By Ari Liljenwall
Chicago Fire FC face LIGA MX powerhouse CF Monterrey on Tuesday evening in a high-profile Leagues Cup quarterfinal matchup.
Apple TV
Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT
SeatGeek Stadium | Bridgeview, Illinois
The winner advances to face Club América or Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup semifinals, which are held Sept. 1-2.
The tournament champion will be crowned on Sept. 6. Additionally, the top three finishers qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup .
Standings
4th in Leagues Cup LIGA MX table
6 points (2W-1L-0D)
Phase One
Monterrey bounced back from an opening 2-1 defeat to Orlando City with consecutive 2-1 wins over Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC , securing the fourth and final LIGA MX quarterfinal spot.
Former Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers has played a starring role, scoring in each Leagues Cup match for Rayados.
Players to watch
Hugo Cuypers: The ex-Fire striker led the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race before being transferred to Monterrey following Robert Lewandowski 's arrival, setting up a juicy rematch storyline.
Diego Rossi : The former LAFC and Columbus forward has 3g/4a in his first eight games for Monterrey, who acquired him in early July from the Crew.
Luca Orellano : Previously a FC Cincinnati standout, Orellano scored the 2024 AT&T MLS Goal of the Year.
Need to know
All eyes will be on Cuypers, who quickly returns to Chicago after joining Monterrey in late July.
Ahead of the 2024 season, the Fire originally acquired the striker from Belgian Pro League side Gent for a club-record fee (reportedly up to $14 million).
But with Lewandowski taking over primary No. 9 duties in the Windy City, the Belgian star sought out a new opportunity.
Standings
1st in MLS Leagues Cup table
9 points (3W-0L-0D)
Phase One
Chicago clinched first place in the MLS Leagues Cup table with a dramatic 2-1 victory over reigning LIGA MX champions Cruz Azul, powered by Puso Dithejane 's brace and second-half stoppage-time winner.
Only two teams won all three games in regulation time during Phase One: Chicago and LIGA MX's Club León.
Players to watch
Robert Lewandowski: The legendary Polish striker has made an immediate impact since his summer arrival, scoring four goals in nine appearances.
Philip Zinckernagel : The two-time MLS All-Star remains one of the Fire's most dangerous attacking pieces, averaging nearly a goal contribution every game.
Chris Brady : The homegrown standout, now in his fourth season as Chicago's starting goalkeeper, served as the USMNT 's third backstop at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Need to know
Chicago are three wins away from ending a 20-year trophy drought, dating back to their 2006 US Open Cup triumph.
The opportunity arrives in Year 2 under head coach Gregg Berhalter, who led the Fire to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs last season for the first time since 2017.
Expectations have only risen following Lewandowski's arrival from FC Barcelona , which has fueled a seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions (6W-0L-1D).
