FC Cincinnati is set to ignite its Leagues Cup 2025 journey with a formidable challenge, hosting Liga MX powerhouse CF Monterrey on Thursday, July 31. The highly anticipated match will kick off at 7 p.m. ET at TQL Stadium, marking the opening of the tournament’s Phase One for both clubs and reigniting a rivalry that recently saw them clash in continental competition.
This year’s Leagues Cup introduces a revamped format, moving away from the previous group stage structure. The 2025 edition features 18 qualifying clubs from Major League Soccer and all 18 clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX competing in two distinct phases. During Phase One, which runs from July 29 to August 7, teams will compete against clubs from their own league to earn points in a league-specific table. A regulation win earns three points, while matches tied after 90 minutes will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, with the winner securing an additional point. FC Cincinnati must finish among the top four teams in the MLS table to advance to the eight-team knockout stage, which begins with the quarterfinals on August 19. The tournament’s top three finishers will earn coveted spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Orange & Blue enter the competition in strong form, boasting a 6W-1L-1D record in their last eight matches. Head coach Pat Noonan emphasized the importance of building on this momentum. “We’re looking for progress and progress in the moment is, how do we take this most recent stretch, which I think has been a pretty strong performances from the guys… and take it into tomorrow,” Noonan said ahead of the match.
Cincinnati will be led by Brazilian maestro Evander, who has been in sensational form, tallying 15 goals and 8 assists in 23 regular-season matches. His performance earned him the honor of captaining the MLS All-Stars. However, the team’s attack has been dealt a significant blow with the absence of club-record signing Kévin Denkey. The Togo international, who has scored 14 goals across all competitions, is sidelined with a leg injury, placing a greater creative burden on Evander and the supporting cast, including USMNT center back Miles Robinson and midfielder Pavel Bucha.
Their opponent, CF Monterrey, arrives with a star-studded roster and extensive international experience. The five-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners are coached by Domènec Torrent, who previously managed New York City FC. Their lineup is headlined by a trio of Spanish stars: legendary defender and 2010 FIFA World Cup champion Sergio Ramos, and midfielders Sergio Canales and Óliver Torres. Their attack also features potent threats in Germán Berterame, Jesús ‘Tecatito’ Corona, and Lucas Ocampos. Noonan acknowledged the challenge, noting Monterrey has “playmakers all over the field” and is “dynamic moving to goal.”
This matchup is not without recent history. The two clubs faced off in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, where Monterrey eliminated Cincinnati with a 3-1 aggregate victory over two legs. That experience provides a crucial benchmark for FC Cincinnati as they seek to prove their progress on the continental stage. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of the Champions Cup to better understand some of the top teams, which certainly Monterrey is one of those teams,” Noonan stated.
For fans attending the match, gates at TQL Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. A pre-match party with family-friendly activities will take place at Washington Park from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by the traditional march to the stadium. The match will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
