Match Previews — MNUFC

Loons host Iron Colts to close Leagues Cup play

Closing out the Leagues Cup tonight in St. Paul is another first time meeting for the Loons as they face new-ish Liga MX side Atlante FC.

, and Ashle Paige

August 11, 2026 . 12:10 PM

2 min read

Scenes from Minnesota United's Leagues Cup match against Tigres UANL (Photo by Tim McLaughlin)

Two matches down in Leagues Cup play and one match left to play, Minnesota United closes tournament play tonight in St. Paul. MNUFC hosts Atlante FC in both clubs final match of the 2026 Leagues Cup. Minnesota enters the match off a regulation loss to FC Juárez and a penalty shootout loss to Tigres UANL. Atlante on the other hand started the tournament with a 1–0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps, but were smashed 4–0 by Real Salt Lake in Los Potros de Hierro's last contest.

Minnesota United has struggled in the past few months and now sit on the end of a ten match winless streak. With their first MLS match following the tournament on Saturday in Utah, tonight's match will serve as a good test for the Loons. Manager Cameron Knowles came out of Friday's match much happier with his sides performance against Tigres. Alec Smir is expected to start in goal for the Loons, giving him his third consecutive start of 2026. Smir was much happier with his performance against Tigres as well after giving up two goals against Juárez. Overall the mood in the dressing room is to use the last Leagues Cup match to set the tone for the return to league play, and hopefully earn a much needed win.

On the other side of the pitch from the Loons is a new-ish club to Liga MX in Atlante FC. The Iron Colts last played in Liga MX in 2013/14, which saw them relegated to the then second division Ascenso MX. Atlante was unable to win their way back into Liga MX before the elimination of promotion and relegation from the top flight and spent the past six seasons in Liga de Expansión MX. AFC purchased Liga MX license of Mazatlán FC following the 2025/26 season, moving up a division and relocating in the process.

Los Potros have quite the nomadic history , having played in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl (2002-04), Cancún (2007-20) Zacatepec (2025/26), and Mexico City (intermittently since 1921) all in the last 25 years. But their return to Liga MX has seen some early success as they entered Leagues Cup with a 1-1-1 record. Those three matches include a draw with Club América and win over Cruz Azul, both of whom they share the stadium with. Like Minnesota United the Iron Colts like to play a more defensive style of football, holding under 40% possession in both MLS and Leagues Cup play. However that defence which has allowed an average of 1.7 goals against in Liga MX has not been quite as strong in Leagues Cup, allowing an average of 2.5 goals per match.

News & Notes

Nectarios Triantis remains out due to injury while Nicolás Romero was in full training on Monday per Cameron Knowles. Triantis will be unavailable for tonight's match while Nico and Michael Boxall are questionable.

Three more players from women's club Minnesota Aurora signed their first pro contracts, bringing the total up to seven players in less than a month since the season ended.

Prior to the match supporters from Dark Clouds & Red Loons will gather at Black Hart of St. Paul and TNE at the Midway Saloon.

TV time is set for 7:30pm this evening with kickoff happening at approximately 7:40pm. If you aren't there in person you can watch on Apple TV.