Match Previews – Inside World Football

Real CD España have a mountain to climb at free-scoring LAFC

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:26:09 +0000

February 25 – Los Angeles FC return home for the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup tie knowing that only an upset of epic proportion will stop them advancing to the last 16 after a 6-1 demolition of Real CD España in Honduras last week.

The Black and Gold were in imperious form in what was their first competitive game of the season, and seem to be enjoying life under their new head coach,

Nashville in driving seat against newcomers Atletico Ottawa

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:15:30 +0000

February 25 – Nashville are on a roll. Having beaten Atletico Ottawa last week in at TD Place Stadium in Canada, they then opened their MLS campaign with an impressive 4-1 hammering of the New England Revolution at Geodis Park.

In both matches Sam Surridge found the back of the net – once against Ottawa and twice against the Revolution. While Surridge has immediately hot his goalscoring stride, Ottawa are adjusting to life after their,

Vancouver Whitecaps must now turn possession into goals to beat CS Cartaginés

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:10:54 +0000

February 25 – Vancouver Whitecaps FC head into the second leg against CS Cartaginés after a bruising 1st leg in Costa Rica that finished all square.

Without that precious away goal the Whitecaps will be under intense pressure to keep a clean sheet. One mistake will require them to score two goals.

Despite dominating the possession stat by a remarkable 75% to 25% and outshooting CS Cartaginés 15 to 7, the Canadian outfit could not break down a disciplined back line with Kevin Andrés Briceño outstanding between the posts.

Cartaginés face an all-star Whitecaps line-up in their bid for the summit

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:07:48 +0000

February 18 – History will be written in Cartago as CS Cartaginés face Canadian opposition for the first time in the competition.

Champions in 1994, the Costa Ricans are beginning what they hope will be another deep run – and their first-ever two-legged series against a North American club.

But they have a very tough challenge in seasoned Champions Cup campaigners Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who had a spectacular run to the final last season before being overwhelmed by Cruz Azul.

LA Galaxy to test new look line-up against Sporting San Miguelito

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:09:28 +0000

February 18 – The six-time MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy will be looking to uses Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito as the stepping stone to a deep run in the 2026 Champions Cup and a kick start to their season after a poor 2025.

The LA Galaxy are ranked 18 in Concacaf, while Sporting San Miguelito, ranked 63 – the difference on paper looks to great.

There is no head-to-head history between the teams who meet for the first time with the winner advancing to face 66–ranked Mount Pleasant of Jamaica in the Round of 16.

Nashville hunt for more glory as Atlético Ottawa target a CPL first

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:15:44 +0000

February 17 – Nashville closed out their highest ever MLS points tally season (54) only to lose in the first round of the play-offs to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. If they overcome Canada’s Atlético Ottawa in the first round they will meet Miami next.

They qualified for the Champions Cup by beating Austin FC in the US Open Cup final, the first title in club history. This is their second Champions Cup appearance and they will be expecting to build on last season.

Real CD España ready for LAFC challenge

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:00:20 +0000

February 17 – Back on the Champions Cup stage for the first time since 2023, Real CD España return with experience on their side — this is appearance number 18 for Los Aurinegros.

Qualification came via a strong run to the semifinals of the 2025 Central American Cup, and there is quiet confidence in Honduras’s San Pedro Sula ahead of another tilt at continental relevance.

Standing in their way is MLS powerhouse,

The post Real CD España ready for LAFC challenge appeared first on Inside World Football.

Defence Force will need to live up to their name against newly built Philly attack

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:03:50 +0000

February 17 – A meeting of old Caribbean pedigree and modern MLS consistency opens in Port of Spain on Wednesday. Defence Force FC, two-time continental champions and the pride of Trinidad and Tobago, face U.S. opposition for the first time.

The visitors, Philadelphia Union, arrive as 2025 Supporters’ Shield winners and with a curious Champions Cup record — unbeaten in every opening match they’ve played in four previous editions.

This will also be their first-ever series against Caribbean opposition.

