Club América face Columbus Crew in a decisive Leagues Cup 2026 quarter-final at Dignity Health Sports Park in California on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The single-elimination, single-leg knockout fixture puts one of Mexican football's biggest clubs against a Major League Soccer opponent on neutral territory, with the winner securing a place in the tournament semi-finals.
The Mexican side enter the match unbeaten in the competition after topping their group with seven points. In contrast, the Ohio franchise reach the last eight having eliminated three consecutive Liga MX opponents, despite struggling in their domestic league.
The Leagues Cup is an annual club competition featuring teams from Mexico's Liga MX and North America's Major League Soccer. Held across stadiums in the United States and Canada, the tournament grants top-performing clubs entry into continental competition. Club América, based in Mexico City, are one of the most successful teams in Latin American football, while the Columbus Crew are one of the original franchises of MLS.
Club América reached the quarter-finals with a series of strong performances during the group stage. The Mexico City side opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory over San Diego FC before recording another 3-1 win against the Portland Timbers. In their remaining group fixture, América drew 1-1 with Austin FC before prevailing in a penalty shootout to claim the bonus point, finishing at the top of their sector with seven points.
The performance maintained an undefeated run for Las Águilas as they look to assert their status as primary title contenders. Facing Columbus Crew presents a high-intensity test for the Mexican giants as they seek to confirm their hierarchy and progress to the semi-finals.
Path to the Quarter-Finals
Columbus Crew approach the fixture from a contrasting domestic position. The Ohio side currently remain outside the playoff qualification spots in Major League Soccer standings, but they have revived their campaign through strong performances in the Leagues Cup.
The Crew have earned a reputation as a difficult opponent for Mexican teams after knocking out three Liga MX clubs in succession. Columbus reached the quarter-finals by eliminating Atlas, Pachuca, and Pumas. Playing on home soil in the United States, the MLS side aim to extend their winning streak against Mexican opposition.
Before turning their full attention to the Leagues Cup quarter-final, Club América continued their domestic campaign in Mexico's Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament. The Mexico City club hosted Bravos de Juárez on Friday, August 21, 2026, for Matchday 5 of the domestic season.
The domestic match against the border club was broadcast in Mexico on TV Azteca 7 and Canal FOX One, with additional digital and free streaming options available depending on regional availability. América sought to capitalize on home advantage to collect points and elevate their position in the league table, while Juárez aimed to disrupt one of the championship favourites. Social media updates for the fixture were shared by Club América through their official account on X.
Live Streaming and Apple TV Access
The Leagues Cup quarter-final match between Club América and Columbus Crew will be broadcast live and direct worldwide on Apple TV through the MLS Season Pass. Fans can access the coverage through the Apple TV application across multiple hardware platforms or via web browsers.
Coverage is available on Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and physical Apple TV streaming hardware with the pre-installed application. Television viewers can watch through smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV, as well as gaming consoles. Users on PC or Android smartphones can stream the match through the official Apple TV website.
To begin watching, viewers need to follow three simple steps:
- Search for the Apple TV application in the app store on their screen or device.
- Sign in using an Apple ID account.
- Select a series or movie, or subscribe to Apple TV+ or MLS Season Pass to access content.
Subscription Pricing and Membership Terms
For viewers in Mexico, Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers, after which the monthly subscription costs $169 MXN per month. Mexican users can also opt for Apple One bundle plans, which combine Apple TV and MLS Season Pass:
- Individual plan: $249 MXN per month
- Family plan: $329 MXN per month
- Premier plan: $499 MXN per month
In the United States, standalone Apple TV subscriptions cost $12.99 USD per month or $99 USD for an annual subscription. Apple One bundle options in the US market are priced as follows:
- Individual plan: $19.95 USD per month
- Family plan: $25.95 USD per month
- Premier plan: $37.95 USD per month
Season ticket holders of participating clubs receive access to MLS Season Pass included as part of selected annual ticket packages. Apple notes that standard Apple TV+ memberships do not automatically include third-party services or content designated for individual rental or purchase within the app. Following any promotional trial period, paid subscriptions automatically renew on a monthly basis until cancelled by the user.
