Atlanta United kicks off its 2025 Leagues Cup campaign at home against a formidable Liga MX opponent in Club Necaxa. Known by some as the “Mexican Wrexham” due to its celebrity ownership group—featuring Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria—Necaxa is set to debut in a new reality show just a week after their Leagues Cup opener. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV and is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st matchup all-time
- The first matchup will be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
- Record at Leagues Cup: Atlanta (0-4), Necaxa (1-4)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- Atlanta United: 0 Wins, 4 Draws, 1 Loss
- They've been outscored by just one goal (8-7) in their previous five games but have failed to record a win in that span
- Club Necaxa: 1 Win, 3 Draws, 1 Loss
- Made the QuarterFinals in the Clasura 2025, but lost to Tigres on away goals
MAIN STORYLINES:
- Can Atlanta United put an end to their 8-game winless streak; haven't won a game since May 28
- Will Atlanta United’s Designated Players step up?
- Both sides look for better results in Leagues Cup play; Atlanta seeks 1st win, while Necaxa has just 1 win in 5 games
- What will the attendance be like?
- Can Atlanta United hold the lead?
KEY FACTORS:
Atlanta United:
- Can Latte Lath live up to his hype?
- Will Leo Alfonso be available to play for Atlanta?
- What Brad Guzan will show up for Atlanta?
Club Necaxa:
- Can Necaxa use the momentum from tying Club America and get a win in Leagues Cup?
- Can Necaxa qualify for the knockout rounds in Leagues Cup for the 2nd straight year?
- Can Fernando Gago rebound from his stint at Boca Juniors?
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Every match now holds greater stakes, with little room for missteps under the tournament’s new structure.
Atlanta will be looking for redemption after last year’s Leagues Cup campaign ended with a disappointing loss to Santos Laguna. One advantage for the Five Stripes is the schedule. Two of their three group-stage matches will be played at home, including the opener.
A major storyline entering this Leagues Cup is the performance of Atlanta’s Designated Players. Club legend Miguel Almirón returned this season but has yet to recapture the form that once made him one of MLS’s best before his move to Europe. Meanwhile, MLS record signing Latte Lath has scored just two goals in his last 17 appearances. The third DP, Aleksei Miranchuk, recently redeemed himself with a stunning equalizer to salvage a draw versus the Seattle Sounders in Atlanta’s final match before the tournament.
For Atlanta to advance to the knockout rounds, their stars must live up to expectations—and the supporting cast will need to step up as well.
The club has made recent roster moves, bringing in former Inter Miami forward Leo Afonso and parting ways with two other players. Fans could see new faces featured in the group stage.
Veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan will also be an essential piece to the puzzle. The 39-year-old was a standout performer in last season’s MLS Cup Playoffs, helping Atlanta knock off heavily favored Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. If Guzan can channel that form again, the Five Stripes will be tough to beat.
Each group-stage result will be crucial, especially with the possibility of teams finishing with identical records. Goal differential could become a tiebreaker, particularly on the final matchday of Phase 1.
On the other side, Club Necaxa arrives with confidence and momentum. Head coach Fernando Gago—formerly at the center of media controversy during his tenure with Chivas de Guadalajara due to the way he left the club for a job opportunity at Boca Juniors—has the team believing after a recent draw with Liga MX powerhouse Club América.
One player to watch for Necaxa is 29-year-old striker Díber Cambindo, who already has a goal through three matches in the Liga MX Apertura. The Colombian forward scored 16 goals in 32 games last year and remains the heart and soul of the Necaxa attack. If the Mexican club hopes to make a deep run in Leagues Cup, Cambindo must find the scoresheet early and often.
Atlanta United enters the Leagues Cup with questions still to answer and pressure mounting from a rocky MLS season. But with home-field advantage, a talented roster, and recent postseason experience, the Five Stripes have the tools to make a run. Club Necaxa, meanwhile, brings confidence, a rising striker, and a point to prove. Both sides are eager to make a statement—and only one will start their campaign on the front foot.
