Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul: Lionel Messi Targets Historic Silverware in 2026 Campeones Cup Showdown
MIAMI, FL — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF have another prestigious trophy firmly within reach. On Wednesday night, September 16, 2026, the South Florida side hosts Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, for the highly anticipated 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup.
With kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM Eastern Time, the annual cross-border showpiece promises high-octane action, intense regional rivalry, and international bragging rights.
Below is the definitive breakdown of everything you need to know about the tournament's official status, qualification criteria, historical records, and what to expect when Messi leads Inter Miami onto the pitch against LIGA MX titan Cruz Azul.
It is an annual competition created and organized directly by Major League Soccer (MLS) and LIGA MX. Launched in 2018 as part of a strategic, wider partnership between the two prominent North American leagues, the tournament was designed to establish a definitive, single-game championship pitting the ultimate champions of both nations against each other. This is a Super Cup like one match competition - for instance, UEFA Super Cup or French Super Cup or the Finalissima.
Think of the Campeones Cup as the North American equivalent of a super cup—much like Europe's UEFA Super Cup or international football's Finalissima.
The MLS Representative: The reigning MLS Cup Champion automatically earns hosting rights for the fixture.
The LIGA MX Representative: Mexico's participant is decided through LIGA MX’s prestigious Campeón de Campeones (the winner of the clash between the Apertura and Clausura champions).
For the 2026 edition, this setup brings together 2025 MLS Cup winners Inter Miami CF and Mexican giant Cruz Azul.
Unlike continental qualifiers, there is no route into another downstream tournament and no CONCACAF Champions Cup berth attached to the outcome. It is strictly a single-match winner-take-all contest: just one game, a major physical trophy, and, inevitably, plenty of MLS vs. LIGA MX bragging rights on the line.
A trophy and bragging rights are up for grabs on Wednesday, further raising the stakes of an MLS-LIGA MX rivalry that has flourished across multiple fronts in recent years—most notably in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the expanded month-long Leagues Cup, and five of the past six MLS All-Star Games.
Historically, LIGA MX clubs hold a slight statistical advantage over their MLS counterparts in this specific competition, having clinched four of the seven previous Campeones Cup titles since its inception in 2018.
Mexican titans Tigres UANL stand as the only two-time winners of the competition, having claimed victories in 2018 and 2023. Meanwhile, New York City FC remains the last MLS side to lift the trophy, following their victory over Atlas FC back in 2022.
2025: LA Galaxy 2, Toluca FC 3 (LIGA MX)
2024: Columbus Crew 1 (4), Club América 1 (5) (P.E.N - LIGA MX)
2023: LAFC 0 (2), Tigres UANL 0 (4) (P.E.N - LIGA MX)
2022: New York City FC 2, Atlas FC 0 (MLS)
2021: Columbus Crew 2, Cruz Azul 0 (MLS)
2019: Atlanta United 3, Club América 2 (MLS)
2018: Toronto FC 1, Tigres UANL 3 (LIGA MX)
2020: Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday's final carries extra narrative weight for both participating clubs. Cruz Azul previously featured in the 2021 Campeones Cup, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against the Columbus Crew. The Mexican outfit returns to the competition determined to capture their first Campeones Cup title and extend LIGA MX's overall advantage over MLS to 5-3.
Furthermore, Cruz Azul has direct history with Lionel Messi's arrival in North America. Back in July 2023, Messi made his legendary Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul during a Leagues Cup group-stage fixture, scoring a dramatic 94th-minute free-kick winner that captured global headlines.
Now, three years later, the two sides meet once again on Miami turf at Nu Stadium, this time with an official trophy immediately at stake.
Soccer fans across the globe can tune into the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup via multiple streaming platforms.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Kick-off Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) / 5:00 PM Pacific Time (PT)
Stadium Location: Nu Stadium | Miami, Florida
Broadcast Channels & Streaming: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass), The Cooligans on Yahoo!
