A high-stakes Leagues Cup 2025 encounter is set for Sunday, August 3, as Liga MX powerhouse Chivas de Guadalajara travels to face MLS side Charlotte FC. The match, scheduled for a 7:50 p.m. ET kickoff at Bank of America Stadium, marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, with both teams desperately seeking their first points of the tournament after suffering opening-round defeats.
Both sides enter the contest aiming for redemption. Charlotte FC, who had been in excellent form with four consecutive MLS victories, were brought back to earth with a stunning 4-1 loss at home to FC Juárez in their Leagues Cup opener. The defeat was compounded by a significant disciplinary setback. Forward Idan Toklomati, who scored Charlotte’s lone goal in the 18th minute, was issued a red card in the 80th minute and will be suspended for the match against Chivas, as confirmed by LeaguesCup.com. His absence leaves a considerable void in the attack, placing more pressure on key players like Designated Player winger Wilfried Zaha and playmaker Pep Biel, who leads the team with 10 goals and 12 assists across all competitions this season. Despite the recent tournament loss, Charlotte has proven to be a solid team in their domestic league, sitting seventh in the MLS standings with 38 points from 25 matches.
Chivas de Guadalajara experienced their own share of opening-round heartbreak, falling 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls on July 31. The decisive blow came in the final moments of the match when a perfectly executed free kick by Emil Forsberg sealed the victory for the MLS side. Under the guidance of coach Gabriel Milito, Chivas will be eager to bounce back. “I dream of building a great team, and I know I’m at a great institution,” Milito stated, emphasizing the historical expectations of the club. “What we all want is to position Chivas at the top, as its history and greatness dictate.”
While their start to the Liga MX Apertura season has been inconsistent, placing them 12th on the table, Chivas is coming off a sensational 4-3 comeback victory over Atlético San Luis on July 26. According to a report from Digital Trends Today, substitute Armando González was the hero, scoring a brace in the 84th and 90th minutes to secure the win. The Chivas roster also features several players with MLS experience, including Cade Cowell, who also scored in the win over San Luis, and former Sporting Kansas City star Alan Pulido, adding another layer of intrigue to this cross-league matchup.
The structure of the Leagues Cup adds significant weight to this match. During this initial phase, teams compete for points in separate, league-specific tables. Only the top four clubs from each league’s table will advance to the quarterfinals. With both Chivas and Charlotte currently holding zero points, a victory on Sunday is paramount to keeping their knockout stage aspirations alive. Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith acknowledged the unique nature of the competition, noting, “You’re coming up against teams that you don’t know, players that you haven’t come up against… it makes it a really good challenge.”
Fans can watch this pivotal match on FOX Sports 1, TUDN, and Univision, or stream it via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as reported by Newsweek. As one team looks to find its footing and the other aims to prove its resilience, this clash promises to be a compelling chapter in the growing rivalry between MLS and Liga MX.
