San Diego FC advances past Pumas in Champions Cup

Second-year MLS club suffers 1-0 loss in Mexico City but advances 4-2 on aggregate

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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San Diego FC arrived in Mexico City with a considerable advantage over Pumas, and they return home with a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16. The second year MLS club suffered a 1-0 loss Tuesday night, but advance 4-2 on aggregate thanks to last week's 4-1 win at Snapdragon Stadium.

Why it matters

San Diego FC's advancement to the Champions Cup round of 16 is a significant milestone for the young MLS club, showcasing their ability to compete against top Liga MX teams on the international stage.

The details

Pablo Sisniega was the star for SDFC in his hometown, stopping eight of the nine shots he faced to keep the Liga MX club from threatening San Diego's spot in the second round. Pedro Vite scored the home team's lone goal in the 47th minute.

  • The second leg match was played on February 10, 2026 in Mexico City.
  • The first leg match was played on February 3, 2026 in San Diego.

The players

San Diego FC

A second-year MLS club that advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16.

Pumas UNAM

A Liga MX club that lost 4-2 on aggregate to San Diego FC in the Champions Cup.

Pablo Sisniega

The goalkeeper for San Diego FC who had an impressive performance in his hometown of Mexico City.

Pedro Vite

The Pumas UNAM player who scored the lone goal for the home team in the 47th minute.

Mikey Varas

The head coach of San Diego FC.

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What they’re saying

“Not everybody gets to live this moment. We all know deep inside there are a lot of things we can improve for the next round where we're gonna have to play at altitude. Most important tonight is when you find a way to win you have to cherish that also.”

— Mikey Varas, San Diego FC head coach

What’s next

San Diego FC will host back-to-back Liga MX champion Toluca in the Champions Cup round of 16, with the first leg taking place on March 11 in San Diego before the return leg a week later in Mexico.

The takeaway

San Diego FC's advancement to the Champions Cup round of 16 in just their second year as an MLS club is an impressive feat, showcasing the team's ability to compete against top Liga MX opposition and their potential for continued growth on the international stage.