Cruz Azul Set to Face Inter Miami in Campeones Cup in September, Lewandowski Joins MLS
Football across the Americas has fully returned in late July as MLS, Liga MX, and South American leagues are all back in action after the World Cup. On Saturday in Los Angeles, Cruz Azul battled Toluca in Mexico’s super cup (Campeon de Campeones), and we saw other action across the Americas. Here’s your ongoing roundup from club football across the region.
Cruz Azul Wins Mexican Super Cup
Cruz Azul put their marker in the ground as the best team in Liga MX presently with a 3-1 win over Toluca in the Campeon de Campeones, Mexico’s Super Cup. Played in the Los Angeles metro area, it was Cruz Azul that prevailed despite being outshot by a quality Toluca side 25-12. Jose Paradela scored twice, and Charly Rodriguez scored a goal in between, while only Alexis Vega found the scoreboard for Toluca.
The reigning Liga MX champions, Cruz Azul believes they have a squad good enough to repeat with Colombian international goalkeeper Kevin Mier back fit and starting, and club captain Erik Lira set to continue in the midfield, despite interest in a transfer to Europe after a great World Cup for Mexico. Both Toluca and Cruz Azul have continuity in their squads at the moment.
In September, Cruz Azul will play Inter Miami in Miami, in the Campeones Cup. Lionel Messi made his debut against Cruz Azul in 2023, in the Leagues Cup, now we get a rematch.
Transfer Activity Continues in Liga MX
Early in the Apertura season, teams, continue to make squad changes. Angel Correa left for River Plate from Tigres, Monterrey added MLS Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers from Chicago as their new striker, alongside another former MLS standout, Diego Rossi. Mexican international midfielder Orbelin Pineda also returned to Liga MX from AEK Athens in Greece, joining Monterrey after years of interest.
Atlante, the Liga MX newcomers, added the experience of former Colombian international goalkeeper David Ospina, now 37, Ospina had been the starter at Atletico Nacional.
Atlas also continued to make moves, they have signed five new players to their squad, four coming from Europe including PAOK’s Jorge Sanchez, and Luis Esteves from Gil Vicente in Portugal.
Liga Expansion Clubs Protest End of Pro/Rel in Mexico
It was recently confirmed that the Mexican football governing body has no plans to restore promotion/relegation to Liga MX, this prompted protests by the second division Liga Expansion clubs, who began refusing to play the opening minute of Liga Expansion matches this weekend.
The saga that began during the COVID pandemic in 2020 has continued to roil Mexican football, for decades the Mexican professional football system included promotion and relegation, as is common globally, but Liga MX has now shifted to a closed franchise/license model to protect the revenue and budgets of the nation’s biggest clubs. This has permanently crushed the ambitions of second division clubs such as Cancun and Atletico Morelia who now have no path to the top division. It remains to be seen if these protests will have any impact on the status quo, but it seems unlikely that pro/rel will be returning.
Despite Busy July, River Plate Loses To Barracas in Liga Argentina
River Plate has been one of the most active teams in the region in this summer’s transfer window. The Argentina giants added former World Cup winners Angel Correa and Nicolas Otamendi to their squad, along with Fiorentina’s Lucas Beltran returning from Europe, Colombian international Rafael Santos Borre from Internacional, Mauro Arambarri from Getafe, and his fellow Uruguayan Giovanni Gonzalez from Krasnodar.
Those were the additions, Maxi Meza, Andres Herrera, Paulo Diaz, goalkeeper Franco Armani, and Colombian international Juanfer Quintero are the names who left the club.
Despite those moves, the new season has begun poorly for River Plate, losses to Aldosivi in the Copa Argentina, and Barracas in the Liga Argentina both came in July, with the next round of the Copa Sudamericana on deck in August they have a lot to figure out in a short time.
Their eternal rivals Boca Juniors added Sebastian Villa and Colombian international Alvaro Montero in goal, while Edinson Cavani left the club at age 39. A full list of Liga Argentina transfers can be found here.
Notable Brasileiro Summer Transfers Include Luis Sinisterra
The Brasileiro also had an active summer transfer window, Cruzeiro added Luis Sinisterra from Bournemouth for 11 million Euros, Gabriel Pec joined from LA Galaxy. Vitinho joined Internacional from Dynamo Kviy. A full list of transfers this summer can be found here, including a number of Brazilians heading to Europe.
MLS Adds Casemiro, Griezmann and Lewandowski
Three of the biggest names from European football over the last decade are joining MLS this Summer transfer window. Robert Lewandowski is the new starting striker for Chicago Fire, a city with a massive Polish diaspora. After a successful time in Barcelona, Lewandowski, age 37, is hoping to lead Chicago to a title in MLS.
Antoine Griezmann, 36, has joined Orlando City as their biggest signing in club history, Griezmann was acting as a super sub at Atletico Madrid towards the end of his time at the club, and is now the centerpiece of an Orlando team that looks set to make the MLS playoffs.
Brazilian international Casemiro made it clear he wanted to play with Lionel Messi, joining Inter Miami on a free transfer after being a longtime leader for Manchester United. When healthy, a veteran Inter Miami squad believes it can repeat as MLS Champions with “Messi and Friends” remaining the most potent attack in the league, despite a slow defence.
Kai Wagner returned to MLS with Philadelphia in other MLS transfers you can check out here. The debate continues as to whether MLS will lift some of their restrictive salary cap rules to bring more talent to the league. “I expect significant changes to the roster investment model, which will be simplified and improve the product,” said Merritt Paulson, a co-owner of the Portland Timbers. “We’re going to make changes to build on roster strength and depth, which is the one area we’ve lagged. I couldn’t be more bullish.”
Copa Sudamericana Knockout Playoffs Begin
The Copa Sudamericana knockout playoffs began this past week, Tigre from Argentina rolled past Uruguay’s Nacional 3-0, Vasco and Independiente Medellin drew, Lanus won 2-0 over Cienciano, Boca Juniors 1-0 over O’Higgins, Santos 4-1 were routine wins over Universidad Central, Bragatino and Sporting Cristal had a scoreless draw, Bolivar won at home over Gremio 3-2, and Colombia’s Santa Fe won at home 2-0 over Caracas FC.
On a related note, Spanish language network TUDN acquired the U.S. broadcast rights to the Libertadores and Sudamericana in the United States starting in 2027.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
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