Soccer <\/p>\n
Get ready, folks: Wednesday night is about to get wild<\/em> with four Leagues Cup<\/a> quarterfinals.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This year\u2019s format has encouraged teams to attack, which is exactly what you want to see as a neutral. Add in the rivalry between MLS and LIGA MX teams, and you get high-stakes drama that\u2019s bound to deliver.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve got my eye on before these knockout matchups unfold, bringing us closer to who gets the three 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> spots and ultimately lifts the trophy on Aug. 31.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This is a game worthy of a final! You have two clubs with serious star power and experience, none more prominent than Inter Miami<\/a> captain Lionel Messi.<\/a><\/p>\n As for the likely winner, it all likely boils down to the No. 10 in pink being healthy and available. They\u2019ve sometimes lacked ideas without Messi (Rodrigo De Paul<\/a> isn\u2019t an out-and-out chance creator), but he just needs one moment to deliver magic. I don\u2019t envy Javier Mascherano\u2019s position of having to navigate Messi\u2019s desire to play every available minute.<\/p>\n Tigres are an incredibly tough matchup, too. They\u2019re transitioning the squad slightly, with Andr\u00e9-Pierre Gignac shifting into a super-sub role, and \u00c1ngel Correa signaling he\u2019s their new main man. He has a Leagues Cup-best four goals, adding an element of pace and dynamism to their attack to go along with great finishing ability. Then there\u2019s Juan Brunetta, who\u2019s been one of the best midfielders in the tournament with three assists.<\/p>\n I expect fireworks at Chase Stadium between two of North America\u2019s highest-profile teams. Miami will need to be compact defensively and ruthless with their chances. Do that, and they have more than a fighting chance against a Tigres team with a ton of individual quality.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This quarterfinal might be the most evenly balanced in terms of two high-quality teams that could easily win it all. I honestly think it\u2019s a toss-up and will boil down to which attacking stars have the better game.<\/p>\n Orlando City<\/a>\u2019s Mart\u00edn Ojeda<\/a> has arguably been the best player in Leagues Cup. He has six goal contributions (3g\/3a) through Phase One and is playing the best soccer of his career. He\u2019s launched himself into the top three of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP discussion, even above Evander<\/a>, and just keeps leveling up. Add in Luis Muriel<\/a> and Marco Pa\u0161ali\u0107<\/a>, and the Lions have players who can really hurt you.<\/p>\n Then with Toluca, there\u2019s the one-two punch of Paulinho and Alexis Vega. Paulinho is the joint-top scorer in Leagues Cup with four goals, and has the goal of the tournament with an incredible bicycle kick against Montr\u00e9al. Vega is in tremendous form for club and country, creating chances and finishing them seemingly at will. They\u2019re a huge reason why Toluca won Clausura and Campe\u00f3n de Campeones titles in recent months.<\/p>\n For Orlando, this is a chance to prove they can win these high-pressure knockout games and raise another trophy. Oscar Pareja consistently has his team playing beautiful soccer and going on deep runs\u2026 now let\u2019s see them back it up to be truly regarded as one of the region\u2019s best teams.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Make no mistake: Seattle<\/a> are favored here by a sizable margin. They were the only team to win all three of their Phase One games, and that 7-0 thumping<\/a> of Cruz Azul was a historic result for an MLS team against a LIGA MX powerhouse.<\/p>\n Now, they come up against a Puebla team that is overmatched. They’re the Cinderella team of Leagues Cup, and it feels like they\u2019re playing with house money. They\u2019ve also lost four of five games in the LIGA MX Apertura, showing the gap between these two sides.<\/p>\n This won\u2019t be a gimme for the Sounders, but they should win this game handily. They\u2019ve been in fantastic form since the FIFA Club World Cup<\/a> and have found a perfect recipe of depth, balance and efficiency in both boxes.<\/p>\n Pedro de la Vega<\/a> is healthy and looking the most fit, dangerous and dynamic he’s ever been in MLS. His ceiling is the best player on the field every time he\u2019s out there. Also, who would have thought Osaze de Rosario<\/a> and Danny Musovski<\/a> would be leading the line? Then there\u2019s the center-back pairing of Jackson Ragen<\/a> and Yeimar,<\/a> plus Cristian Roldan<\/a> and Obed Vargas<\/a> in midfield.<\/p>\n Sure, Seattle are weathering some injuries. But with their renewed focus, there\u2019s every chance they could go all the way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There’s no reason to sugarcoat what this season has been for the LA Galaxy<\/a>: It’s been below standard and shocking at times. But this is the moment when you salvage your season, because you have the talent to do it.<\/p>\n LA have full hosting rights throughout the rest of Leagues Cup. So, make use of that and put all your eggs in this basket. This is your avenue to lift a trophy during a difficult season and return to the Concacaf Champions Cup.<\/p>\n Their Designated Players have finally stepped up \u2013 Joseph Painstil<\/a> and Gabriel Pec<\/a> have combined for five goals in Leagues Cup. For whatever reason in MLS games, their attack has been snake-bitten and downright casual at times. But you can see there’s a greater sense of urgency in Leagues Cup.<\/p>\n My worry for LA is their defense. Pachuca boast plenty of danger and ways to hurt you, whether it\u2019s a young talent like Alex\u00e9i Dom\u00ednguez or someone more experienced like Jhonder C\u00e1diz. That’s the Achilles’ heel for this matchup, and makes me think LA will have to outscore them.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nInter Miami CF (MLS 2) vs. Tigres UANL (LIGA MX 3)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Toluca FC (LIGA MX 1) vs. Orlando City (MLS 4)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Seattle Sounders FC (MLS 1) vs. Club Puebla (LIGA MX 4)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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LA Galaxy (MLS 3) vs. CF Pachuca (LIGA MX 2)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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