AUSTIN (KXAN) — With Austin FC’s claiming its group in Leagues Cup for the first time, Verde and Black will hit the road to take on a familiar foe in the Round of 32.
Austin takes on LAFC on Wednesday at BMO Stadium at a time to be determined. LAFC beat Liga MX’s Tijuana 3-0 to open group play and then lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes. LAFC finished second in the group to the Whitecaps while Tijuana was eliminated.
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Verde and Black posted two impressive victories in group play, holding off Pumas UNAM 3-2 thanks to a stoppage-time penalty kick save by backup goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland and shutting out CF Monterrey 2-0. Monterrey entered the tournament as the highest-seeded Liga MX team in the group stage but was eliminated after losing 3-0 in a shootout to Pumas after a 1-1 90-minute draw.
Pumas moves on to play the Whitecaps in the Round of 32. The next three rounds are single-elimination. Teams who make the semifinals are guaranteed another match with the losers playing in a third-place match while the winners advance to the final Aug. 25. The top three teams from Leagues Cup qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup with the winner receiving a bye to the Round of 16.
Club America and Columbus received byes to the Round of 32 due to their championships last season. Club America amassed the most points across the two Liga MX seasons, Clausura and Apertura, in 2023 and Columbus won the 2023 MLS Cup.