Pumas have mountain to climb after San Diego rout

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:35:45 +0000

February 10 – Pumas UNAM has the Mt. Everest of comebacks on their hands after a 4-1 loss on the road to tournament debutants San Diego FC in the 1st leg of the opening round of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The three-time champions will welcome SDFC to the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Second Leg, knowing the scenarios for advancement are clear but herculean. Win 3-0, by a four-goal margin,

Forge confident as Tigres look to turn up the heat

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:15:14 +0000

February 10 – Tigres go into the home leg of their Round 1 tie at the daunting Estadio Universitario in Nuevo Leon after a 0-0 draw at Forge FC.

The star of the first round was Forge FC’s debut goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud who welded his goal shut to keep out a marauding Tigres.

Bertaud’s seven saves and numerous defensive blocks were the foundation of an improbable result and have kept the tie alive,

Gritty Xelajú ready to test Monterrey resolve

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:12:45 +0000

February 10 – Favourites Monterrey go into the home leg of their tie with CSD Xelajú M.C. tonight (Tuesday) knowing the Guatemalans will be motivated from the first leg which they feel they should have won.

The drama came late in the 1st leg of the round one Concacaf Champions Cup time between Xelajú and five-time champions CF Monterrey.

Playing at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City, the home side struggled against an experienced Monterrey side that has surprisingly been struggling in the Liga MX.

The post Gritty Xelajú ready to test Monterrey resolve appeared first on Inside World Football.

Club América finding form at wrong time for Olimpia

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:10:34 +0000

February 10 – Mexican giants Club America left it late to take a 2-1 lead over Olimpia back to the Azteca.

Post match, Club America coach André Jardine was adamant that “the score was fair”, but he won’t want the second leg to go down to the wire.

In the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, the Hondurans came close to snatching a surprise result but wasted chances and good game management by the Mexicans proved too much for Olimpia.

Monterrey lose Bertrame to Inter Miami ahead of Xelajú battle

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:38:23 +0000

February 2 – Guatemala’s Xelajú MC and Mexico’s Monterrey have met before in the Champions Cup.

In 2012-13 they met in the quarter-finals with Monterrey winning 3-1 over the two legs, but not before the Guatemalans had threatened to overturn the accepted hierarchy with a 1-1 draw in Monterrey.

This time round Monterrey will start as solid favourites. They five Liga MX titles as well as five Concacaf Champions League titles.

Cruz Azul set to give newbies Vancouver FC a baptism of fire

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:34:45 +0000

February 4 – Vancouver FC, not to be confused with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, qualified for this year’s edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup thanks to reaching the final of the Canadian Champions Cup.

Established just three years ago in the Canadian Premier League, their debut in this tournament couldn’t be tougher as they face seven-time champions, Mexican powerhouse, Cruz Azul.

The squad does not have a great deal of experience at this level and will be relying heavily on the know-how of Nicolás Mezquida,

San Diego’s debut against Pumas promises classic MLS-LigaMX clash

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:03:11 +0000

February 2 -Snapdragon Stadium will be buzzing as San Diego FC make their debut appearance in Concacaf’s biggest club tournament.

Major League Soccer’s newest franchise will face off against Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, aka, Pumas UNAM, in the Champions Cup. San Dego finished first in the Western Conference last season, earning an impressive 63 points, with a squad that mixes youth and experience in equal measures.

Anchoring the team is goalkeeper CJ dos Santos,

Olimpia primed to upset Club América’s surge for eighth CCC title

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:45:45 +0000

February 2 – Seven times Champions Cup winners Club América open their quest for an eighth title away to CD Olimpia on Tuesday at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Olimpia are no strangers to Champions Cup competition, having won the title in 1972 and 1988. They are returning for the first time since the 2023 edition and are more than capable of creating the upset of Round One.

Argentine coach Pedro Troglio,

UNAL Tigres open in the white heat of Canada’s Forge

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:20:03 +0000

February 2 Canadian Premier League side Forge FC have played in four Champions Cups and each time have been dumped out of the competition by a Liga MX. Few will be betting that their home opening day fixture tomorrow against UNAL Tigres, playing in their 12th Champions Cup, will see them overcome their Mexican blackspot.

Tigres have made 11 appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup/Champions League. They have reached the final four times (2015-16,