Cruz Azul will visit LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on Wednesday for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, a matchup that pairs one of Liga MX’s stronger sides with the top team in the MLS Western Conference. LAFC is unbeaten in its last ten matches, the longest such run in club history, and arrives after a 6-0 win over Orlando City.
Cruz Azul, by contrast, has not shown its best form in recent weeks even after a strong run in the Clausura 2026 of Liga MX, making this a test of whether its league momentum can travel. The winner will take a step closer to the semifinals in a knockout series that leaves little room for recovery.
The clubs know each other well enough to give this tie an edge. They met in the 2020 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, when LAFC eliminated Cruz Azul in a single match and moved on to the semifinals. That history still hangs over the series, but one veteran voice has pointed the other way this time.
Read Also: Nashville Sc - América set for quarterfinal after Miami upset and bracket turns
Marc dos Santos said the Mexican side should be considered the favorite because it is the reigning champion of the tournament. His view fits the broader shape of the matchup: Cruz Azul has the pedigree, while LAFC brings form, home field and the confidence that comes with a historic unbeaten streak. What happens first in Los Angeles may not decide the series, but it will tell whether Cruz Azul can impose itself early or whether LAFC can turn recent momentum into another knockout upset.
