San Diego FC host Puebla in Leagues Cup
San Diego FC will host Club Puebla at Snapdragon Stadium for a game in the 2026 Leagues Cup this Wednesday, August 12. SDFC is coming off a 1-0 win against the Tijuana Xolos in this competition and will look to keep that momentum going.
Bryan Zamble scored the lone goal of the match against Xolos as Varas entrusted the young winger in the starting 11. It will not be surprising to see Zamble back in the lineup, but given that this will be San Diego’s third game since August 6, there is potential for changes.
The Azul and Chrome side started the Leagues Cup with a 3-1 loss to Club America, and hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage are slim. SDFC also has a vital MLS match against LAFC on the weekend, as it will be interesting to see Varas’ game plan for this match.
San Diego controlled possession against Club Tijuana and is expected to do the same against Puebla. The Liga MX team is mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the next round of the Leagues Cup.
La Franja suffered a 5-2 loss to Portland and is coming off a 3-0 loss to Austin FC. Puebla has four points from three games in Liga MX play, but has really struggled in this Leagues Cup.
Some of the more notable players for Puebla in the attack include Colombian winger Kevin Velasco and Uruguayan forward Emiliano Gomez. However, Los Camoteros have an away match against Pachuca on the weekend and may also start the game with an alternate squad.
Puebla’s backline has been a real problem in this Leagues Cu,p and SDFC have the potential to exploit that. San Diego has been struggling heavily this season, and a win in this game may still serve as a significant morale boost.
It will be interesting to see if players like David Vazquez, Pedro Soma, and Alex Mighten will get minutes in this game. None of those three players received minutes against the Xoloitzcuintles and are due for some playing time.
Snapdragon Stadium saw a sold-out crowd for the game between SDFC and Xolos. Unfortunately, that will certainly not be the case for this game due to the rival and it being on Wednesday night.
There is still the potential for a vibrant atmosphere and a fruitful game for San Diego. The home-field advantage has the potential to play very well for the Azul and Chrome team.
Francisco, 28, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.