The Road to Disappointment in Leagues Cup
Chivas' elimination from the Leagues Cup 2026 marked another chapter in a long list of international failures for the team. In just two matches, an even against LAFC followed by defeat through penalties and then a narrow loss to FC Dallas sealed Chivas's exit from the tournament.
A Frustrating Journey in Concacaf Champions Cup
Chivas' participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup has also been a struggle. In 2025, the team defeated Cibao FC but faced instability on the bench and was eliminated by América in the Octavos de Final.
Fernando Gago's Unfulfilled Promise
Fernando Gago, who coached the team in 2024, also failed to change the narrative. In the Concacaf Champions Cup, Chivas overcame Forge FC but fell to América in the Octavos de Final. Months later, in Leagues Cup, the Guadalajara team remained stuck in the initial stages with losses against San José Earthquakes and LA Galaxy.
Veljko Paunovic's Challenges
Veljko Paunovic was the first rojiblanco coach to compete in Leagues Cup. Despite a second-place finish in the Liga MX, the team failed to transfer that performance to the international tournament, losing in the group stages against FC Cincinnati and Sporting Kansas City.
The Search for a Solution
Since 2023, Chivas has experienced consecutive eliminations from both Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup. With Gabriel Milito at the helm, the Rebaño Sagrado will seek to break this trend and become a competitive team on an international level.
