League II 2026 Group C Round 1 Recap

**League 2 – Group C (2026)

Round 1 Recap**

The 2026 League 2 – Group C season kicked off with a dramatic opening round, launching a demanding 46-round campaign where every point will shape the fight for promotion, playoff qualification, cup spots, and survival.

🏆 Competition Format Reminder

• 1st place: Automatic promotion to the World Premier League

• 2nd–9th: Qualify for the Playoffs

• 10th: Qualifies for the Friendly Cup

• 11th: Qualifies for the King’s Cup

• 23rd–24th: Relegated to League III

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🔝 Strong Statements at the Top

A cluster of teams wasted no time asserting themselves with convincing opening-day victories:

• Cruzeiro (BRA) tops Group C after an emphatic 5–1 win, setting the early benchmark and claiming first place on goal difference.

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) followed closely with a dominant 4–1 victory, immediately establishing themselves as promotion contenders.

• Braga (POR), Toluca (MEX), C.D. Numancia (SPA), Jocoro FC (SLV), Beijing Guoan (CHN), Vélez Sarsfield (ARG), and Santos (BRA) also opened their seasons with wins and maximum points.

With nine teams already tied on three points, the playoff race is already incredibly tight.

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⚖️ Early Draws Shape the Middle

Several clubs began the season cautiously, collecting a single point but remaining firmly in contention:

• AJ Auxerre (FRA) sits 10th, placing them in the Friendly Cup qualification spot after a balanced draw.

• Everton (UK) currently occupies 11th, earning a draw and an early place in the King’s Cup.

• Twente (NEATH), Vitesse (NEATH), Real Salt Lake (USA), and Red Bull Bragantino (BRA) also shared the points.

These mid-table sides will be looking to turn draws into wins as the season unfolds.

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🔻 Early Trouble Near the Bottom

The opening round proved unforgiving for several teams:

• Tottenham (UK), Tigre (ARG), FC Toulouse (FRA), Forge FC Hamilton (CAN), CF Montréal (USA), Istres (FRA), and General Díaz (PAR) all suffered defeats.

• CSKA Moscow (RUS) and Limón F.C. (CRC) find themselves in the relegation zone after heavy losses, with goal difference already becoming a concern.

While there is plenty of time to recover in a 46-match season, early damage can be costly if left unchecked.

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🔮 Looking Ahead

After Round 1:

• The promotion race is already crowded with contenders.

• The playoff places (2nd–9th) are fiercely contested.

• The fight to escape the bottom two relegation spots is underway from the very beginning.

With 45 rounds still to play, consistency, squad depth, and momentum will define success in League 2 – Group C. Round 2 promises more shifts as teams look to either consolidate their early success or rebound from a difficult start.