Toluca is just a few weeks away from making its debut in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. In its opening match, scheduled for December 9 at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, the Mexican side will face the winner of the 2026 Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition. Palmeiras of Brazil and Estudiantes de La Plata are the two remaining contenders for the title, which will be decided in the final on November 28.
Throughout its 109 years of history, Toluca has competed in
several international tournaments, but the club has never won a title outside of CONCACAF, the confederation that governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
History in CONCACAF
In 1968, Toluca won its first international title in CONCACAF in a rather unusual way: it took the title without playing a final, as the two other semifinalists, Aurora of Guatemala and Transvaal of Suriname, were disqualified from the competition. This title opened the doors for Toluca to compete in its first intercontinental competition, the 1969 Copa Interamericana, against Copa Libertadores champion Estudiantes de La Plata. This was the first time a Mexican club had faced a CONMEBOL club in an official competition.
In the Copa Interamericana, Toluca played its first match at home and lost 2-1 before heading to Argentina and pulling off a surprise 2-1 win to tie the series. Under the tournament’s rules, a playoff match was held in Montevideo, where Estudiantes de La Plata crushed Toluca 3-0 to seal the title. Several years would pass before Toluca played in another international final.
It was not until 2003 that Toluca won its second CONCACAF title, defeating Monarcas Morelia 5-4 on aggregate. They repeated the feat in May of this year, beating Tigres UANL in a penalty shootout to lock in its third international title. Last month, Toluca defeated CF Monterrey 2-0 to win its fourth international title, this time in the Leagues Cup, a tournament contested between Liga MX and MLS clubs. The victory also cemented the legacy of head coach Antonio “El Turco” Mohamed, who became the most decorated manager in the club’s history after winning six trophies in less than two years.
Modest accomplishments in South America
In international competitions sanctioned by CONMEBOL, the South American confederation, Toluca has struggled to make its mark. In its first appearance as a CONMEBOL invitee, Toluca played in the 2000 Copa Merconorte but did not make it past the group stage. It was not invited to the following edition, which was the last before the cup was discontinued.
The 2006 Copa Sudamericana has been Toluca’s best performance to date against South American clubs. Toluca defeated El Nacional of Ecuador in the round of 16 and then tied San Lorenzo of Argentina in the quarterfinals, advancing on away goals. In the semifinals it faced Colo-Colo of Chile, losing 4-1 on aggregate.
In the Copa Libertadores, its performances were promising at times, but never quite paid off. In 2007, Toluca topped its group ahead of Boca Juniors of Argentina, but was eliminated in the round of 16 by Cúcuta Deportivo of Colombia 5-3 on aggregate. In 2013, Toluca did not make it past the group stage, and in 2016 it returned to the competition and once again topped its group, this time in the tournament’s group of death. However, Toluca was eliminated in the round of 16 by São Paulo of Brazil 5-3 on aggregate.
The Derby of the Americas and route to the final
On December 9, Toluca will face the 2026 Copa Libertadores champion. The game, dubbed the Derby of the Americas, will be Toluca’s first match in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. A loss would eliminate it from the competition immediately.
If Toluca wins, it would advance to the FIFA Challenger Cup, another knockout game, against Mamelodi Sundowns, winners of the 2025-26 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League. If Toluca defeats them as well, it would face UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
In a recent podcast appearance, head coach Antonio Mohamed discussed Toluca’s preparations for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup, raising concerns over potential scheduling conflicts and travel demands. The club’s opening match falls in the middle of the Liga MX liguilla (playoffs), should Toluca qualify and advance to the latter stages of the domestic competition. Mohamed stated that the club would prioritize the Intercontinental Cup over the Liga MX playoffs, while acknowledging the difficult position this could put Toluca in. Liga MX officials have yet to confirm whether adjustments will be made to the domestic calendar to accommodate the club’s participation in the international tournament.
So, Mexican Soccer fans, how do you think Toluca will perform in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup? Will they make history yet again or will they bow out early on the international stage? let us know in the comments below!
