MIAMI - Inter Miami CF will host Cruz Azul in the 2026 Michelob ULTRA Campeones Cup on Wednesday, Sept. 16, marking the first trophy match at the club’s brand-new Nu Stadium. The annual winner-takes-all clash pits the reigning MLS Cup champion against the reigning LIGA MX champion in the eighth edition of the cup.
Cruz Azul, based in Mexico City, secured its spot by defeating Toluca FC 3-1 in the Campeón de Campeones match on July 25, a contest between the 2025 LIGA MX Apertura champion and the 2026 LIGA MX Clausura champion. LIGA MX holds a 4-3 edge over MLS in the seven previous Campeones Cup iterations, with Toluca FC most recently extending that lead with a 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy in 2025.
The matchup carries history for Inter Miami. The two clubs met once before, on July 21, 2023, in the first match of Inter Miami’s title-winning Leagues Cup campaign. Captain Leo Messi and former midfielder Sergio Busquets made their Inter Miami debuts as second-half substitutes in the 54th minute, and with the match tied 1-1, the Argentine maestro stepped up and curled a sublime free kick into the top-left corner to give Inter Miami a dramatic victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Cruz Azul ranks among the most decorated clubs in Mexican soccer history with 10 league titles and a record-tying seven Concacaf Champions Cup titles. The squad’s core features goalkeeper Kevin Mier, center back Willer Ditta, midfielder Érik Lira and forward Gabriel Fernández. Ditta and Lira were recently called up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 by Colombia and Mexico, respectively.
Inter Miami season ticket members will have access to their seats for the championship match, with email communication shared on July 24 regarding ticket information, pricing and the opt-out process. Single-match tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 14. The match will stream globally on Apple TV, with kickoff time still to be determined.