The 61st edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup will take place from February to May 2026. The tournament will crown the Confederation’s club champion and determine the second of four regional representatives who will qualify for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Concacaf Champions Cup continues to be played in a knockout format and consists of five rounds: first round, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
The first four stages include home and away matches, while the final, where the regional champion will be crowned, is played over a single match.
The first six of 27 confirmed participants for the Champions Cup come from the 2024-25 Liga MX season: Club América and Deportivo Toluca FC, runner-up CF Monterrey, and three top-ranked clubs based on the regular season standings: Club de Fútbol Cruz Azul, Club Tigres UANL and Club Universidad Nacional.
Next, we made a ranking from least to most of the Liga MX clubs that we believe will have the best chance of being crowned with the international title.
6. UNAM Pumas
The entire National Autonomous University of Mexico. He has a long history in the Concachampions, with his last title in 1989, and a total of three continental conquests (1980, 1982, 1989).
However, in their most recent participations, the university students have shown competitiveness, but without reaching the title, with ups and downs and eliminations in advanced stages or painful finals.
Their most notable participation in decades was in 2022. They advanced to the final, where they lost to Seattle Sounders FC of the MLS with a 5-2 aggregate score (3-0 in the first leg and 2-2 in the second leg). They broke a 16-17 year streak of consecutive Mexican titles, becoming the first Mexican team to lose the final against an MLS club. Along the way, they eliminated rivals like Saprissa in the round of 16 (6-3 overall) and had notable comebacks, such as in the quarterfinals against New England Revolution.
For the 2026 Concachampions, they face San Diego FC in the first round, and if they advance, they could clash with Toluca in the round of 16.
5. UANL Tigers
The San Nicolás de los Garza team has won the Concachampions once (2020), a title won in the 2020 edition (defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the single final in Orlando) and reached the finals in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
In their most recent participations, Tigres have maintained a competitive level, reaching advanced stages, but without repeating the 2020 title.
They come from being runners-up in Mexican soccer after losing to Toluca in the Apertura 2025.
For 2026, they face Forge FC in the first round, a favorable matchup. Their squad includes veterans like André-Pierre Gignac and Nahuel Guzmán, with a physical and experienced style. Although it must be mentioned that they are a team that suits this tournament well.
4. Monterrey
Rayados, is another giant from Monterrey with five titles in Concachampions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021), which makes them one of the most successful in the modern era.
They are the only club to have won three consecutive times (2011-2013) and have an impressive record in finals: they have never lost one in the modern era of the tournament. In addition, they have not lost a knockout series in their last five participations before 2025, and only failed in 2016-17 by not advancing from groups.
In the 2026 Concachampions, they face CSD Xelajú in the first round, with expectations of advancing easily. Their roster is deep, with figures such as Sergio Canales, Anthony Martial, among others, under the command of Domenéc Torrent.
In its most recent participations, Monterrey has maintained a high level, although without adding a sixth title in recent years.
In general, Rayados’ latest participations reflect consistency and dominance in the knockout rounds (frequent advances to the quarterfinals or more, with wins at home), but without repeating the title since 2021. They have the record for the most titles among non-American clubs in the modern era (five, tied with Pachuca).
3. America
It is the most successful club in Mexico with 14 league titles and seven in Concachampions (shared record).
It has the most successful history with Cruz Azul. They stand out for being the last to achieve a two-time consecutive championship (2015 and 2016). In addition, they have only one lost final in their entire history (2021 vs Monterrey, 0-1), which underlines their continental dominance.
In its most recent participations, América has maintained a high level, frequently reaching the advanced or final stages, although without adding an eighth title since 2016 (drought of almost a decade).
In Concachampions 2026, they face Olimpia in the first round, with an accessible key. Although it must be mentioned that they are going through a not very good moment and have not been strengthened in the expected way.
2. Blue Cross
La Maquina Celeste is the defending champion of the Concachampions 2025, where they crushed Vancouver Whitecaps 5-0 in the final, equaling seven total titles (record shared with América; 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013-14 and the most recent in 2025).
For 2026, they face Vancouver FC in the first round (rematch of the last final), and if they advance, they could clash with Monterrey in the round of 16.
It is the club with the most conquests in the modern era along with America, and stands out for streaks such as three consecutive titles in the 60’s-70’s and again in the 90’s. They have reached the finals nine times (two runners-up in 2008-09 and 2009-10), showing continental consistency despite periods of drought in Liga MX.
In its most recent participations, Cruz Azul returned strongly after prolonged absences (its last before 2025 was in 2019-20, where it lost in the quarterfinals against LAFC).
1. Toluca
The Red Devils are experiencing a historic moment with their recent two-time Liga MX championship in 2025 (Clausura and Apertura), something not seen since 1996, plus the Champion of Champions and Champions Cup. They have an old title in Concachampions (1968), but now they are the team with the highest Concacaf ranking (1253 points).
In the continental tournament they have an outstanding record with two titles won: in 1968 (declared champions after the disqualification of rivals such as Transvaal and Aurora in the final phase) and 2003 (beating Monarcas Morelia 5-4 on aggregate, with a 3-3 in the first leg and 2-1 in the second leg). In addition, they have reached the final on three other occasions, being runners-up in 1998, 2006 and 2013-14.
However, in its most recent participations, Toluca has had an intermittent presence and without reaching the title, with prolonged absences due to not qualifying in several Liga MX seasons.
For 2026, they have a direct pass in the first round and await the winner of Pumas vs San Diego.
