Monterrey are through to the Leagues Cup 2026 final after beating América in a dramatic semifinal that had to be decided by penalties. The match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, but the Rayados held their nerve from the spot to win 5-4.
The result sets up an exciting all-Mexican final, with Monterrey now set to face Toluca for the Leagues Cup title on September 6.
Monterrey vs América Delivers a Dramatic Semifinal
More than 21,000 fans watched the semifinal at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Both teams created chances, but neither could find a winner during regular time.
Monterrey started strongly with high pressure, while América looked to attack through the wings. Isaías Violante came close to opening the scoring early when his shot hit the post.
The first goal finally arrived shortly after halftime. Diego Rossi sent a surprising cross-shot from the right that found the back of the net in the 48th minute, giving Monterrey a 1-0 lead.
América responded quickly. Ramón Juárez scored in the 57th minute after connecting with a free kick from Raphael Veiga. Just six minutes later, Alan Cervantes fired a powerful shot into the net to put América ahead 2-1.
However, Monterrey refused to give up. Orbelín Pineda won a penalty after being fouled inside the box, and Lucas Ocampos converted it in the 69th minute. The score stayed 2-2 until the final whistle.
Penalty Shootout Decides the Winner
The semifinal then went to penalties, where Monterrey showed remarkable composure.
The Rayados scored every one of their attempts. América converted their early penalties as well, but Cervantes sent his decisive shot over the crossbar.
That miss changed the story for Cervantes. After scoring the goal that had temporarily put América ahead, he ended the night as the player whose penalty sent his team out of the competition.
| Team | Regular Time | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Monterrey | 2 | 5 |
| América | 2 | 4 |
Monterrey Will Face Toluca in the Final
Monterrey’s road to the final has been full of difficult moments. The team lost its opening match against Orlando City but bounced back with wins over Inter Miami and Nashville SC. They then defeated Chicago Fire 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
América also had a strong tournament. The Águilas defeated San Diego FC and Portland Timbers before beating Columbus Crew 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
Now, all eyes turn to the final. Monterrey vs Toluca will decide the 2026 Leagues Cup champion in an entirely Mexican showdown.
The final is scheduled for Sunday, September 6, with the exact kickoff time yet to be confirmed. Fans can expect another intense battle after Monterrey’s dramatic victory over América.