Mikey Varas believes America San Diego FC are moving in the right direction, but Thursday night’s Leagues Cup match against Club América at Estadio Azteca will ask a much bigger question of where they really stand. It is a demanding trip, a significant occasion, and a useful measure of progress for a team still trying to climb from 13th place in the Western Conference.
The timing matters too. These next three matches do not count in the MLS standings, which means San Diego FC can treat the Leagues Cup as a short-term test against strong opposition while still keeping one eye on the wider season. After Thursday, they will host the Tijuana Xolos on Sunday night and then face Club Puebla on Wednesday in Leagues Cup pool play.
Varas has framed it as a chance for the group to keep building. He said: “This group is building rhythm, little by little, every day, and making improvements that are going to help us in the long run.” That is the right message for a side that has gone 1-1-1 and scored two goals since returning from the World Cup break.
Why Estadio Azteca changes the tone
Playing Club América at Estadio Azteca is not just another fixture. The stadium has hosted two World Cup finals and this year’s World Cup opening ceremonies, so even before the football starts, the occasion carries weight. Varas called it a “Huge honor to play in Azteca,” and that sense of occasion is part of what makes this trip valuable.
It is also a proper competitive test. Varas said the group is hungry to compete in the tournament and that it is good experience to face one of the top Liga MX teams. That is the key point here: San Diego FC are not just chasing a result, they are trying to see how their structure and discipline hold up in a difficult environment against top-level opposition.
Godoy’s view: ready to compete
Anibal Godoy offered a similar reading of the challenge. He said the team knows it is difficult to play in the altitude, but believes they are ready to compete. He also described América as a really good team in Concacaf, adding that San Diego FC need to go there and try to play their game.
That is the balance a club like San Diego FC has to find at this stage. Respect the opponent, understand the difficulty, but do not abandon the way you want to play. The Leagues Cup gives them the platform to do that without the pressure of the MLS table for a few days.
And that is perhaps why this match matters beyond the immediate result. San Diego FC still have time to turn a season around, but moving from 13th place into a playoff spot will require more than occasional good performances. If they can compete at Estadio Azteca and then carry that rhythm into the next two fixtures, it may tell them a great deal about what this group can become over the coming months.
