feel: historic Liga MX power vs resurgent MLS giant, with both clubs confident of making a deep run.
Cruz Azul vs LAFC
Cruz Azul, the defending CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, stayed alive by narrowly eliminating fellow Mexican powerhouse Monterrey, edging the tie 4–3 on aggregate. La Máquina are trying to defend their continental crown and reinforce Liga MX’s long-standing dominance in the tournament.
LAFC reached the last eight by first destroying Honduran side Real España 7–1 on aggregate in Round One, then beating Costa Rican club Alajuelense 3–2 on aggregate thanks to a stoppage-time golazo from Venezuelan youngster David Martínez.
With Son Heung-min & Co. leading LAFC’s star-studded squad into a showdown against the reigning champions, this is arguably the headline quarter-final and a potential preview of a future final in another year.
Nashville SC vs Club América
This tie carries the tournament’s biggest global name: Lionel Messi – but only in the background. Nashville SC knocked out Inter Miami and Messi in the Round of 16, going through on away goals after a 0–0 draw at home and a 1–1 draw in Florida. Cristian Espinoza’s late equaliser in the second leg cancelled out Messi’s 900th career goal and stunned the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Nashville had already crushed Canadian side Atlético Ottawa 7–0 on aggregate in Round One, so they arrive in the quarter-finals with both momentum and confidence.
Now they face Club América, the most decorated club in Mexico, who squeezed past Philadelphia Union 2–1 on aggregate in a tight last‑16 tie. América’s enormous fanbase and history add weight to this fixture, setting up a massive MLS vs Liga MX showdown under the lights at GEODIS Park and in Mexico.
Tigres UANL vs Seattle Sounders
No storyline is bigger than Tigres’ miracle comeback against FC Cincinnati.
Cincinnati looked through after winning the first leg 3–0 at home, only for Tigres to destroy them 5–1 in the return leg in Mexico, taking the tie 5–4 on aggregate with a decisive stoppage-time strike from Fernando Gorriarán. It was one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent CONCACAF history and a reminder that Mexican sides remain lethal at home.
Seattle Sounders, meanwhile, are trying to add another continental title after they became the first MLS club to win the modern Champions League era back in 2022. Seattle had a Round One bye thanks to their 2025 Leagues Cup title, then handled Vancouver Whitecaps 5–1 on aggregate in the Round of 16, powered by goals from wingers Paul Rothrock and Paul Arriola plus forward Danny Musovski.
This tie pairs a historic Mexican heavyweight with an MLS side that already knows how to win in CONCACAF, making it one of the most tactically intriguing clashes of the round.
What’s at stake for the quarter-finalists
Beyond regional bragging rights, there is a lot on the line in this year’s Champions Cup:
- A place in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, FIFA’s new global one-off club final.
- Qualification for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, where the best clubs from every confederation will meet in an expanded tournament.
- Massive commercial and sporting value for MLS and Liga MX, as both leagues try to prove who truly rules North and Central America.
