The San Jose Earthquakes and Necaxa will both make their inaugural appearances in the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup when they clash at PayPal Park.

San Jose Earthquakes faced some challenges in the group stage but did enough to progress, clinching their spot by edging out Guadalajara in a penalty shootout in their opener.

Their two points earned in the initial round of the Leagues Cup were a significant improvement compared to their previous campaigns in the tournament.

Throughout the 2024 MLS season, San Jose has struggled to maintain leads, losing five times after scoring the first goal. Their only victory in regular time against a Liga MX side dates back to the 2002 CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals when they defeated Pachuca 1-0 at home in the second leg.

Meanwhile, Necaxa bounced back strongly after conceding an early goal last weekend, rallying to a 3-1 victory at Lumen Field. This result led to a three-way tie in West 6, with Necaxa topping the group on goal difference.

In their recent match, Eduardo Fentanes' side scored multiple goals for the first time since early in the Apertura campaign, showcasing an improved offensive performance.

Their success in Seattle, scoring three goals, surpassed their total from their previous three Leagues Cup matches combined. Necaxa conceded only two goals in the group stage, both within the opening 10 minutes of play.