CF Monterrey are one of the giants of the Mexican club game having won five Liga MX titles as well as five Concacaf Champions League titles. They have twice finished third at the Club World Cup (2012 and 2019).
In 2020 they were only the second club to complete the treble of Liga MX, Copa MX and Concacaf Champions League.
For a team only founded in 1945, in the 2000s they have turned themselves into a major international force and now play at the imposing Estadio BBVA in Nuevo Leon, which will host matches in the World Cup later this year.
Their run of Champions League wins included three consecutive titles in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. They followed that up with wins in 2019 and 2021.
2026 will be their 12th appearance in the Champions Cup. Last season they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Vancouver Whitecaps who went on to lose in the final. Monterrey played at the expanded 2025 Club World Cup in the US last summer having qualified through their 2021Champions Cup win.
Led by Spanish head coach Domènec Torrent, who took over in May 2025, replacing Martín Demichelis, Monterrey will be expecting a deep run in the competition, starting with Gautemala’s CSD Xelaju, a relatively unknown quantity on the international club stage.
Key to Monterrey’s challenge will be top scorer Germán Berterame, if he is still at the club with rumours that he is on the verge of signing for Inter Miami. If he is to qualify for this competition for Inter Miami that deal needs to happen fast – Miami enter the Champions Cup at the Round of 16 stage.
Monterrey do have a quality replacement up front in the form of former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial who joined the club in September 2025.
In midfield Monterrey are driven by Spanish attacking midfielder Sergio Canales who contributes goals and assist and on the left wing they have Mexican national team player Lucas Ocampos.
At centre back they have the outstanding Víctor Guzmán who at just 23 has become a dominant presence and will likely be a defensive pillar for Mexico at the 2026 World Cup.