Club América will face the Columbus Crew on Wednesday in the Leagues Cup 2026 quarterfinals at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, with kickoff set for 7:45 pm Pacific time.
The matchup carries more than just a place in the semifinals. It also sits inside the tournament path that can help teams move toward the Copa de Campeones de la CONCACAF de 2027, which gives every late-round result added weight.
America arrive with stronger overall momentum
Club América come into the quarterfinal in strong domestic and tournament form. Columbus Crew, meanwhile, have dropped three straight MLS matches, but they are still unbeaten in the current Leagues Cup. That contrast makes this a meeting between a team that has been steady across competitions and one that has handled this tournament better than its recent league results suggest.
The setting is also notable. Because the round is being played in the United States, América are listed as the home team in Carson rather than at the Estadio Azteca. That does not change the pressure on the match, but it does shape the atmosphere and the logistics around a contest with real stakes.
A familiar matchup with recent history
This is not the first time these clubs have crossed paths in a major knockout setting. In the Leagues Cup 2023, Columbus Crew beat Club América 4-1 in the last group-stage match. More recently, in the Concacaf Champions Cup 2024, Club América eliminated Columbus Crew on penalties in the final.
That shared history adds another layer to Wednesday’s meeting. Both teams have already proven they can get the better of the other in high-pressure moments, even if the path has been different each time.
What the coaches and players said
Henry Martín framed the matchup as the kind of game where the last result matters less than the one in front of you. He said this is a demanding team and emphasized that América want to move on and show they are superior on the field. He also noted that the club has strong support from its fans in the city, but said that support has to be matched by good work on the pitch.
Laurent Courtois described the occasion as a luxury, saying it is a privilege to play this kind of match.
Guillermo Almada gave Columbus respect while making the same basic point: if a team believes it has an edge, it has to prove it on the field. He said Columbus have very good footballers and that América will try to do what is needed to advance.
Tuesday’s results also clarified the bracket, with Monterrey and León moving on to the Leagues Cup semifinals by eliminating Chicago and Real Salt Lake. Now América and Columbus Crew get their turn to decide who keeps the run alive in Carson.
