Club América beat Columbus Crew 2-0 in the Leagues Cup 2026 quarterfinal on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with kickoff around 7:45 p.m. Pacific time. The result knocks Columbus, the tournament’s last MLS club, out of the annual competition between Major League Soccer and Liga MX (Mexican) teams — every remaining team is now from Liga MX.
Key facts
- Score: Club América 2, Columbus Crew 0
- Competition: Leagues Cup 2026 quarterfinal
- When and where: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, kickoff around 7:45 p.m. Pacific
- Goals: Raphael Veiga (11th minute), Brian Rodríguez (first-half stoppage time)
- Penalty saved: goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota stopped Columbus’s penalty kick in the 39th minute
- Possession: Columbus held 62%, according to match statistics from Club América and Fútbol Mundial
- What’s next: América faces CF Monterrey in the semifinal, September 1-2, 2026
How the match unfolded
América, under head coach Guillermo Almada, never trailed. Raphael Veiga put the Mexico City club ahead in the 11th minute, finishing a chance set up by winger Brian Rodríguez. Columbus, coached by Wilfried Nancy, had a way back into the game in the 39th minute, when it was awarded a penalty kick, but América goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota saved it, keeping the score at 1-0. Rodríguez, who had set up the first goal, then scored the second himself in first-half stoppage time, making it 2-0 at the break. Neither side scored again, and the match ended 2-0 in América’s favor. Columbus had the better share of possession — 62%, according to match statistics published by both Club América and Fútbol Mundial — but still lost 2-0.
Columbus’s road to the quarterfinal
Columbus arrived at the quarterfinal unbeaten in the tournament’s group stage, according to MLSSoccer.com — beating Atlas FC 3-1 and Pachuca 2-1, then drawing Pumas UNAM 1-1 before winning a penalty-kick tiebreaker for a bonus point.
What’s next
The other semifinal pairs Club León against Toluca FC. Multiple reports described the semifinal appearance as América’s first in Leagues Cup history.
América now moves on to face CF Monterrey in the semifinal, reported for September 1-2, 2026. The tournament’s third-place match and final are scheduled for September 6, 2026, according to the official Leagues Cup schedule.
History between the clubs
The two clubs have met before. Columbus beat América 4-1 in the group stage of the 2023 Leagues Cup. The following year, in the 2024 Campeones Cup final, América turned the tables, beating Columbus 5-4 on penalties after the teams played to a 1-1 draw.
Sources and further reading
- Club América vs. Columbus Crew: How to watch, stream Leagues Cup quarterfinal
- Leagues Cup | Columbus Crew
- Leagues Cup: Club América vs Columbus Crew (event listing)
- Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Schedule and Venues Announced
- Leagues Cup 2026: Quarterfinal matchups, schedule info & who advanced
- Dignity Health Sports Park to Host Club América vs Columbus Crew in Leagues Cup 2026 Quarterfinal
- Columbus Crew showcase Leagues Cup championship pedigree