April 11 – FIFA’s 2026 evaluation committee had only just left Mexico City and its Azteca stadium when the iconic venue returned to the real business of play in the Conacaf Champions League. Toronto FC endured a far tougher examination in the Azteca than the FIFA bid bods were likely to have given it.
Going into the second leg of the semi-final clash with Club America, Toronto held a 3-1 lead, but after losing injury prone striker Jozy Altidore on just seven minutes, they looked set to endure a night of pain.
Pain became joy when Toronto scored a vital away goal to extend their aggregate lead to 4-1. What then followed was relentless pressure from Club America and a series of stunning saves from Toronto keeper Alex Bono.
Club America equalised in stoppage time but it was too little too late and Toronto progress to the reformatted Champions League final where they will face Mexico’s CD Guadalajara (better known to football fans as Chivas) over two legs – the first time the final has been played on a home and away basis.
Chivas overcame the New York Red Bulls in New York 1-0 to qualify. With the aggregate 1-1 from the first leg in Mexico, the Red Bulls pushed for the goal that would have forced a penalty shoot out. But with a shot account of 20-1 in favour of the Red Bulls, the big winner was Chivas goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.
Toronto will face Chivas at home in the first leg on April 17, before travelling to Guadalajara on April 25. Chivas gain the advantage of the second leg at home by virtue of having accumulated the most points in their six matches to reach the final.
In the none years of the Concacaf Champions League era only Mexican teams have won the title – the final has been contested by Mexican teams seven times. The winners qualify for the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
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