FC Dallas handed Mexican test in Leagues Cup 2026

Mexico will stage Leagues Cup games this year after the tournament was previously held entirely in the United States. The shift comes in the wake of the World Cup in North America, which will be played primarily in the US, and signals a structural change to the cross-border competition.

According to ESPN Dallas correspondent Carlos “Tapa” Nava, FC Dallas will be among the MLS teams traveling south of the border. The Texas club is expected to visit Toluca to face the reigning two-time champions of Mexican soccer.

The road ahead will be demanding for Dallas, who are also set to face Liga MX leaders Chivas Rayadas de Guadalajara, currently unbeaten this season. That game will not be played in Mexico, as Dallas will host the Guadalajara side. Nava added that the MLS team is also scheduled to meet the Gallos Blancos de Querétaro.

Toluca at home against MLS teams

Leagues Cup schedule expected soon as Toluca prepares to host MLS opposition

The official Leagues Cup calendar is expected to be released in the coming days, and no other MLS teams have yet been confirmed to travel to Mexico.

This will be the first official senior meeting between FC Dallas and Toluca. Their only previous encounter came at youth level, where Toluca won 3-1 in the Liga BBVA MX International Youth Tournament.

The last MLS club to visit Toluca was Sporting Kansas City in the 2019 Concacaf Champions Cup. The American side earned a 2-0 win on the night and advanced 5-0 on aggregate against the Scarlet team.

San Diego FC will be the next MLS opponent to play in Toluca, doing so in the Concacaf Champions Cup after eliminating Pumas as the Western Conference leaders from last season.

FC Dallas holds a notable place in MLS history as the first club from the league to win a Concacaf Champions Cup game on Mexican soil. That victory came on August 17, 2011, when Dallas defeated Pumas 1-0 thanks to a goal by Marvin Chávez.

Even so, the club’s overall record in Mexico stands at one win and one loss. In addition to their triumph over Pumas, they fell 3-1 to Pachuca at Estadio Hidalgo in the semifinals of the 2016-17 edition, ending their run in the tournament.

The Leagues Cup will run from August 4 to September 6 and will feature all 18 Liga MX teams along with the top 18 MLS clubs.

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