FC Cincinnati Faces Tigres UANL in High-Stakes Champions Cup Showdown

CINCINNATI, Ohio — FC Cincinnati is set to host Mexican club Tigres UANL on Tuesday, March 4, as they compete in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET at TQL Stadium.

Fans can access tickets for the match by calling 513-977-KICK or visiting the club’s website. Gates at the stadium will open at 5 p.m., allowing fans ample time to prepare for the game.

In anticipation of the match, road closures are in effect due to ongoing construction for a new mixed-use district near the stadium. Wade Street is closed, and fans heading to the Workhorse Gate should take Liberty Street to Central Avenue instead.

Pre-match festivities will take place at Washington Park from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring free family-friendly activities, food trucks, and live entertainment.

Outside TQL Stadium, the Carl and Martha Lindner Plaza will be buzzing with activities leading up to the kickoff. Just before the game, fans are encouraged to join a high-energy march into the stadium, complete with smoke, drums, and chants.

Inside the stadium, attendees are advised to arrive early for special pre-match presentations and to secure their seats for a unique experience. The Bailey section will be general admission with safe standing, and fans are reminded that opposing team colors are not allowed.

Parking options are available, and the stadium’s updated clear bag policy will be enforced. Fans can utilize mobile ticketing through NFC Ticketing, allowing them to store their tickets in their Apple Wallet and gain access by tapping their devices at the gate.

Merchandise will be available for purchase at the stadium when gates open and also at the official team store in Over-The-Rhine, which operates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on matchday. New items, including the Orange and Blue Legacy Kit, are expected to be popular among fans.

This match marks the first leg of a two-game aggregate series against Tigres UANL, with the second leg scheduled for March 11 at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico. The aggregate winner will continue to the quarterfinals in April.

FC Cincinnati began their Champions Cup campaign successfully, defeating Honduran side FC Motagua 5-2 on aggregate in Round One. Key players include new club-record signing Kevin Denkey, who has scored in all three matches so far this season.

Tigres UANL, eight-time LIGA MX champions, had a tumultuous start to their Champions Cup journey but secured their place in the Round of 16 by winning 3-0 in the second leg against Nicaragua’s Real Estelí after losing the first leg 1-0. Currently, Tigres sits third in the LIGA MX Clausura table.

The match offers not only a potential shot at Champions Cup glory but also a significant step for FC Cincinnati in terms of international competition, with the overall tournament leading to spots in both the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Fans are eager to see if Cincinnati can achieve a notable victory against one of Mexico’s premier teams.