MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with debutants O&M FC hosting FC Cincinnati in the first leg of their Round One series on Wednesday at Estadio Cibao FC in Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Making its first appearance in the Champions Cup, O&M FC secured its qualification by reaching the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Final. 

O&M FC will look to start on the right foot, looking to deliver the same playstyle that led it to its runners-up finish in the Caribbean Cup with players like Herard Frantzety, who was the tournament’s top scorer. 

FC Cincinnati clinched its place in the 2026 edition due to its placement in the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings. 

Making its third participation in the tournament, the Ohio side will seek to match or better its Round of 16 finish in 2025 with key players Evander and Kevin Denkey. 

A Look Back at Their Champions Cup Campaigns

This will be the third series in tournament history between clubs from the Dominican Republic and MLS teams, with U.S. clubs advancing in both previous matchups.

The first series took place in the Round of 16 of the 2019 edition, when Atlético Pantoja faced New York Red Bulls and was eliminated with a 5-0 aggregate score. The first leg was played on February 20, 2019, at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo (DOM), where the U.S. club earned a 2-0 victory with goals by Jean Innocent and Daniel Royer. The second leg was played on February 27, 2019, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison (USA), with New York Red Bulls winning 3-0 through goals by Sean Davis, Daniel Royer, and Andreas Ivan. This series also marked the first-ever matchup between a debuting club from the Dominican Republic and a club from the United States.

The second and most recent series was played in the First Round of the 2024 edition between Moca FC and Nashville SC and was won by the MLS side with a 7-0 aggregate score. The first leg was played on February 22, 2024, at Estadio Cibao in Santiago de los Caballeros (DOM), with a 3-0 win for Nashville SC thanks to goals by Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, and Tyler Boyd. The second leg was played on February 28, 2024, at Geodis Park in Nashville (USA), where the home side claimed a 4-0 victory with goals from McKenzie Gaines, a brace by Forster Ajago, and Jacob Shaffelburg.

For FC Cincinnati, this will be the second time the club faces a Caribbean opponent in the history of the tournament. In the 2024 edition, Cincinnati eliminated Cavalier SC of Jamaica with a 6-0 aggregate score, with goals scored by Sergio Santos, Malik Pinto, Alvas Powell, Aaron Boupendza, Isaiah Foster, and Gerardo Valenzuela.