Subject : Lionel Messi MLS Soccer Football News USA
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Publish Date : 16 September 2026
Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul: Lionel Messi Targets Historic Silverware in 2026 Campeones Cup Showdown
MIAMI, FL — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF have another prestigious trophy firmly within reach. On Wednesday night, September 16, 2026, the South Florida side hosts Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, for the highly anticipated 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup.
With kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM Eastern Time, the annual cross-border showpiece promises high-octane action, intense regional rivalry, and international bragging rights.
Below is the definitive breakdown of everything you need to know about the tournament's official status, qualification criteria, historical records, and what to expect when Messi leads Inter Miami onto the pitch against LIGA MX titan Cruz Azul.
It is an annual competition created and organized directly by Major League Soccer (MLS) and LIGA MX. Launched in 2018 as part of a strategic, wider partnership between the two prominent North American leagues, the tournament was designed to establish a definitive, single-game championship pitting the ultimate champions of both nations against each other. This is a Super Cup like one match competition - for instance, UEFA Super Cup or French Super Cup or the Finalissima.
Think of the Campeones Cup as the North American equivalent of a super cup—much like Europe's UEFA Super Cup or international football's Finalissima.
The MLS Representative: The reigning MLS Cup Champion automatically earns hosting rights for the fixture.
The LIGA MX Representative: Mexico's participant is decided through LIGA MX’s prestigious Campeón de Campeones (the winner of the clash between the Apertura and Clausura champions).
For the 2026 edition, this setup brings together 2025 MLS Cup winners Inter Miami CF and Mexican giant Cruz Azul.
Unlike continental qualifiers, there is no route into another downstream tournament and no CONCACAF Champions Cup berth attached to the outcome. It is strictly a single-match winner-take-all contest: just one game, a major physical trophy, and, inevitably, plenty of MLS vs. LIGA MX bragging rights on the line.
A trophy and bragging rights are up for grabs on Wednesday, further raising the stakes of an MLS-LIGA MX rivalry that has flourished across multiple fronts in recent years—most notably in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the expanded month-long Leagues Cup, and five of the past six MLS All-Star Games.
Historically, LIGA MX clubs hold a slight statistical advantage over their MLS counterparts in this specific competition, having clinched four of the seven previous Campeones Cup titles since its inception in 2018.
Mexican titans Tigres UANL stand as the only two-time winners of the competition, having claimed victories in 2018 and 2023. Meanwhile, New York City FC remains the last MLS side to lift the trophy, following their victory over Atlas FC back in 2022.
2025: LA Galaxy 2, Toluca FC 3 (LIGA MX)
2024: Columbus Crew 1 (4), Club América 1 (5) (P.E.N - LIGA MX)
2023: LAFC 0 (2), Tigres UANL 0 (4) (P.E.N - LIGA MX)
2022: New York City FC 2, Atlas FC 0 (MLS)
2021: Columbus Crew 2, Cruz Azul 0 (MLS)
2019: Atlanta United 3, Club América 2 (MLS)
2018: Toronto FC 1, Tigres UANL 3 (LIGA MX)
2020: Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wednesday's final carries extra narrative weight for both participating clubs. Cruz Azul previously featured in the 2021 Campeones Cup, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat against the Columbus Crew. The Mexican outfit returns to the competition determined to capture their first Campeones Cup title and extend LIGA MX's overall advantage over MLS to 5-3.
Furthermore, Cruz Azul has direct history with Lionel Messi's arrival in North America. Back in July 2023, Messi made his legendary Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul during a Leagues Cup group-stage fixture, scoring a dramatic 94th-minute free-kick winner that captured global headlines.
Now, three years later, the two sides meet once again on Miami turf at Nu Stadium, this time with an official trophy immediately at stake.
Soccer fans across the globe can tune into the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup via multiple streaming platforms.
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Kick-off Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) / 5:00 PM Pacific Time (PT)
Stadium Location: Nu Stadium | Miami, Florida
Broadcast Channels & Streaming: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass), The Cooligans on Yahoo!
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