O&M FC and FC Cincinnati face off in Concacaf Champions Cup Leg 1

The first leg of the Round One matchup between the Dominican side and the MLS club kicks off on Wednesday night.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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FC Cincinnati's 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign begins on Wednesday night with a Round One, Leg 1 visit to Dominican side O&M FC. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to face LIGA MX powerhouse Tigres UANL in the Round of 16. Nine MLS clubs are competing in the prestigious continental tournament, which grants a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Why it matters

The Concacaf Champions Cup is the premier club competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, offering MLS clubs a chance to compete against the best teams in the region and earn a spot in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup. FC Cincinnati is looking to build on their recent success in MLS and translate that to the international stage, while O&M FC is making their Champions Cup debut after a strong showing in the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

The details

O&M FC qualified for the Champions Cup as the runner-up in the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, led by top scorer Frantzety Herard and a talented supporting cast. FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, earned their spot as the 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club, after winning the Shield in 2023 and narrowly missing it in 2025. The Orange & Blue will rely on their star playmaker Evander and club-record signing Kévin Denkey, who combined for 33 of the team's 52 regular-season goals in 2025.

  • The first leg will be played on Wednesday, February 18 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
  • The second leg will be played on February 25 at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium, determining who advances to the Round of 16.

The players

Frantzety Herard

A Haitian winger who was the top scorer in the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup, leading all players with five goals.

Evander

FC Cincinnati's star playmaker who combined with Kévin Denkey for 33 of the team's 52 regular-season goals in 2025.

Kévin Denkey

FC Cincinnati's club-record signing who combined with Evander for 33 of the team's 52 regular-season goals in 2025.

Miles Robinson

FC Cincinnati's anchor in defense, looking to make the USMNT squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

O&M FC

The Dominican side making their Concacaf Champions Cup debut in 2026 after reaching their first-ever final in the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

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What’s next

The winner of the two-legged tie between O&M FC and FC Cincinnati will advance to face LIGA MX powerhouse Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The takeaway

This first-leg matchup between the Dominican side O&M FC and the MLS club FC Cincinnati showcases the growing international ambitions of both teams, as they compete for a spot in the prestigious Concacaf Champions Cup and the chance to represent the region on the global stage.