LAFC and Querétaro face off this Wednesday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California, to close out their participation in Phase One of the 2026 Leagues Cup. The two teams enter the match in very different situations, but each has one final opportunity to leave its mark on the tournament.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 1st ever meeting between the two sides.
- Record at Leagues Cup: LAFC (10-5), Querétaro (3-8)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- LAFC:
- 4 Wins, 1 Draws, 0 Losses
- Querétaro:
- 2 Wins, 0 Draws, 3 Losses
MAIN STORYLINES:
- LAFC enters its final Phase One match with its Knockout Round hopes still alive, looking to build on a dramatic 1-0 victory over Toluca on Matchday 2. With the MLS table tightly contested entering the final slate, the Black & Gold will look to take care of business at BMO Stadium while keeping an eye on results elsewhere.
- LAFC has been a consistent presence in the latter stages of Leagues Cup, highlighted by a run to the 2024 Final. The Black & Gold now enter their Phase One finale looking to secure another opportunity to compete in the Knockout Rounds.
- Querétaro enters its Phase One finale out of contention for the Knockout Rounds. Los Gallos Blancos are still searching for their first Leagues Cup victory since their 2023 campaign.
KEY FACTORS:
- Querétaro:
- Have conceded five goals without scoring in the tournament; one of three scoreless team entering Matchday 3 (Tijuana and Pumas)
- Ali Ávila has scored three goals through the first three matches of the new Liga MX season.
- Querétaro remains scoreless despite attempting more than 30 shots through its first two Leagues Cup matches.
- LAFC:
- Unbeaten in seven straight games (6 wins, 1 draw) and have not lost since May 17.
- Denis Bouanga is tied with Lionel Messi for the most goals in Leagues Cup history (14).
- Son Heung-Min is still looking for his first ever Leagues Cup goal; he had scored in 4 straight games in MLS prior to start of the tournament.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
LAFC should look to take the initiative at home and control possession from the start, while Querétaro will need to play a much more organized match to keep the score close and capitalize on the opportunities it can create.
Gallos Blancos enter with nothing to lose and with the intention of showing a better version of themselves after two consecutive defeats. LAFC, meanwhile, has the opportunity to finish Phase One unbeaten and continue building confidence as it looks to potentially secure a place in the next round.
However, the Los Angeles side cannot afford to become complacent. Querétaro has already shown at the start of the Liga MX season that it possesses attacking talent and quality, meaning any defensive lapse could open the door for the visitors to cause problems. With LAFC needing a favorable result, finding the right balance between pushing forward and protecting against counterattacks will be one of the keys to the match.
With LAFC looking to finish Phase One on a high note, Polymarket gives the home side a significant edge at 73% of the market, while Querétaro sits at 11%.
