FC Cincinnati Looks to Secure Champions Cup Spot Against FC Motagua

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — FC Cincinnati aims to advance to the Round of 16 in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup when they face FC Motagua on Wednesday, February 26, at TQL Stadium. The Orange and Blue hold a 4-1 aggregate lead going into the second leg, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Fans can follow the match via various platforms. The Concacaf Champions Cup will be broadcast in English on select networks, including local radio broadcasts by iHeart Media, and in Spanish on La Mega 101.5 FM. Streaming options are available through the club’s website and mobile app.

In the first leg held last week, FC Cincinnati secured a commanding 4-1 victory in Tegucigalpa against FC Motagua. Goals from Pavel Bucha, Kévin Denkey, and Evander contributed to this win, marking FC Cincinnati’s largest continental cup victory away from home.

Head Coach Pat Noonan emphasized the importance of maintaining focus despite the lead. At a pre-match press conference, he said, “There’s a desire to win. Trust has to be there for who we put out there to go and get a result.”

Noonan touched on the potential for lineup changes, stating, “So there’s no charity here for guys to get opportunities, you have to earn it. A lot is determined by the schedule, and we’re obviously coming off our season opener with a quick turnaround.”

FC Cincinnati’s recent performance leaves them poised for a unique milestone; a victory on Wednesday would mark the first time in the club’s history that they start a season 3-0-0 in their 10th season.

Should FC Cincinnati maintain their aggregate advantage, they will progress to face Tigres UANL in the next round of the Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, FC Motagua, while having a storied history in Honduran football, must grapple with the pressure of overcoming a wide gap in the aggregate score. They are currently fourth in the Honduran Liga Nacional and lost their last match against Real Espana.

Noonan noted the need for an adaptable game strategy, saying, “We spent a good amount of time in our preparation to look at their previous games, to decide how we would approach it.”

FC Cincinnati also prepares for their upcoming MLS season, beginning with the New York Red Bulls, and hopes the confidence gained from their performance in the Champions Cup will translate into their domestic performances.