Monterrey was forced to move their Concacaf Champions Cup match due to a Shakira concert.

The second leg of CF Monterrey's Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps will take place away from home at the Estadio BBVA. The team was compelled to move the game to Santos Laguna's Estadio Corona.

Why? because Monterrey's house will host the first of two consecutive concerts by the well-known pop sensation Shakira. Some of the world's biggest performers now frequently visit the Estadio BBVA, which will also host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Monterrey had to immediately change their strategy to find a different venue for their second leg match due to a schedule difficulty. Playing at Tigres' Estadio Universitario was the most apparent choice, allowing Rayados to remain in Monterrey for the game. However, considering the acrimonious competition with the city's neighbors, such notion was promptly rejected.

In all likelihood, Monterrey wanted the match to take place in Mexico City. After their 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul in Mexico City last Saturday, Martín Demichelis' team searched for ways to extend their stay in the city so they could host Vancouver at Mexico City's elevation.

Given that both Mexico City stadiums would be utilized for Concacaf Champions Cup games in the middle of the week, that plan never came to pass. Club América hosted Chivas in the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, while Cruz Azul hosted the Seattle Sounders at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario. In order to prepare the iconic stadium for the 2026 World Cup, the Estadio Azteca is still closed.

Finally, it was decided to use Torreon, Mexico's Estadio Corona. Rayados will aim to make it to the quarterfinals in the middle of the desert.

The Whitecaps are accustomed to having to find other places to call home. Due to the blocked Canada-USA border during the Covid-19 pandemic, the MLS team had to spend a significant portion of the 2021 season playing in Utah. They had to wait a bit longer than expected to get home because BC Place, where they lived, was hosting an interactive family event called "Wings and Wizards."

The former Real Madrid captain will try to assist Rayados complete a clean sweep for Liga MX teams over MLS teams in the Champions Cup round of 16, as the match is now tied at one.

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