Monterrey coach Matías Almeyda publicly acknowledged the major challenge of facing Toluca in the 2026 Leagues Cup final. The statement comes in a week where Liga MX's dominance of the tournament has become absolute, with all four semifinal spots held by Mexican clubs. The Scarlet Devils enter this key moment of the season on a strong domestic run, sitting second in the Liga MX standings with 13 points from six matches.
What did Matías Almeyda say about Toluca?
According to a report from Record MX published this Thursday, the Rayados strategist was very clear in his respect for the rival institution. Almeyda stated that Toluca is one of the teams that has been writing an important history in Mexico in recent years. He specifically praised its players, its coach, and the institution as a whole, acknowledging it is a team accustomed to playing high-stakes finals.
"We will face one of the teams that is marking an important history in Mexico, with its players, with its coach, as an institution," said Almeyda. The Argentine coach added that his team also enjoys these challenges and that he anticipates an attractive match between two sides that propose good football.
Why is this Leagues Cup historic?
An analysis from the official Leagues Cup site, cited by Victor Araiza, details the historic nature of this 2026 edition. For the first time since the format change in 2023, all four semifinalists are Liga MX clubs: Toluca, León, América, and Monterrey. This guarantees a Mexican club will be crowned champion under the current format, breaking a three-year streak where the trophy was lifted by MLS teams.
The clean sweep was completed in the quarterfinals. Toluca eliminated Austin FC with a commanding 2-0 win in New Jersey, joining victories by León, América, and Monterrey over their American rivals. This dominance in the decisive phase represents a complete reversal of the trend from the previous two editions, where semifinalists were predominantly from MLS. The immediate consequence is that the three Liga MX spots for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup allocated through this tournament are now secured.
How is Toluca arriving at this moment?
The team managed by Antonio Mohamed reaches the decisive phase of the Leagues Cup with solid and consistent performances. In Liga MX, the Diablo is just three points behind the leader, Club América, following a big 4-0 win over FC Juárez on August 31st. Its record of 12 goals for and only 4 against reflects notable effectiveness in both aspects of the game.
The team's current form is excellent, with four wins and one draw in its last five official matches (WWDWW). This good moment allows them to face the Leagues Cup definition with confidence, though also with the awareness of facing heavyweight rivals like León in the semifinals. Fans can check the full status of the squad and upcoming appointments on our fixtures calendar, which includes the next league match against Atlas on September 13th.
The club's focus is now entirely on the Leagues Cup semifinal against León. With its place in the 2027 Champions Cup already secured as Apertura 2025 champion, Toluca aims to add another international title to its cabinet under Mohamed's leadership.
