San Diego FC Faces Pumas UNAM in Champions Cup Opener

San Diego FC commences its second year of competition on Tuesday night at Snapdragon Stadium, entering the opening round of the Concacaf Champions Cup. This prestigious tournament features top club teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Having finished atop Major League Soccer's Western Conference in their debut season, SDFC earned a spot in the tournament and will face Mexico City's Pumas UNAM in a two-leg first-round series. Coach Mike Varas, who signed a contract extension in January, guided the team to MLS expansion-team records for points and wins in 2025. The club reached the MLS Cup Western Conference final before falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Coach Varas acknowledged the challenge of facing an unbeaten Pumas team that has been playing together for a longer period. However, he expressed confidence in his team's style, teamwork, and fighting spirit, anticipating improvement as the games progress. Pumas, a strong transitional team with a midfield bolstered by loanee Jordan Carrillo, reached the Champions Cup final in 2022.

This opening round is the first of two matches, with the second leg to be played in Mexico City. The aggregate score will determine the winner, with away goals serving as a tiebreaker. Goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega emphasized the importance of not conceding at home. San Diego FC boasts a strong defensive record at Snapdragon Stadium, with 10 clean sheets last year.

The team's 2026 lineup will feature key players like goalkeeper Sisniega, defender Ian Pilcher, and forward Anders Dreyer, who recently signed an extension through 2028-29. Dreyer was the franchise's standout player last season with 23 goals. However, marquee acquisition Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano is expected to part ways with the club, despite being their highest-paid player.