HOUSTON (July 26, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC kickoff Leagues Cup Group Stage play versus Liga MX side Atlas C.F. on Saturday, July 27, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium.
The Dynamo reached the Round of 16 in last year’s inaugural competition, defeating LIGA MX mainstays Club Pachuca and Santos Laguna at Shell Energy Stadium along the way. Leagues Cup 2024 will determine three qualifiers for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the winner of Concacaf Champions Cup representing the region at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Notably, the Dynamo were the only MLS team to earn the opportunity to play for four trophies this year (MLS Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup) thanks to a strong campaign in 2023 that saw the team lift the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and make a run to the Western Conference Final in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Additionally, Houston advanced further in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup than any team in the Western Conference.
At the break in MLS play, Houston sits sixth in the Western Conference with a 10-7-7 (WLD) record and 37 points. The Dynamo have only lost once in their last 10 matches, while finding the back of the net 22 times over that stretch.
Houston is coming off a six-point road trip during which they defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4-3. The result marked the first time the Dynamo have won back-to-back road matches in the same season since 2013 after taking down the LA Galaxy and D.C. United in May.
In Vancouver, the Dynamo relinquished a 2-0 first-half lead before coming back and to win the match in the 87th minute when the ball fell to Griffin Dorsey after bouncing around the box, and the defender put his boot through the ball for this second goal of the night and the season. The first three goals came from midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla (29th minute), Dorsey again (36th minute) and defender Brad Smith (78th minute).
Forward Ezequiel Ponce, who the Dynamo signed on a club-record transfer fee last month from AEK Athens in Greece, made his Club debut in Vancouver on Saturday, earning a spot in the starting lineup and playing the first 45 minutes of the match.
Additionally, Houston announced the signing of winger Lawrence Ennali on a full transfer from Górnik Zabrze in Poland last week, marking the largest U22 Initiative signing in Club history for the Dynamo. In three seasons in Europe, Ennali has made 70 professional appearances (40 starts), while scoring eight goals and recording two assists.
The Dynamo continue to boast one of the best defensive records so far this season, even with a shuffling back line that has seen seven players start due to injuries. The team has allowed 30 goals this season, which is tied for the second fewest in the Western Conference. Houston also leads the Western Conference with 58.7 percent possession across the season, allowing the Dynamo to control matches and dictate pace of play.
Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera returns from representing Houston at the 2024 MLS All-Star Game in his second consecutive appearance. The midfielder was one of two players selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, alongside Columbus Crew’s Darlington Nagbe. The MLS All-Stars faced a team of All-Stars from LIGA MX - the league where Herrera started his career - on July 24 in Columbus, Ohio.
As for Houston’s opponent on Saturday, the match will mark the first time the Dynamo will face Atlas in an official competition. The LIGA MX team plays in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Jalisco where the Dynamo spent a portion of their preseason training in January. Atlas currently sits sixth in the LIGA MX Apertura 2024 standings through four matches this season. Atlas most recently won back-to-back titles with the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022 trophies to snap a 70-year title drought. Overall, Houston holds an 11-4-3 (WLD) record versus LIGA MX teams at Shell Energy Stadium.
The second edition of this Concacaf-sanctioned competition features all 18 clubs from the Mexican league, LIGA MX, and all 29 clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) representing the U.S. and Canada. These 47 clubs will compete in a World Cup-style club tournament from July 26 to August 25, 2024.
Advancing teams will compete in the single-game elimination knockout rounds, beginning with the Round of 32 from August 7-9 (16 matches), followed by the Round of 16 from August 12-13 (eight matches). The eight advancing teams will compete in the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals on August 16-17 (four matches) before the two semifinal matches on August 20 or 21. The Leagues Cup 2024 Final and the Third-place match will be played on August 25.
Houston wraps up Group Stage play on Monday, Aug. 5, hosting MLS side Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match is available HERE.
