HOUSTON (July 31, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC continue Phase One of Leagues Cup 2025 versus Liga MX club Mazatlán F.C. on Friday, Aug. 1, at Shell Energy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, and fans can secure their tickets HERE.
The official Concacaf-sanctioned competition features a new and enhanced format, which showcases interleague matches between MLS and Liga MX clubs through the quarterfinals. 36 clubs, including 18 clubs from the Liga MX and 18 clubs from MLS will participate, and the tournament will be played in two rounds: Phase One and the Knockout Rounds.
During Phase One, each club plays three matches against three opponents from the opposite league. Those results earn points in a league-specific table against teams from their own league. The top four clubs from each of the MLS and Liga MX tables will advance to the quarterfinals. In Phase One, there are no draws, and games will go directly to a penalty shootout if they end in a tie. Teams are awarded points as follows:
- Regulation draw: 1 point for both teams
- Penalty shootout win: 2 points
- Regulation win: 3 points
The third edition of the tournament will again determine three qualifiers for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, where the winner will represent the region at FIFA international club competitions.
Notably, on Thursday, Houston announced the signing of central defender Antônio Carlos from Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense FC, as the Secondary Transfer Window opened on July 24. The 32-year-old joins the Dynamo after making 105 appearances in all competitions with Orlando City SC, while scoring four goals and recording five assists, and playing a key role in the club’s 2022 U.S. Open Cup title campaign. Carlos also had stints with several Brazilian clubs, including SE Palmeiras, where he accumulated 56 appearances and helped the team to the 2018 Série A league title.
In Houston’s opening match of the tournament, the Dynamo fell 4-1 to Liga MX side Tigres UANL at Shell Energy Stadium, with midfielder Ondřej Lingr scoring the team’s lone goal in the 47th minute. Despite the result, Houston still holds a strong 11-6-4 (WLD) regulation record versus Liga MX teams at home.
Mazatlán, established in June 2020 after the Monarcas Morelia franchise relocated from the city of Mazatlán, are coming off a 11-10 penalty shootout victory over LAFC in Leagues Cup play, following a 1-1 draw in regulation. Mazatlán’s lone goal was scored by Fábio Gomes in the 31st minute, just two minutes after LAFC had taken the lead. At the break in Liga MX action, Mazatlán currently sit eighth in the Apertura 2025 standings after three matches. They opened the season with a 1-1-1 (WLD) record, with their most recent result being a 1-0 loss to C.F. Pachuca. In their previous campaign, they finished 16th in the Liga MX Clausura 2025 standings.
The Dynamo reached the knockout stage in last year’s edition of Leagues Cup, winning their group over Real Salt Lake and Atlas FC before bowing out of the competition on a penalty shootout to Liga MX powerhouse Deportivo Toluca FC at Shell Energy Stadium. Two highlights from Leagues Cup 2024 were the debut of winger Lawrence Ennali and forward Ezequiel Ponce’s first-career goal for the Dynamo when he hammered a ball into the roof of the net versus Toluca.
In the inaugural addition of Leagues Cup in 2023, Houston reached the Round of 16, defeating Liga MX mainstays Club Pachuca and Santos Laguna at Shell Energy Stadium along the way.
Dynamo wrap up Phase One play on Tuesday, Aug. 5, hosting Liga MX side CF Pachuca at Shell Energy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
