| 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup — Round 1 Cruz Azul vs. Vancouver FC (Leg 2) Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla City, Mexico Watch Live: OneSoccer |
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Far from their home in the Fraser Valley on Thursday, Vancouver FC have a mountain to climb in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Eagles step onto the pitch at Estadio Cuauhtémoc for the second leg of their round one matchup against defending champions Cruz Azul. The stadium is located 6,909 feet above sea level, but it feels like VFC will need to scale even bigger heights to get back in this tie.
Trailing 3-0 on aggregate after this past Wednesday's first leg at a sold-out Willoughby Stadium, all of which were away goals, the Eagles would need at least that many to force extra time. They would need at least four to advance after 90 minutes. All of this, of course, while blanking one of the region's best attacks.
The Eagles have scored three or more goals just eight times in 93 competitive matches, and never more than four -- something they have done just twice.
But this isn't about the odds for Vancouver FC, it's about the opportunity in front of them. After defending resolutely in leg one, even with the scoreline what it was, the Eagles can spread their wings and attack on Thursday.
If they already felt like they had nothing to lose heading into the first leg, they can play with complete freedom on Thursday. At a historic stadium which has hosted games in two World Cups and a Summer Olympics, against the best team in the region, the first Concacaf road match in club history is a chance to further elevate a club on the rise.
"It's the first time we're playing in this kind of tournament, and it's special for the club," said midfielder Nicolás Mezquida. "We're looking to get a good result, but also enjoy it."
For Cruz Azul, their first home match in this year's competition will come at a different stadium from where they lifted last year's Champions Cup back on June 1, 2025 -- Estadio Olimpico Universitario. Ahead of this season, they moved to Estadio Cuauhtémoc, home of Puebla, while they wait for their famed home stadium, Estadio Azteca, to have renovations completed ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
During their 2025 Champions Cup run, Cruz Azul scored 17 times in five home matches, including five in the final against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
They made a statement of intent in the first leg at Willougby Stadium, playing the vast majority of their first-choice starters and firing 34 shot attempts during their 3-0 victory.
Despite the likelihood that they rest some of those players on Thursday, especially coming off a 1-1 draw in Toluca on Saturday, it doesn't necessarily make things much easier for Vancouver. The two non-regulars for Cruz Azul in leg one were arguably some of their best, and most motivated players. Young goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa, for example, made four saves in his pro debut.
Vancouver, however, will be emboldened by the chances that they did create in that opening leg, including a penalty shout that was overturned by VAR and an audacious bicycle kick from David Norman Jr., which forced a good save from Ochoa.
Regardless of the result on Thursday, it will be a milestone moment for Vancouver FC. But they would love to commemorate it with more history, in the form of their first-ever continental goal, or even, dare to dream, result.
NEWS & NOTES
- Vancouver FC announced this week the loan of 19-year-old midfielder Michel Cavalcante to Palmeiras, with an option to buy.
- Martin Nash confirmed that his side travelled down to Mexico with an 18 man squad, verses with 23 they had available for the first leg. There are no new players available who were not in the team during Leg One.
- Cruz Azul have lost just twice in their past 40 'home' matches despite playing none of those at the Estadio Azteca.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Cruz Azul: Ochoa; Ditta, Lira, Barragán; A.Morales, Palavecino, Valdez, Rotondi; Levy, Paradela, Fernández
Vancouver FC: Irving; Gee, Campagna, Norman Jr., Field; Doner, Polisi, Pecile, Bah; Mezquida, Amissi
KEY QUOTES
"I think we've got to try to get more pressure on the ball in our half and ry to turn the ball over more and try to get them when they're disorganized. It's a great opportunity for us to go out and work hard and see if we can get a goal in the first half and see where we are at half-time" — Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash
"Excited, because it's an experience for the players, for the club that should show the best of the team. We try to play well and show on the field what we are doing in training."— Vancouver FC midfielder Nicolás Mezquida
