By Tony Álvarez
What better way to start another chapter in San Diego FC´s history than by hosting one of the oldest and most important clubs in Liga MX to begin the Leagues Cup. CF Pachuca travels to Southern California to lock up with the newest MLS team this Tuesday at Snapdragon Stadium at 11:00 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- First ever matchup between teams
- San Diego plays their first game ever vs a team outside of MLS
- Record at Leagues Cup: San Diego (0-0), Pachuca (1-3)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- San Diego FC: 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Leads MLS Western Conference after 25 games played in inaugural season
- Pachuca: 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
- Undefeated in start of Apertura 2025 (2nd consecutive tournament with 3-0-0 start)
MAIN STORYLINES:
- San Diego FC to play in their first international tournament and match
- Hirving “Chucky” Lozano faces his former club for the first time in his career
- Lozano scored in his last game which snapped his longest scoreless streak since joining San Diego (4 games)
- Los Tuzos are currently 1st in Apertura 2025 standings and have the best goal differential in the league (+5)
- San Diego FC looks to have a similar debut in Leagues Cup to the one they've had in MLS (1st in Western Conference)
KEY FACTORS:
- San Diego FC:
- Team set to make Leagues Cup debut at home stadium with a lively crown behind them
- Anders Dreyer enters Leagues Cup as their leading scorer, 11 goals in his first MLS season
- Milan Iloski´s loan ended after scoring 10 goals in 14 games, no longer with team
- Pachuca:
- William Carvalho is the latest team signing for the season
- Has only conceded two goals in three Liga MX games in the current season
- Jhonder Cádiz has two goals in three games since joining club on loan from León
WHAT TO EXPECT?
It has been a historic 2025 so far for San Diego FC, as they are currently playing in their first MLS season as an expansion team and will make their Leagues Cup debut. They have exceeded expectations so far, as they sit in first place in the Western Conference with 46 points after 25 games played.
They are playing at a high level and one of the main reasons for that is the signing of Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. He has played 20 games, and he has contributed in attack, as he has scored seven goals and has eight assists. This game will be very special for him as he started his career with CF Pachuca.
“I started in Pachuca, for me, it's my home. It's a very important part of my life and my soccer career. The truth is that playing against them is going to be a very special moment. It's very beautiful, and I hope it's a great match,” the Mexican international said during a pre-match press conference. He scored more than 30 times for Los Tuzos from 2013 to 2017 and he lifted the Liga MX trophy in 2016. After spending eight years in Europe, he signed for SDFC and he has made an immediate impact. “Every time I play a game, I try to do the best job possible, give 100 percent and try to win. I think all the youngsters (on the team) have that same mentality.”
CF Pachuca on the other hand has started off strong in Liga MX. After three games they sit in first place as the only team to have won every single one of their matchups so far. They look solid on offense after the top-performances by Jhonder Cádiz and with the recent signing of William Carvalho, they will create plenty of trouble against any team.
Los Tuzos will look to also start with a positive result in Leagues Cup to try to erase the memory of what happened in 2024, even after advancing to the round of 32, as they tied both of their group stage matchups, and they would like nothing more than a win on the road in a tough environment to begin this year´s tournament.
The stakes are high in this one and the stage is set in primetime for two teams that have everything in hand to create an instant classic for the Leagues Cup and for North American soccer. Goal nets beware, this one is a must-see.
