Leagues Cup 2026 opened Tuesday with six Phase One matches and an immediate split in the standings, as Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, Charlotte FC and FC Juárez all took three points while Tigres UANL picked up an extra point after a penalty shootout.
The opening day matters because the tournament is not a standalone showcase. It sits under Concacaf, brings together clubs from MLS and Liga MX, and feeds into qualification for the Copa de Campeones Concacaf 2027. For readers searching Toluca Vs Seattle Sounders, the draw here is the same: the first results are already shaping how the tournament will be read, one match at a time.
Columbus Crew started the day with a 3-1 win over Atlas FC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, United States. César Ruvalcaba opened the scoring with a header in the 28th minute, Sean Zawadzki added a second in first-half stoppage time at 45+2 and Brais Méndez made it 3-0 in the 51st minute before Atlas finally pulled one back in the 67th minute when a cross deflected in off Zawadzki.
FC Cincinnati then made its own statement with a 3-1 win over CF Pachuca at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Adrián Alcaraz gave CF Pachuca the lead with a header in the 8th minute, but Evander answered with a long-distance shot ten minutes later and changed the tone of the night. Pavel Bucha put FC Cincinnati ahead before halftime with a finish at the back post in the 39th minute, and Kenji Mboma Dem added a third in the 70th minute.
Charlotte FC followed with a 3-0 win over Pumas UNAM at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Brandt Bronico scored in the 27th minute, Archie Goodwin doubled the lead with a header in the 50th minute and Tyger Smalls converted from the spot in the 78th minute. FC Juárez closed the list of outright winners with a 2-1 victory over Minnesota United at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, after Guilherme Castilho scored with a header in the 22nd minute.
The odd note from the first day is Tigres UANL. It did not appear among the teams that won in regulation, yet it still earned the additional point by winning its shootout. That is the structure of the competition from here: three points for a win in normal time, one added point for a shootout winner after a draw, and the opening table already reflecting both. With six Phase One matches still just the start, the teams that handled Tuesday best have put pressure on the rest of the field before the tournament has even found its rhythm.
