The Seattle Sounders are visiting Liga MX side Toluca FC on Wednesday in their first 2026 Leagues Cup match. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT (8 p.m. local time) at Estadio Nemesio DÃez in Toluca, Mexico.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on FS1, UniMás and Apple TV.
CURRENT STANDINGS (W-L-T): Sounders: 7-7-3 (24 points, 9th West, MLS), Toluca: 2-1-0 (6 points, 3rd Liga MX Apertura)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: LLLLL, Toluca: WLLWW
Fourth Wing Bundle (10.28)
Step beyond the wards and into Lumen Field on Wednesday, October 28th as the Seattle Sounders celebrate Fourth Wing Night! Each ticket will include an exclusive Sounders–inspired Fourth Wing crewneck, and the first 500 cadets to purchase The Iron Squad Package will score a copy of Iron Flame signed by Rebecca Yarros!
LEAGUES CUP FORMAT: The 2026 Leagues Cup features all 18 Liga MX teams and the top 18 qualifying clubs from MLS. Teams were divided into Eastern and Western regions and grouped into tiers based on 2025 league performance. Each club will play three Phase One matches against teams from the opposing league with no draws allowed. Matches that end with the score level will go straight to penalty shootouts with both teams receiving a point and the winner of the shootout receiving an additional point. The top four clubs from each league advance to the Knockout Rounds where it will be a single-elimination sprint to the Leagues Cup Final on Sept. 6. This also marks the first tournament where select Mexican clubs will host matches after previously only MLS teams had home-field advantage.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: In addition to continental bragging rights, the top three finishers from Leagues Cup will secure automatic bids to the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The champion will receive a direct spot in the CCC Round of 16.
Ticket & Bobble 3-Match Pack
Lock in three late-season matches that matter with the Ticket & Bobble 3-Match Pack, including Aug. 19 vs. Austin FC, Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota United FC (Vamos Sounders Match), and Oct. 1 vs. Sporting Kansas City. At each match, you’ll collect an exclusive Sounders player bobblehead, starting with Cristian Roldan on Aug. 19.
PHASE ONE OPPONENTS: After visiting Toluca, the Sounders will host Querétaro on Sunday, Aug. 9 (12:30 p.m. PT; Apple TV | TICKETS) and Chivas on Wednesday, Aug. 12 (7:30 p.m. PT; Apple TV | TICKETS).
FIRST MEETING: Wednesday will be the first-ever meeting between the Sounders and Toluca.
DEFENDING CHAMPS: The Sounders enter this year’s Leagues Cup as the defending champions after defeating Inter Miami in the 2025 Leagues Cup Final.
CHAMPS OF THEIR OWN: Toluca is the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winner after defeating fellow Liga MX side Tigres in a penalty shootout in the final on May 30.
REGIONAL POWER: Toluca has been one of the most dominant teams in North America since Head Coach Antonio Mohamed took over at the end of 2024. Los Diablos Rojos won the 2024-25 Liga MX Clausura and 2025-26 Liga MX Apertura championships before icing their success with their first CCC title since 2003.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Alexis Vega, F: With injury absences for star forward Paulinho and midfield engines Marcel Ruiz and Nicolás Castro, much of the onus in attack will fall on Vega. The 28-year-old Mexican international winger has 84 total goal contributions across two stints with Toluca.
- Federico Pereira, D: A 2026 Liga MX All-Star, Pereira is the anchor of this formidable Toluca defense that allowed a league-low 16 goals in the 2025-26 Clausura. The 26-year-old Uruguayan has played 100 matches for Toluca since joining from Uruguay’s Liverpool FC in 2024 for a reported fee north of $7M.
- Franco Romero, M: A fellow 2026 Liga MX All-Star, Romero is one of Mexico’s best defensive midfielders. The 26-year-old has been a gem in the center of the park since joining from Defensa y Justicia in his native Argentina last January.
