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Carlos Salcido doubts América will reach Leagues Cup semifinals
🇲🇽 Mexico /Sports

Carlos Salcido doubts América will reach Leagues Cup semifinals

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Four Mexican Liga MX teams are competing in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Leagues Cup, facing clubs from Major League Soccer.
  • Former player Carlos Salcido expressed confidence that a Mexican team could win the tournament, though he doubted the América team's chances.
  • Mexican clubs have struggled in the tournament, with no team reaching the semifinals in 2024 and 2025.

The 2026 Leagues Cup quarterfinals are underway, with Liga MX teams facing the challenge of overcoming MLS clubs, which have dominated the tournament since its expansion. Monterrey, América, León, and Toluca represent Mexico in this stage.

I am convinced that this tournament, this year's Leagues Cup, can be won by a Mexican team.

— Carlos SalcidoTournament ambassador and former player, expressing his belief in a Mexican team's potential to win the Leagues Cup.

Carlos Salcido, a tournament ambassador, believes three of the four Mexican representatives have a strong chance of advancing to the next round, and one could ultimately win the trophy. "I am convinced that this tournament, this year's Leagues Cup, can be won by a Mexican team," Salcido told EL UNIVERSAL Deportes in an exclusive interview. He noted that Monterrey, due to its current form and growth under coach Matías Almeyda, is playing well. Toluca is seen as a mature team accustomed to knockout-stage matches. Salcido favors León over América, citing León's current positive momentum and strong team cohesion.

Monterrey, due to the progress it is making and its growth with Matías [Almeyda], has shown good football and can be a contender. Toluca has a very mature team, accustomed to playing these types of phases, elimination matches. Between América and León, I would pick León, but because of the moment they are going through. Mentally, they are enjoying the tournament, in a great moment, they have formed a good unit.

— Carlos SalcidoAnalyzing the strengths of the Mexican teams in the Leagues Cup.

Salcido excluded América from his top picks to avoid sounding arrogant, but he acknowledged their potential. "I can also say América, because it is a great team, accustomed to playing in this phase, but I don't want to sound too arrogant," he said with a smile. The historical performance of MLS clubs in the tournament highlights the dominance, with no Mexican club reaching the semifinals in 2024 and 2025. The last time a Mexican team made it to the semifinals was in 2023 when Monterrey was eliminated.

I can also say América, because it is a great team, accustomed to playing in this phase, but I don't want to sound too arrogant.

— Carlos SalcidoAcknowledging América's potential despite not initially including them in his top picks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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