Houston Dynamo FC is set to conclude the first phase of the 2025 Leagues Cup with a compelling matchup against historic rivals C.F. Pachuca. The game will take place at Shell Energy Stadium on Tuesday, August 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. While the Dynamo have already been eliminated from contention, the match is far from a dead rubber, as Pachuca needs a victory to secure a spot in the knockout rounds, and a long-standing rivalry adds extra intensity to the contest.
The 2025 Leagues Cup, a Concacaf-sanctioned tournament, features an enhanced format involving all 18 clubs from both Major League Soccer and Liga MX. In this initial phase, each team plays three matches against opponents from the other league, earning points for a league-specific table. The top four clubs from each league’s table will advance. For Houston, the tournament has been a tough outing. The club suffered a 4-1 defeat to Tigres UANL, with midfielder Ondřej Lingr scoring the team’s only goal, followed by a 2-0 loss to Mazatlán F.C. at home. These results leave the Dynamo at the bottom of the MLS table with zero points and a -5 goal differential, officially ending their advancement hopes.
In contrast, C.F. Pachuca enters the final match with everything to play for. The Liga MX side currently sits seventh in their league’s tournament table with four points. They secured a 3-2 victory over San Diego FC before playing to a 1-1 draw with LAFC, ultimately losing the subsequent penalty shootout 4-2. A regulation win against Houston is crucial for their chances to climb into the top four and advance to the quarterfinals. Pachuca will have to achieve this without forward Jhonder Cádiz, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the match against LAFC.
This match renews a storied rivalry between the two clubs, who have met eight times in competitive play, with the series evenly split at four wins each. Memorable past encounters include Pachuca’s dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory in the 2007 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals and the Dynamo’s 2-0 win in the 2008 North American Superliga semifinals. Their most recent clash was in the Round of 32 of the 2023 Leagues Cup, where Houston emerged victorious 5-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
Despite their early exit from the tournament, the Dynamo have used the competition to integrate new talent and prepare for the remainder of the MLS season. Coach Ben Olsen has indicated the games served to “fine-tune the pieces” for their league campaign. The club recently bolstered its defense by signing 32-year-old central defender Antônio Carlos from Brazilian club Fluminense FC. Carlos brings a wealth of experience, including a successful stint with Orlando City SC where he won the 2022 U.S. Open Cup. Though their tournament results have been disappointing, the Dynamo can draw confidence from a strong all-time home record of 11-7-4 against Liga MX opponents.
While Pachuca has been inconsistent in the Leagues Cup, their domestic form has been formidable. At the recent break, they were first in the Liga MX Apertura 2025 standings and remain undefeated at home. Coach Jaime Lozano, who once interviewed for the head coaching job in Houston, will be keen to guide his team to a decisive victory. With Houston playing for pride and Pachuca fighting for survival, the final group stage match at Shell Energy Stadium promises to be a hard-fought battle. Following this match, the Dynamo will return to MLS action on Saturday, August 9, when they travel to face Austin FC.
