To round out Phase One of Leagues Cup 2025, Real Salt Lake will host Querétaro on Wednesday, in a game that may determine the Club’s tournament fate following Saturday’s 2-2 draw in regulation and the 4-1 penalty shootout loss to Atlético San Luis. Despite being the lowest-ranked Liga MX team compared to RSL’s previous two opponents— Club América and Atlético San Luis— this match will present a new challenge, as it's the first time RSL will face this opponent, adding a new layer of difficulty.
In recent campaigns, ‘Los Gallos Blancos’ have put together disappointing performances, unable to qualify to the knockout stages in the Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2025. Due to poor results, the team was classified as a Tier 3 club for the 2025 Leagues Cup draw. To make matters worse, the team’s most reliable player from last season departed after his loan deal came to an end.
Some may view the Liga MX team's recent struggles and assume it will be an easy opponent for RSL; however, these matches should never be underestimated and must be approached with the same seriousness as the opening game of the competition. As a result, in this final preview, we’ll share insights into RSL’s final Phase One opponent, the club’s changes both on and off the pitch, and its history in the tournament.
Trials and Tribulations in Liga MX
Querétaro is a club that has never won the Liga MX title since it was founded in 1950. Its best results in the Mexican top-flight were achieved in 2016 and 2017, when it won the Copa MX and Supercopa MX, respectively. Far from that reality, the club is now struggling to keep up with the league’s top contenders.
As aforementioned, the team failed to qualify to the knockout rounds in consecutive league competitions. In the 2024 Apertura, the team finished second to last, conceding the second-most goals and scoring the third-fewest. Over 17 games, it recorded just three wins, three draws, and an overwhelming eleven losses.
Although the 2025 Clausura was an improvement, the struggles remained. This time, it finished in 12th, just two positions out of the play-in games. It also doubled its wins to six, drew twice, and lost on nine occasions. Goal scoring was an issue though, with the side scoring 17 goals in 17 games, marking the fifth-fewest in the league. Its attacking woes were reflected in the expected goals statistic, recording the lowest in the league at 12.4.
In the newly started Apertura 2025, Querétaro has struggled out of the gate, dropping the games it has played so far. In the opening game, it faced Club Tijuana away and suffered a 1-0 loss. In the following matchday fixture, the side hosted Necaxa and fell 3-1, once again highlighting the recent challenges it has faced in securing positive results. Before facing RSL, the club from north-central Mexico will host Pumas in its third Liga MX fixture, then make its Leagues Cup 2025 debut against Minnesota. After that, it will take on Portland.
Ushering In a New Era
In light of a difficult season, Querétaro made the decision to bring in a new head coach in December of last year. Benjamín Mora was the chosen candidate to breathe new life into the team ahead of the new league year. The incoming manager previously served as an assistant for the club back in 2012 but his only other head coaching experience in Liga MX was with Atlas between 2022-2023. Most recently, he spent a short stint with Canadian Premier League side York United.
Following Mora’s appointment, the new manager experimented with various formations to determine which best suited the players at his disposal. Initially, he implemented a 4-2-3-1 but following a poor run of results, he settled on his most used and reliable formation: the 4-4-2. While using this setup, the team achieved its best results—recording three wins, two draws, and four losses across nine games. In contrast, when utilizing any other formation, they have won just three and lost seven of its 10 matches.
For the start of the 2025 Apertura, the club has been without several key players— two are currently negotiating contract renewals, and one has left the club permanently— accounting for three of the four who logged the most minutes for the team between 2024 and 2025. Given this, the organization has taken a proactive approach in the transfer market to address the gaps left by the departed players. The newest signing for the club is 21-year-old forward Ali Ávila, joining from Monterrey. The former Pumas attacker has made 26 Liga MX appearances, but has started only three matches, scoring three goals, according to fbref.com.
Among the major changes taking place on the pitch is the recent news of Innovatio Capital’s acquisition of Querétaro FC for more than $120 million, according to Forbes, making it the first majority U.S.-based ownership group in Liga MX. The group’s takeover of the club marks the beginning of a new era for the club and Mexican soccer as the deal is likely to spark interest from other investment groups looking to enter the soccer market.
Querétaro’s Leagues Cup Chronicles
Querétaro’s first-ever participation in Leagues Cup came in 2023. The team integrated a three-team group along with the Philadelphia Union and Club Tijuana. The opening match was one to forget, with the Union handing the Mexican side a 5-1 defeat. In its next game, the team bounced back and earned a valuable 1-0 victory over fellow Liga MX side Tijuana, securing a place in the Round of 32, where it faced Pumas and earned another crucial 1-0 win. Advancing to the round of 16, the club then took on the New England Revolution. After a 1-1 draw in regulation, Querétaro emerged victorious, winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout. Nonetheless, its successful run in the 2023 Leagues Cup came to an end against a familiar foe— the Philadelphia Union— as it suffered a 2-1 defeat in the quarterfinals.
Leagues Cup 2024 painted a very different picture compared to the 2023 edition of the competition. This time, it shared a group with New York City FC and FC Cincinnati. The team kicked off its campaign with a 0-0 draw against NYCFC but ultimately lost 4-3 on penalties. To conclude its participation in the group stage, the club fell 1-0 to Cincinnati, resulting in its elimination from the tournament.
Ahead of their first-ever official meeting, RSL and Querétaro share a link that many fans may be unaware of. This link involves two players who have worn each club’s uniform in the past: Luis Gil and Rubio Rubin. Gil played five seasons for the Claret-and-Cobalt, making 89 starts in 134 appearances to go along with 11 goals and five assists. He merely spent two seasons with the Liga MX side, starting five of the 10 games he appeared in, providing one assist, according to fbref.com. As for Rubin, he wore the iconic MLS shirt for three seasons, making 46 starts in 79 games, scoring 11 goals, and recording seven assists. For Querétaro, he played two seasons, appearing in 16 games with just four starts, scoring three goals and contributing one assist, according to fbref.com.
Be sure to catch the exciting conclusion to Phase One of Leagues Cup 2025. Watch Real Salt Lake take on Querétaro FC at America First Field on Wednesday, August 6. Kickoff is set for 7:30 MT. Tickets are available here.
