FC Cincinnati Readies for Concacaf Champions Cup Clash with FC Motagua

Tegucigalpa, Honduras — FC Cincinnati embarks on its 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign on Wednesday evening against the Honduran side FC Motagua. The opening leg of this first-round series kicks off at 10 p.m. ET at the Estadio Nacional, with the return leg scheduled for February 26 at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium.

The winner of this matchup will face the Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL, who advanced to the Round of 16 after a decisive 3-1 aggregate victory over Real Estelí FC from Nicaragua. This year, 10 MLS clubs are participating in the 27-team tournament, which offers qualification for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Motagua, known as Ciclón Azul, is making its 21st appearance in the Champions Cup and qualified by winning its play-in series in the Concacaf Central American Cup. They reached the quarterfinals last season, marking their best performance in the competition.

FC Cincinnati arrives in Central America after completing a challenging preseason, which culminated in a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United. The club has recently made headlines by trading for the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP for a reported $6 million, and they have added Brazilian midfielder Evander for a record MLS trade fee of $12 million.

Head Coach Pat Noonan expressed confidence in his team’s depth and experience as they prepare for this critical match. “No changes to our approach. It’s about putting our strongest group on the field,” he said. “Last year’s experience can help our returning players educate the new additions.”

FC Cincinnati aims to replicate last year’s success in the tournament, where they secured a 2-0 lead against Cavalier FC from Jamaica. Noonan noted the importance of having a competitive mindset when facing a quality opponent like Motagua. “We have to pay them their respects,” center-back Miles Robinson added. “We’re going to give it everything we have.”

Despite some preseason struggles, Noonan is optimistic about his team’s preparation against an unfamiliar opponent. “It was a good week of preparation, looking at video and working on the field,” he said. “We have a lot of respect for Motagua and the challenge in front of us.”

The aggregate scoring format of the tournament means that Wednesday’s match will not determine who advances, as the total scores will be combined with the second leg at TQL Stadium. The aggregate winner will face Tigres UANL, while any ties will be settled through away goals, extra time, and penalty kicks if necessary.

As the match time approaches, both teams are eager to showcase their talents on the continental stage. Cincinnati’s new signings, particularly Denkey and Evander, are expected to have a significant impact, while Motagua will look to capitalize on their home advantage.

“It’s challenging, as they are ahead of us in terms of competitive games played,” Noonan acknowledged. “However, we have to rise to the occasion.”

FC Cincinnati and FC Motagua kick off their quest for glory in the Concacaf Champions Cup on February 19, setting the stage for an exciting matchup in Tegucigalpa.