Galaxy, LAFC will begin 2026 in CONCACAF Champions Cup

The Galaxy and the Los Angeles Football Club will kick off their 2026 seasons early with the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Dates haven’t been announced, but CONCACAF said the first leg of the opening round series could be played as early as Feb. 3. The Galaxy’s MLS opener is scheduled for Feb. 22. CONCACAF will announce the complete Round One and Round of 16 schedule “in the coming days.”

The Galaxy will face Panamanian squad Sporting San Miguelito, which won the Central American Cup. The Champions Cup draw took place Tuesday in Miami.

Despite their awful regular-season finish, the Galaxy managed to qualify thanks to their third-place finish in the Leagues Cup tournament last summer.

This will be the Galaxy’s second consecutive Champions Cup appearance. By winning the 2024 MLS Cup, the club had a bye into the Round of 16 in last year’s tournament. After beating Costa Rica’s CS Herediano, the Galaxy lost in the quarterfinals against Mexico’s Tigres.

The winner of the Galaxy’s series against Sporting San Miguelito will face Jamaican club Mount Pleasant in the Round of 16.

LAFC will open against Honduran club Real España, a 2025 Central American Cup semifinalist. The winner will face Costa Rican club Alajuelense in the Round of 16. LAFC’s MLS season begins on Feb. 21. LAFC secured its spot through the end-of-the-year Supporters’ Shield standings. In its short history, LAFC has had success in the Champions Cup, recording a pair of runner-up finishes (2020 and 2023). In 2024, LAFC was the Leagues Cup runner-up.

Toluca, newly crowned MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF, the Seattle Sounders, Alajuelense and Mount Pleasant all received byes and will begin the tournament in the Round of 16.