February 18 – The six-time MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy will be looking to uses Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito as the stepping stone to a deep run in the 2026 Champions Cup and a kick start to their season after a poor 2025.
The LA Galaxy are ranked 18 in Concacaf, while Sporting San Miguelito, ranked 63 – the difference on paper looks to great.
There is no head-to-head history between the teams who meet for the first time with the winner advancing to face 66–ranked Mount Pleasant of Jamaica in the Round of 16.
Sporting San Miguelito returns to the Concacaf Champions Cup after 12 years, and while their players’ club pedigree is relatively unknown, they do have pedigree in Concacaf competition with the successful Panama national team.
Kevin Mosquera has been a stand-out in goal, protected by a young defensive line-up of Alexis Cedeño (20), Omar Alba (21), Danielo Hoyos (21), and Jhizard Munoz (21).
In midfeld Martin Ruiz and left midfielder Ángel Valencia gets forward and scores goals while new signing Ramses de Leon has been brought in to lead the line.
LA Galaxy are desperate to put a poor 2025 behind them but will be without star playmaker Riqui Puig who suffered a second consecutive ACL tear in preseason. His Designated Player slot has been filled by Brazilian Joao Klauss who arrives from St. Louis CITY SC, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 27 goals.
On paper the front three look very dangerous with Klauss alongside Gabriel Pec and Ghanaian Joseph Pantsi. Galaxy also have Germany and Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus.
New signings in defence include Jakob Glesnes, a former MLS Defender of the Year; and Justin Haak who had a breakout season in 2025 with New York City FC.
If they mesh this new look team together the sky is the limit for the latest version of Galaxy.
Round 1, first leg. Sporting San Miguelito (Pan) vs LA Galaxy (USA)