Chivas’ Jose Castillo, left, tries to block a shot by Cruz Azul’s Rodolfo Rotondi during a Mexican soccer league semifinal first leg match in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Eduardo Verdugo/Associated Press
The February announcement that FC Dallas would host Chivas de Guadalajara in the Leagues Cup sparked immediate excitement among local fans.
That enthusiasm turned into disappointment Wednesday, when organizers confirmed that the group‑stage match will instead be played in San José, Calif..
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“We went from excitement to frustration,” said Rachel Ortega, a Dallas resident and devoted supporter of both FC Dallas and Chivas.
“I don’t understand why they’re moving the game to California. Chivas never comes to Dallas, and now that we were excited to finally have them here, they take it away from us,” the 25‑year‑old photographer said.
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Chivas remains one of the most popular clubs on both sides of the border, in large part because of its identity: It is the only team in Mexican soccer that fields exclusively Mexican players.
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That tradition has made the Rebaño Sagrado (Sacred Flock) a powerful symbol of national pride for Mexicans abroad and for fans at home.
The club has won 12 league titles, including a golden era from 1956 to 1965, when it captured eight championships.
In the most recent Liga MX season, Chivas finished second in the standings.
FC Dallas will open its Leagues Cup campaign Aug. 5, hosting Club Querétaro at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium.
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The team will then travel to California to face Chivas on Aug. 8 at PayPal Park in San Jose, before closing group play Aug. 12 at Toluca’s Estadio Nemesio Diez.
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“I’m not going to go watch FC Dallas play Querétaro. I’m really sad that Chivas isn’t coming,” Ortega said, echoing the displeasure that spread quickly across social media.
When FC Dallas first announced in February that it would face Chivas, the club noted that the venue would be determined later.
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Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, is currently undergoing renovations that limit its capacity to 11,000 seats, and it appeared unlikely to host the match.
Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, another FC Dallas‑affiliated venue, seats 7,000 fans, making it too small a venue to host a Chivas match.
PayPal Park, home of the San Jose Earthquakes, seats 18,000.
Jimmy Smith, chief operating officer of FC Dallas, said the club worked with the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee to determine the best location for the match while Toyota Stadium remains under renovation.
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“The Leagues Cup Organizing Committee worked with FC Dallas and venue partners to identify alternative venues that best support tournament operations, scheduling, and the overall matchday experience,” Smith said in a written statement.
The organizing committee added that while Chivas is the designated host club for this match, the tournament selected an alternate venue based on operational and scheduling needs.
“PayPal Park ultimately provided the best overall fit for the event,” said Rosa Salinas, Leagues Cup director of communications.
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The fourth edition of Leagues Cup will bring together 36 clubs —18 from MLS and 18 from Liga MX — for a monthlong competition.
The opening phase features 54 matchups and maintains the format that avoids same‑league pairings.
The stakes are significant: The top three finishers qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the champion advancing directly to the Round of 16.
For the first time, Liga MX teams will also host matches in Mexico.
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The decision to move the Chivas match hit FC Dallas fans like Franco Amieva particularly hard. He saw the match as a rare opportunity for the club’s supporters to help FCD shine on an international stage.
“It’s really a shame what’s happening, because this was a match all the fans were excited to see,” Amieva said. “We were ready to bring the full atmosphere — see the Chivas supporters, see our supporters and enjoy a great match in our stadium.”