San Diego FC host Liga MX champs’ Toluca in Champions Cup
MLS
San Diego FC is in the round of 16 for the CONCACAF Champions Cup and will now host current Liga MX champions Toluca.
The series is set to be home and away as the first of the two games will be played at Snapdragon Stadium this Wednesday, March 11.
SDFC had a magnificent start to the competition, defeating Pumas UNAM in the first round. San Diego came away with a massive 4-1 win at Snapdragon Stadium and went on to lose just 1-0 in Mexico City.
Miércoles 🔜
SDFC vs @TolucaFC pic.twitter.com/Wqb39P68Ow
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 9, 2026
These were two completely different games as San Diego were very dominant at home with 73 percent possession and 22 total shots. On the road, Mikey Varas’ team had just 37 percent control of the sphere and five shots to the opponent’s 25.
The MLS team used the home-field advantage to full effect and will need to replicate that for this round of 16 series. There was a lot of talk about Mexico City’s elevation ahead of the series against Pumas as the city stands 7,349 feet above sea level.
Toluca stands 8,727 feet above sea level, and this is set to be an even more physically draining game away from home. The physical aspects really stood out in that game against Pumas in Mexico City.
The players were tested, but were able to hold off the opposition and play a tight defensive game at the Olimpico Universitario. That has the potential to be required against Toluca, as Los Diablos Rojos had the best home record last season. Toluca has actually held the best home record in Liga MX for the past two seasons and is undefeated at home this year as well.
Since then, SDFC has had a perfect start to the MLS season, winning all three regular-season games.
San Diego has defeated Montreal Impact (5-0), St. Louis City (2-0), and Sporting Kansas City (1-0). Notably, San Diego has managed to keep a clean sheet in all three games with young goalkeeper Duran Ferree in net.
However, veteran goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega started the series against Pumas UNAM and is expected to get back in between the sticks.
Anders Dreyer has provided a goal contribution in every game that San Diego has scored in. SDFC has only failed to score in the away match against Pumas. Dreyer has now tallied two goals and four assists in all competitions this year.
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 8, 2026
The Danish forward was expected to be key this season and will need to find a way to break down Toluca’s rigid backline. Los Escarlatas have the best defense in Liga MX this year, with just five goals allowed in 10 games.
Manager Antonio Mohamed is known for keeping an orderly backline and often tries and strike on counterattacks against teams that like to maintain possession.
This is likely to be the game plan against a San Diego team that will try and maintain possession at home. Toluca arguably has the most complete roster in Liga MX, strong in all three major components of the pitch.
Team captain Marcel Ruiz is a key playmaker for the team from the midfield, but also has the ability to recover the ball. The midfield duels between Ruiz, up against Jeppe Tverskov and Anibal Godoy, are set to be key in this series.
The attack is explosive, and just recovered Mexico international Alexis Vega from the injured list. Toluca plans to take this bout very seriously as Mohamed rested some key players ahead of this match.
Key players like Jesus Gallardo, Federico Pereira, Franco Romero, and top scorer Paulinho were all on the bench in Toluca’s last Liga MX game against FC Juarez.
San Diego really only opted to rest Anibal Godoy against Kansas City, and it will be interesting to see what lineup Varas goes with. This may be San Diego FC’s biggest challenge since its inception, facing the back-to-back Liga MX champions in a high-stakes series.
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.