April 27 – Two clubs in form. Two clubs unfamiliar with each other but with forward fire power that . And one place in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final on the line.
Los Angeles FC welcomes Deportivo Toluca FC to BMO Stadium on Wednesday for the First Leg of their semi-finals and a first meeting between these clubs in tournament history.
The Black and Gold arrive with momentum after dispatching reigning champions Cruz Azul 4-1 on aggregate. David Martínez scored a brace in the first leg, Son Heung-Min added a third, and Denis Bouanga sealed it with a penalty in the 1-1 draw at Estadio Olímpico Universitario.
For LAFC, this marks a third trip to the semi-finals. The last time they faced a Liga MX side at this stage, they knocked out Club América 3-1 back in 2020.
Toluca, meanwhile, return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2014. Los Diablos Rojos have been here seven times overall, and they arrive in ruthless form. The reigning Liga MX champions blew past LA Galaxy 7-2 on aggregate in the quarter finals, with Paulinho putting on a one-man masterclass with a hat trick in the first leg and a brace in the second.
Paulinho now sits on six goals for the 2026 edition, level with Gabriel Pec for the tournament Golden Boot, and third on Toluca’s all-time Champions Cup scoring list. Stop him, and Toluca will have problems. In Bouanga, Martinez and Son, LAFC have the firepower to hurt the Mexicans.
First leg at home is crucial and the crowd will matter. LAFC will be looking for a significant lead to take to Mexico next week
LAFC vs. Deportivo Toluca FC — Concacaf Champions Cup semi- final, First Leg, Wednesday April 29, BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California