Galaxy begin 2026 campaign in Panama against Sporting San Miguelito

The six-time MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy's 2025 season started with a 16-game winless run that effectively ended their campaign before summer arrived. 

The 2026 season starts against Sporting San Miguelito in the Concacaf Champions Cup opener, Thursday in Panama, not with expectations of perfection, but with an understanding of what this environment demands.

As Coach Greg Vanney addressed reporters ahead of Thursday's first leg, he offered a message that was equal parts caution and realism.

"We won't be perfect. We will be far from it," Vanney said. "We're going to be a group that is still working towards our best form and our best connection. But in doing so, we're going to do a lot of things well, but we're still going to be working through some things, because it is the first competitive game of our season."

The Galaxy arrived in Panama Tuesday, two days before the match, after a preseason that included six friendlies and ended with a 3-0 win over St. Louis at the Coachella Valley Invitational. 

However, preseason sharpness and competitive readiness are different currencies and Vanney knows it.

Respect for the opponent

For all the rankings disparity, the Galaxy are ranked 18th in Concacaf, Sporting San Miguelito is ranked 63rd, Vanney made clear that his team harbors no illusions about the task ahead .

"We know we're gonna have a very good group of players across from us, and a good team that's going to be organized. We've got to try to play the game in the best conditions that we can and try to play a collective game. It's it's not going to be about just individuals out there."

Sporting San Miguelito's defensive line features four players aged 20-21; Alexis Cedeño, Omar Alba, Danielo Hoyos and Jhizard Munoz. Their relative inexperience could present an opportunity for a Galaxy attack that features international and MLS veterans such as Marco Reus, Christian Ramirez and Klauss.

Ramirez, who has experience representing MLS in this competition, embraces uniqueness of the challenge.  "It's essentially a game of two halves, one here and one in LA, so we're ready for what's to come tomorrow, and it'll only help us going forward."

But Vanney emphasized that breaking down the Panamanian side will require collective action, not individual brilliance.

"It's going to be important for us — the speed at which we can move the ball, making good choices with the ball," he said. "We're going to have to play a good team, solid game, and be connected and get the ball moving as much as we can, as quickly as we can."

Hit the ground running

The Galaxy open their season with four games in 10 days: Thursday in Panama, Sunday at home against New York City FC in the MLS opener, Feb. 26 in the second leg against San Miguelito and March 1 against Charlotte FC . 

Vanney acknowledged the congestion but insisted the immediate priority is clear.

"We do start our season with four games in 10 days, and with the travel down here and back," Vanney said. "It's just something that, management-wise, we need to be mindful of. But tomorrow, we're going to set up to come out and try to set ourselves up to win this series. Ultimately, we probably won't win it on the road. We're going to need to win it at home."

Youth and integration

The Galaxy will field several players making their competitive debuts for the club Thursday. Center back Jakob Glesnes, acquired from Philadelphia in the offseason, anchors a rebuilt defense alongside free agent signing Justin Haak. Striker João Klauss, the Brazilian DP who arrived in late January, is expected to lead the line .

Vanney pointed to the team's aggressive preseason players logged up to 90 minutes in friendlies as preparation for exactly this moment. But he also noted that the front office targeted specific profiles when rebuilding the roster.

"Even in our recruitment, we wanted to get guys who were added to our team who understand CONCACAF, who understand MLS, who could get into camp right away," Vanney said. "And all of this was to try to catch our form as early as possible, because of going into the Champions Cup, and the difficulties of the tournament, starting well in league, all these kinds of things."

Looking ahead

The aggregate winner of this two-leg series will face Mount Pleasant FA of Jamaica in the Round of 16 , a path that avoids Liga MX opposition until at least the quarterfinals. The target for LA is to advance and buy themselves time to integrate new pieces and build form before facing the region's heavyweights.

But first, the Galaxy must navigate 90 minutes in a stadium where the stands will be close, the surface artificial and the opponent emboldened by the occasion.

"We have some general ideas of who they are, how they would like to play, and what's made them successful," Vanney said. "We have to be mindful of both the opposition and the conditions."

Where and how to watch

Date: Thursday, Feb. 19

First kick: 5:00 p.m. PT 

Location: Estadio Universidad Latina | Llano Marín, Panama

TV: FS1, TUDN

Radio: LA Galaxy Youtube Channel