Leagues Cup quarterfinals 2026: matchups, dates and possible kickoff times

The 2026 Leagues Cup now has its eight remaining teams. After three games in Phase One, four Liga MX clubs and four from MLS advanced to the quarterfinals, where every matchup will once again pit representatives of the two leagues directly against each other.

León finished as the top Mexican team with nine points and a perfect record, while Chicago Fire did the same on the MLS side. América, Toluca and Monterrey also advanced from Liga MX, along with Austin FC, Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake from MLS.

The quarterfinals will be played from Tuesday, August 25 through Thursday, August 27. The organizers have yet to confirm which game will be played on each day, as well as kickoff times and venues, meaning any specific scheduling details remain pending.

Leagues Cup 2026 quarterfinal matchups

The matchups were determined by each club’s final position in its respective league standings.

• Chicago Fire vs. Monterrey
• Toluca vs. Austin FC
• América vs. Columbus Crew
• León vs. Real Salt Lake

León enters as Liga MX’s top team

León completed a perfect Phase One. The Mexican club won all three of its games, collecting nine points while scoring six goals and conceding three, enough to finish first among the Liga MX teams.

Its opponent will be Real Salt Lake, which finished fourth among the MLS clubs with seven points. RSL went unbeaten with two wins and a draw, scoring eight goals and conceding just once.

That defensive record makes this one of the most intriguing quarterfinals: the best Mexican team from the opening phase will face an RSL side that allowed only one goal in its three games.

América and Toluca are also still alive

América finished second among the Liga MX teams with seven points. Las Águilas ended the phase with 12 goals, the highest total among the Mexican clubs, although they also conceded nine.

Their opponent will be Columbus Crew, which finished third in the MLS standings with eight points and a +3 goal difference.

Toluca, meanwhile, finished third among the Liga MX clubs with six points and a +4 goal difference after scoring six and conceding only two. Los Diablos will face Austin FC, which collected eight points and scored 12 goals, tying one of the best attacking records of Phase One.

Monterrey claimed the final Mexican berth. Rayados picked up six points and advanced in fourth place thanks to the tiebreaking criteria. Their next opponent will be Chicago Fire, the top MLS team after winning all three of its games to finish with nine points.

When are the Leagues Cup quarterfinals?

Organizers have confirmed that the four quarterfinal games will be played between August 25 and 27.

It has not yet been announced which matchup will take place on which day, nor have kickoff times been released. The venues have not been officially confirmed either, so the detailed schedule will have to wait for a further announcement from Leagues Cup.

For now, the confirmed dates are:

• Quarterfinals: August 25-27
• Semifinals: September 1-2
• Final and third-place game: September 6

The four clubs that survive the quarterfinals will move one step closer to securing one of the three available places in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The Leagues Cup champion, runner-up and winner of the third-place game will all qualify for the continental competition.

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