Milestones, storylines and more ahead of the Lions Leagues Cup match vs. C.F. Monterrey:
Milestones
- Iván Angulo is one assist away from becoming the third player in club history to reach 40 assists in all competitions for Orlando City.
- Daryl Dike’s next goal will be his 20th for Orlando City, making him the 11th player in club history to reach that milestone. Dike is two goals away from regaining a spot in the top 10 – he would tie former teammate Tesho Akindele with 21.
Stats & Storylines
- Orlando City fought valiantly but couldn’t quite climb back even in a 3-2 loss to Red Bull New York on Saturday. Despite the defeat, the Lions racked up an astonishing 5.0 expected goals, scoring twice through Tyrese Spicer and Griffin Dorsey. Spicer has racked up seven goal contributions off the bench in 2026 in all competitions, including three in the past two matches. Antoine Griezmann earned his first assist for Orlando in the game.
- The Lions now head into Leagues Cup 2026, hosting three matches in an eight-day span against Liga MX competition. Leagues Cup pits the 18 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs teams against the 18 Liga MX clubs, with all 36 teams playing three inter-league matches. The top four teams from each league through the first phase advance to the quarterfinal round, which will take place from August 25-26. Every match in the competition is guaranteed to feature an MLS club against a Liga MX side through the quarterfinals. Orlando City is 3W-2L-7D all-time against Liga MX teams.
- Ties are broken by penalty shootout in Leagues Cup, with the winner earning an extra point in the first phase. All games go to penalties after 90 minutes with no extra time, including in the knockout phase. Orlando is 11-3 all-time in penalty shootouts.
- Orlando City enjoyed its best-ever run in Leagues Cup last season, overcoming a draw and PK loss to Pumas UNAM in the opener with blowout wins over Atlas FC and Club Necaxa to advance to the quarterfinals on goal differential. Orlando then earned a famous quarterfinal win over then-reigning Liga MX champions Toluca FC, fighting Los Diablos Rojos to a 0-0 draw and winning on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Pedro Gallese scoring from the spot himself. The Lions eventually fell in the semifinals in deeply controversial fashion against Inter Miami in Fort Lauderdale.
- Martín Ojeda led all players in goal contributions at Leagues Cup 2025 with 4g/3a, just edging out Inter Miami’s Luís Suárez (3g/3a). His 5g/3a in 12 career matches in the tournament ties him for 12th all-time in goal contributions in Leagues Cup history. Ojeda has yet to play since the World Cup due to a thigh injury.
Series History
All-time vs. CF Monterrey - First meeting
Meet the opponent: C.F. Monterrey
- Orlando City faces off against Mexican giants CF Monterrey in a blockbuster opener to Leagues Cup 2026 on Wednesday night. The Lions have never faced “Rayados” (striped ones) before, though they have tangled with Monterrey’s clasico rival Tigres UANL multiple times over the years.
- Monterrey was founded in June 1945 and has worn its famous blue and white striped uniforms since 1965. Rayados have won five Liga MX championships in their history, most recently in fall 2019, as well as five CONCACAF Champions Cups. Monterrey is coming off a rare down season, having missed the liguilla (Liga MX’s playoffs) for the first time since spring 2020 and for the first time in a full season since fall 2016.
- Rayados responded to their poor campaign with a double dip into MLS’ Designated Players, signing Diego Rossi from the Columbus Crew and Hugo Cuypers from the Chicago Fire for what’s been reported as a combined $16 million. Rossi is a former MLS Golden Boot winner with 85g/41a in 192 career MLS games, while Cuypers departed Chicago upon the arrival of Robert Lewandowski as the current Golden Boot leader with 13 goals. Both players started Monterrey’s most recent game, a 2-0 win over Atlas.
