Columbus Crew set for Leagues Cup rematch with Pachuca two years after painful final
The Columbus Crew were set to face CF Pachuca on August 7 in the 2026 Leagues Cup, a rematch framed as a chance to avenge the 3-0 loss in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final.
The Columbus Crew were scheduled to face CF Pachuca on August 7 in the 2026 Leagues Cup group stage. The match was the first meeting between the clubs since Pachuca beat the Crew 3-0 in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final, and was framed as a chance for Columbus to avenge that defeat.
The Columbus Crew were set to face CF Pachuca on August 7 in the 2026 Leagues Cup, a rematch two years in the making. The fixture carried a clear storyline: a chance to avenge the 3-0 defeat Pachuca inflicted on the Crew in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final in Mexico. That loss still stings in Columbus. The Crew had reached the final after a 3-1 away win over Pachuca sealed a 5-2 aggregate semifinal victory, but a suspected food poisoning incident left players ill ahead of the decider. The final, which paired an MLS club against a Liga MX opponent, ended in a lopsided defeat. According to reports, the Pachuca match was the Crew's second of the tournament, following a 3-1 win over Atlas FC on August 4. It was also reportedly the first meeting between the clubs since that 2024 final, giving Wilfried Nancy's side an early measure of how far they have come.
Crew set for Leagues Cup rematch with Pachuca on August 7
The Columbus Crew were scheduled to face CF Pachuca on August 7 in the group stage of the 2026 Leagues Cup, the first meeting between the clubs since their 2024 final. According to reports from outlets including USA Today and the Columbus Dispatch, the fixture was the Crew's second game of the tournament, following a 3-1 win over Atlas FC on August 4 that opened their campaign.
The 2026 edition was the sixth staging of the Leagues Cup, according to reporting on the tournament. Pachuca was one of three Liga MX clubs drawn against the Crew in the group stage, outlets reported. To accommodate the competition, Columbus paused MLS regular-season play and was set to contest three games across seven days, according to those reports. The scheduling compressed the Crew's early August into a run of cross-border fixtures, with the Pachuca date carrying the heaviest weight of the three given the history between the sides.
The 2024 final and the illness that preceded it
The Crew's history with Pachuca is defined by one night in Mexico. The two clubs met in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final, a match that paired an MLS club against a Liga MX opponent, and Columbus lost 3-0. The defeat came under difficult circumstances: ahead of the final, a suspected food poisoning incident left Crew players ill.
The path to that decider had run through Pachuca itself. According to reports, Columbus booked its place in the final with a 3-1 away win over the Mexican side, completing a 5-2 aggregate semifinal victory. That triumph made the eventual outcome all the more bitter. The Crew had beaten Pachuca convincingly over two legs to get there, then arrived for the final weakened and were beaten without scoring. The 3-0 scoreline, and the circumstances surrounding it, have lingered with the club since.
Why the rematch mattered to Columbus
The August 7 fixture carried meaning beyond the group stage. It was framed as a chance for Columbus to avenge the 3-0 defeat Pachuca inflicted in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final, a loss still sharpened by the suspected food poisoning that had left Crew players ill beforehand. According to reports, it would be the first meeting between the clubs since that night in Mexico. Pachuca was also one of three Liga MX opponents the Crew were scheduled to face in their Leagues Cup group, making the game a test of how far Wilfried Nancy's side had come since the final. What remained unknown as the match approached was where it would be played, how it would finish, and whether Columbus would advance beyond the group stage.
The Crew's place in MLS and the road to 2026
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio, competing in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer. The club began play in 1996 as one of the league's 10 charter clubs, making it one of the oldest continuously operating franchises in MLS. The Crew are operated by an ownership group led by the Haslam family and former team physician Pete Edwards. On the touchline, the club is coached by Wilfried Nancy, who took charge ahead of the 2023 season. The 2024 campaign marked the Crew's 29th season in Major League Soccer and their second under Nancy, a period in which the club established itself among the league's leading sides.
The Columbus Crew began play as one of the 10 charter clubs of Major League Soccer.
The Crew contested their 29th MLS season, their second under head coach Wilfried Nancy.
The Crew advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup final with a 3-1 away win over Pachuca, sealing a 5-2 aggregate semifinal victory.
Ahead of the final in Mexico, a suspected food poisoning incident left Crew players ill.
The Crew lost the Concacaf Champions Cup final 3-0 to Pachuca, a match pairing an MLS club against a Liga MX club.
The Crew opened their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Atlas FC.
The Crew were scheduled to face CF Pachuca in their second 2026 Leagues Cup match, their first meeting since the 2024 final and framed as a chance to avenge the 3-0 defeat.
Frequently asked questions
When did Columbus Crew play Pachuca in the 2026 Leagues Cup?
The Columbus Crew were scheduled to play CF Pachuca on August 7, 2026, in the Leagues Cup. According to reports, it was the Crew's second match of the tournament's group stage, following a reported 3-1 win over Atlas FC on August 4. The Crew paused MLS regular-season play to contest three Leagues Cup games across seven days, reports said.
Why was the Crew vs Pachuca match called a revenge game?
The match was framed as a chance for the Crew to avenge a 3-0 loss to Pachuca in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final, played in Mexico. That defeat was preceded by a suspected food poisoning incident that left Crew players ill ahead of the game. According to reports, the August 7 meeting was the first between the clubs since that final.
What was the score of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup final between Columbus Crew and Pachuca?
Pachuca won 3-0. The final, played in Mexico, paired an MLS club against a Liga MX club. The Crew's preparations were disrupted by a suspected food poisoning incident that left players ill before the match. Columbus had reached the final after beating Pachuca 3-1 away in the semifinal second leg, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory, according to reports.
How did the Columbus Crew start their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign?
According to reports, the Crew opened their 2026 Leagues Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Atlas FC on August 4. The Pachuca match on August 7 was their second game of the tournament. Reports said Pachuca was one of three Liga MX clubs the Crew were scheduled to face in the group stage of the competition's sixth edition.
Who are the Columbus Crew?
The Columbus Crew are an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio, competing in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. They began play in 1996 as one of the 10 charter clubs of MLS. The club is operated by an ownership group led by the Haslam family and former team physician Pete Edwards. The 2024 season was their 29th in MLS and second under head coach Wilfried Nancy.
Compiled from reporting by 8 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
