The New England Revolution will begin their 2024 Leagues Cup campaign at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night, and their opponents will be Liga MX side Mazatlán FC – in one sense relative newcomers to Mexican soccer, but a team with whom the Revolution actually have something of a history. Contesting Leagues Cup for the second time in their history, Mazatlán will be coming in as hungry underdogs eager to cause an upset and make a run in this year’s edition of the tournament.
Los Cañoneros (“The Gunners”) were established in 2020 when Monarcas Morelia relocated their club to the city of Mazatlán, on the Pacific coast of Mexico facing the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Primarily known as a resort destination, Mazatlán has carved out a name for itself as a niche travel destination catering to beachgoers and cultural tourists alike.
Keen-eyed Revolution fans might recognize the former Monarcas Morelia club identity from an older continental competition. In 2010, New England earned a 1-0 victory over Morelia at home to round out a perfect SuperLiga group stage, on a night perhaps better remembered for the retirement announcement from MLS legend Steve Ralston. The Revs would meet Morelia again in the SuperLiga final that year, falling 2-1 at Gillette Stadium.
But for the newly-minted Mazatlán FC, life in Liga MX has proven difficult so far. They missed out on the expanded playoffs in both the Apertura and the Clausura of their first 2020-21 season, and finished bottom of the table for the 2023 Clausura. This year, Los Cañoneros have gotten off to a similarly rocky start, holding a 0-3-1 (1 pt.) domestic record coming into Leagues Cup.
And the competition may provide some welcome respite for them. In their first appearance in Leagues Cup last season, Mazatlán finished top of their group, taking down Austin FC, 3-1, at Q2 Stadium and edging out FC Juárez on penalties before bowing out against FC Dallas in the Round of 32. Given the difficulty they have faced in getting their season up and running, Mazatlán can be expected to come up to Foxborough hungry for a win and eager to prove themselves against MLS opposition.
With the Revolution still waiting for a number of key players to return from injury, Leagues Cup 2024 will pose a unique challenge to head coach Caleb Porter and his team. Throw in the rivalry between MLS and Liga MX, and the history between these two teams specifically, and fans can expect to see sparks when the Revs host Mazatlán FC this weekend as both teams fight to make their mark on the continental stage.
