The Columbus Crew are back in action for the 2026 Leagues Cup this year, after winning the 2024 title and crashing out in the group stage in 2025. Thursday afternoon, the Club announced its 2026 opponents, highlighted by a rematch of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Final against Club Pachuca. The Crew will also host Atlas FC and Pumas UNAM, with all matches played at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. 

The Crew’s first matches in the Leagues Cup 2026 will be against Atlas and Pumas, who have combined for 10 Liga MX titles, with Atlas winning back-to-back championships in 2021-22. 

Columbus is unbeaten in Leagues Cup play, with an 8-0-3 record, while forward Diego Rossi is tied for the fourth-most goals in competition history. 

The Columbus Crew won the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup, after defeating LAFC by a 3-1 scoreline, and former striker Cucho Hernandez tallied a brace. 

Leagues Cup Format

Leagues Cup is set to take place from August 4 – September 6, with all matches being played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 2026 edition will follow the same format as 2025, continuing consistent inter-league play, and being played in two rounds:

1.) Phase One

2.) Knockout Rounds

Phase One

• Each team will play in three matches 
• All 54 Phase One matches will be played between MLS and Liga MX teams

Knockout Rounds

Four Clubs from each league will then be placed in a bracket to take on one another in a single-game elimination knockout round, beginning with the quarterfinals, featuring only MLX vs Liga MX matchups. 

Phase One performances will determine pairings for the quarterfinals, with the following as such:

• MLS 1 vs Liga MX 4
• MLS 2 vs Liga MX 3
• MLS 3 vs Liga MX 2
• MLS 4 vs Liga MX 1

The winners of each matchup will then square off in two semifinal matches. The Third-Place match and Final will then determine the three Clubs to qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. 

This edition of the Leagues Cup will also maintain the “No draws” format, ensuring a clear winner in each matchup. 

• Regulation draw: One point for both teams
• Penalty Shootout win: Two points
• Regulation win: Three points

In the knockout rounds, any match that ends tied at the end of regulation will be decided by a penalty shootout. 

Times for all matches will be announced at a later date.