By Victor Araiza
An electric night in Houston promised—and delivered—a celebratory occasion as four of Liga MX’s best squared off in the Leagues Cup Final and Third Place Match.
Toluca became the first Mexican club to lift the Leagues Cup trophy under the current format, dating back to 2023, after defeating Monterrey.
Earlier in the night, Club León clinched a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup by defeating Club América in a tight affair.
The final matchday had it all: fireworks, passionate fans, flashy plays and musical performances in a celebration of the sport, capping off the most important summer for soccer in North America.
Toluca Continues Golden Era
Toluca collected its first Leagues Cup trophy with a 2-0 win over Monterrey.
The title is the sixth trophy won under manager Antonio Mohamed. Additionally, the Diablos Rojos have now won every major trophy currently available to a Liga MX club.
Alexis Vega, who scored the opening goal in the Final in the fourth minute, was named the tournament’s Best Player.
Helinho, another of Toluca’s top performers, scored the other goal in the Final in the 70th minute to seal the victory and earn Man of the Match honors.
Perhaps most impressively, Toluca accomplished all of this despite injuries to key players such as Paulinho, Marcel Ruiz, Érick Gutiérrez and Luis García.
“Ours was a courageous team that always knew how to play the matches,” Mohamed said after the Final. “We were the team that conceded only two goals in six games. I believe we were the best defensively, and that is why we won the title.”
The victory further cements a golden era for the club, which includes the Clausura 2025 and Apertura 2025 titles, the 2025 Campeón de Campeones, the 2025 Campeones Cup and the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Monterrey Building With Humility
Monterrey capped its best Leagues Cup campaign with a runner-up finish.
Rayados, who defeated two of MLS’ best in Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC during Phase One, went on to eliminate Chicago Fire and Club América to reach the Final.
While disappointed to finish in second place, the campaign represents a promising start under manager Matías Almeyda as the club returns to Liga MX play with a high-intensity matchup against cross-town rivals Tigres.
“It was well played—the way a final deserves to be played—leaving it all on the field,” Almeyda said. “I value our group's humility. I value their dedication, and the result won't change what they are building.”
León Secures Champions Cup Berth
Club León won the Third Place Match, securing its place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
A tight affair was decided in the 80th minute when Díber Cambindo scored the match’s lone goal. La Fiera capped off an impressive campaign, remaining undefeated until the Semifinals.
“It is a source of pride to lead this group,” said León manager Javier Gandolfi. “We made our way through the tournament step by step. We kept working and believing—with faith and hard work—and today, I think the lads have secured the icing on the cake by qualifying for the Concachampions.”
Daniel Arcila finished the tournament as a co-leading scorer with four goals, tied with Austin FC’s Myrto Uzuni.
León’s Óscar García was also recognized as the Best Goalkeeper of the 2026 edition.
América Shifts Focus to Rivalry Matchups
Club América rounded out the all-Liga MX Final Four and leaves the tournament after enjoying one of the strongest displays of fan support throughout the competition.
From its opening match in Mexico City to an outpouring of support in Portland, Austin, Los Angeles and Houston, Las Águilas were never alone.
América’s Achilles' heel came in penalty shootouts, losing to Austin in Phase One and to Monterrey in the Semifinals. The club then closed its campaign with a tight encounter against León, decided by a late goal.
In its first months under manager Guillermo Almada, América leaves the tournament with a fourth-place finish as two rivalry matches loom in the coming weeks against Cruz Azul and Chivas de Guadalajara.
“No defeat comes at the right moment,” Almada said after the match. “As I told the players, we have a long road ahead and need to improve in several areas, especially by regaining the identity we had in previous matches.”
A Celebration of Mexican Culture
A near-capacity crowd in Houston showcased four of Liga MX's most passionate fan bases, with supporters making the trek from different parts of Mexico, whether by road or air.
Hours before both matches, hundreds of supporters gathered around the stadium in their team colors, warming up the chants they would later sing at the top of their lungs inside.
Musical performances throughout the night, including Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea and Yahritza y Su Esencia, added to a celebration of Mexican culture shared by fans of all ages.
After three years of MLS dominance in the competition, the 2026 Leagues Cup ended with an exclamation point for Liga MX. The Mexican league reclaimed momentum in the rivalry between the two leagues as a new champion was crowned, capping off the most historic summer of soccer in North America.
