FC Dallas midfielder Joaquín Valiente (21) shoots and scores a second half goal against Querétaro defender Diego Antonio Reyes (13) in a Leagues Cup game at Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas, August 5, 2026. FC Dallas won, 2-0.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
MANSFIELD — FC Dallas had struggled to find its rhythm since returning from the two-month World Cup break.
However, Wednesday night’s match could be the one that rejuvenates its season.
FC Dallas earned its first win in a competitive fixture since May, defeating Mexican opponent Querétaro 2-0 in its first of three Phase One matches in the Leagues Cup at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium.
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Colombian left winger Santiago Moreno broke the deadlock 90 seconds into the second half, finding space in the box after a deflection. Right winger Joaquín Valiente put the game to bed in the 81st minute after center back Shaq Moore found him near the edge of the 18-yard box.
Head coach Eric Quill’s side failed to win in each of its three MLS games since July 22, but Dallas dominated possession with 53% and generated 10 shots inside the box compared with eight by the visitors.
Dallas goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois saved eight shots to earn his second consecutive clean sheet. The 25-year-old backup has played in five of Dallas’ last six matches, with starting goalkeeper Daniel out because of a hamstring injury suffered against San Diego FC on July 25.
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“He’s an amazing keeper,” Quill said. “This guy’s young and he’s got a big, bright future. He didn’t give up rebounds tonight. A lot of Mexican teams love to shoot, and they can shoot from distance, and they follow up. So I was really pleased with him.”
For the first half hour, Querétaro was on top. Dallas did not create a shot on target until the 31st minute. Quill’s side could not find a rhythm until forward Anderson Julio went down with a confirmed hamstring injury. The severity isn’t yet known.
Julio was replaced by All-Star forward Petar Musa, and Dallas began to take control of the match.
FC Dallas forward Petar Musa (9) and Querétaro defender Daniel Parra (27) attempt to head the ball during the first half of a Leagues Cup game at Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas, August 5, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
“We looked a little nervy in the first 45 minutes,” Quill said. “We were playing backwards, and we’re not a backwards-playing team. So at halftime, we made mentality adjustments, and we were a different team in the second half, which I was proud of.”
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The second half was cagey. Dallas doubled its fouls, from five in the first half to 10 in the second. Still, the hosts played on the front foot with direct actions, which helped them score against the run of play.
Dallas converted 40% of its second-half shots on target into goals. After going scoreless in its two previous MLS matches, that change was needed.
The last few weeks have been below the standard Dallas had set before the break.
“It’s weird how the human mind changes course after a win versus a loss,” Quill said. “You start to second-guess yourself, maybe lose a little bit of confidence. So hopefully this is something that can propel us for Game 2.”
Before the World Cup pause in May, which lasted almost exactly two months, Dallas was one of the most in-form teams in MLS. It had won four of five matches to climb into fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
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However, Dallas has earned just two points in MLS since play resumed, and it has slid to sixth. The club hopes the Leagues Cup can jolt the side and return it to its spring momentum.
Querétaro entered the Leagues Cup in good form. It had won consecutive matches in Liga MX’s Apertura tournament and sat seventh in the league table after three match weeks.
Querétaro started nine of the same players who started in its latest Liga MX match against Tigres, including 16-year-old midfielder Juan “Mono” Martínez, who made his first professional start Wednesday.
Dallas’ next Leagues Cup match is Saturday against Guadalajara at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. It will be followed by a hostile away match against Toluca FC on Aug. 12.
FC Dallas midfielder Patrickson Delgado (8) is sent flying after having his legs taken out from under him by Querétaro defender Diego Antonio Reyes (13) during the second half of a Leagues Cup game at Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas, August 5, 2026. FC Dallas won, 2-0.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas needs to finish among the top four of the 18 MLS teams competing in Phase One. The top four teams from MLS and Liga MX will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played later in August.
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“We need to share the wealth in this tournament,” Quill said. “I expect California to have a heavy Chivas fan base. It should be electric to give our guys the opportunity to see how we match up against one of the best Mexican teams in the history of that league.”
The club has never lifted the Leagues Cup trophy. Its most memorable finish was a Round-of-16 exit to Inter Miami CF in 2023. Soccer icon Lionel Messi scored twice in a 4-4 draw. Miami advanced after winning the penalty shootout 5-3.
“We have ambition to try and win it. Every game is a final in a tournament format,” Quill said. “I’m proud of the fight and the resilience and how we came out in the second half to get the result we needed.”