After two wins in the 2026 Leagues Cup, the Crew will look to advance to the knockout stage with a final phase-one match against Pumas UNAM on Aug. 11.
The Crew won their second game on Aug. 8, beating CF Pachuca 2-1 in a rematch of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Final. Columbus fell to Pachuca in the 2024 title game after a large portion of the roster was affected by a stomach illness suspected to have been caused by food poisoning.
Brais Méndez stayed red hot against Pachuca, scoring his third consecutive goal with an acrobatic finish in front of the net. The newly acquired forward has scored in every match he has played since arriving in Columbus.
In first-half stoppage time, Daniel Gazdag converted a header on after a corner kick to give the Crew a boost.
Though Pachuca fought back with a goal from Oussama Idrissi in the 72nd minute, the referee sent off center back Sergio Barreto after he acquired a second yellow card, giving the Crew a one-player advantage for the rest of the game.
The Crew's third opponent of the tournament is Pumas UNAM, who have been eliminated from the knockout stage after losing twice. Pumas did not score and conceded five goals in its first two matches against FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC.
Last season, Pumas won Liga MX with a 10-6-1 record.
When do the Columbus Crew play Pumas UNAM?
The Crew face Pumas at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
Where to watch Columbus Crew vs. Pumas UNAM, TV, Streaming
Date: Aug. 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Streaming: Apple TV
You can watch the Crew take on Pumas with an Apple TV subscription, which starts at $12.99 per month.
Columbus Crew 2026 Leagues Cup standings, phase one
(Group B, MLS)
T-1. Austin FC: 2-0-0, 6 points, +5 goal differential (GD)
T-1. Charlotte FC: 2-0-0, 6 pts, +5 GD
T-3. Chicago Fire: 2-0-0, 6 pts, +4 GD
T-3. FC Cincinnati: 2-0-0, 6 pts, +4 GD
5. Columbus Crew: 2-0-0, 6 pts, +3 GD
Columbus sits fifth in the Group B standings. To advance to the knockout stage, the Crew must push into the top four teams in Group B. Though tied with four other teams in points through two games played, the Crew have the worst goal differential (+3), the first deciding tiebreaker.
Here is a list of the six possible tiebreakers in the Leagues Cup, according to MLS.com.
- Greater goal differential between goals scored and goals conceded by the club.
- Greater number of wins in match regular time.
- Greater number of goals scored by the club.
- Fewer number of goals conceded by the club.
- Fewer points in the team’s Fair Play Table (below); or
- A draw organized by the Organizing Committee.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Where to watch Columbus Crew vs. Pumas UNAM Leagues Cup 2026
