HOUSTON DYNAMO FC TO HOST CLUB DE FúTBOL PACHUCA IN LEAGUES CUP ROUND OF 32

ASN Staff Writer 
Houston Dynamo FC will host Liga MX side Club de Fútbol Pachuca in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, August 2 at Shell Energy Stadium where the Dynamo boast a 9-2-3 record in all competitions this year. The kickoff time will be announced soon.                                                                                                                        

The Dynamo qualified for the knockout round as second in the South 2 group and advanced to the elimination round of a second tournament this year (Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup). Houston earned three points in group stage play versus Orlando City SC and Club Santos Laguna. Orlando beat Santos Laguna 3-2 in regulation in Florida on Saturday, securing Houston’s place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Pachuca earned a group stage bye for Leagues Cup as the Liga MX champion with the most combined points accumulated across the Clausura and Apertura seasons in the 2022 calendar year.

The clubs have a storied history, meeting in seven competitive matches. Pachuca has won four matchups, while Houston has won three. The two have met four times (two aggregate matchups) in the CONCACAF Champions League, including Pachuca edging out Houston 5-4 in the 2007 semifinals. The teams also met three times in the North American Superliga, including the Dynamo getting the better of Pachuca 2-0 in the 2008 semifinals. The most recent matchup came in the 2010 Superliga group stage when Houston won 2-1.

Additionally, Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera began his youth career with Pachuca in 2007 and made his professional debut with the club on July 21, 2010. The midfielder and Mexican international totaled 52 appearances and two goals with the club.

 The revamped format of Leagues Cup features 47 clubs that currently compete in Major League Soccer and Liga MX. Both leagues have paused their regular season to compete in the World Cup-style tournament.

Along with advancing in Leagues Cup, the Dynamo are having a resurgent season, currently sitting in a Western Conference playoff position. Houston reached the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since winning the title in 2018 and will host Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium on Aug. 23.