Leagues Cup Unpacked: A Guide to the MLS vs. Liga MX Tournament

The Leagues Cup, an annual football competition featuring teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, has officially begun. The Columbus Crew enters the tournament with the aim of defending their title under a newly revised format. This year, the competition adopts a more exclusive structure, with only 18 teams from MLS and 18 from Liga MX participating, each competing within their designated groups.

The tournament runs from July 29 to August 31. During this period, MLS league play will be paused, set to resume on August 9. Here’s a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about this year`s Leagues Cup:

A Mid-Season Break

As the MLS season heads into its critical final phase, with teams typically having 10-13 games left, a temporary halt has been introduced for this cup competition. The issue of fixture congestion has already been a concern, notably impacting high-profile players like Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, who previously faced suspension for prioritizing rest over an All-Star game. Inter Miami, along with the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC, are now engaged in their third cup competition of the season, a higher number than most other teams.

The impact of the Leagues Cup on player fatigue, especially for teams in playoff positions who might face three matches in eight days (with more if they advance), remains a key point of discussion. While the tournament’s increased exclusivity—limiting participation to 18 MLS teams—is designed to reduce the number of knockout matches, the initial group stage (Phase One) still demands significant effort from players in high-stakes games where every point is crucial.

Leagues Cup Format

• Group Stage Opponents: In Phase One of the tournament, clubs from MLS will exclusively play against Liga MX sides.
• Advancing to Knockouts: Matches will take place between clubs from both leagues. Standings will be maintained separately for each league (an MLS table and a Liga MX table). The top four teams from each league’s table will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for August 19-20. Given this unique system, factors like goal difference and securing wins in regular time are extremely important, as teams could win all their group matches but still fail to qualify for the knockouts based on goal difference within their specific league`s table.
• No Ties: Games in the Leagues Cup cannot end in a draw. If a match is level at the end of regulation time, a penalty shootout will decide the winner. Points are awarded as follows: three points for a win in regulation, one point for a regulation draw (before a shootout), and two points for the winner of the penalty shootout.

The Tournament`s New Exclusivity

The Leagues Cup has become more selective. Only the top nine teams from each MLS conference now qualify, matching the 18 participants from Liga MX. Advancing to the knockout stage will be more challenging than ever, with only the top four teams from each respective league`s table progressing to the quarterfinals. This structure ensures intense drama from the opening matchday, as a team’s advancement depends solely on its performance within its own league’s cohort in the group stage, irrespective of another league’s team’s overall points. Expansion side San Diego FC, having recently commenced their MLS journey, is also making their debut in the Leagues Cup this season.

Why San Diego FC is Participating

Not every MLS team is now guaranteed a spot in the Leagues Cup; qualification is based on league standings, with only the top nine teams from each conference making the cut. San Diego FC, an expansion team that has enjoyed a strong start in MLS, is participating as they are replacing the Vancouver Whitecaps, who are involved in other competitions like the Concacaf Champions Cup and Canadian Championship.

Leagues Cup Schedule and Results

All times Eastern. All matches available on MLS Season Pass.

Tuesday, July 29

• Toluca vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m.
• CF Montreal vs. Club Leon, 7 p.m.
• NYCFC vs. Puebla, 8 p.m.
• Tigres vs. Houston Dynamo, 9 p.m.
• LAFC vs. Mazatlan, 10:30 p.m.
• Pachuca vs. San Diego FC, 11 p.m.

Wednesday, July 30

• Inter Miami vs. Atlas, 7:30 p.m.
• Necaxa vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m.
• Pumas vs. Orlando City, 8 p.m.
• Minnesota United vs. Queretaro, 8:30 p.m.
• Club America vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
• Portland vs. San Luis, 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 31

• Monterrey vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m.
• Chivas Guadalajara vs. RBNY, 7:30 p.m.
• Charlotte vs. Juarez, 7:30 p.m.
• Colorado Rapids vs. Santos Laguna, 9:30 p.m.
• Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders 10:30 p.m.
• LA Galaxy vs. Club Tijuana, 11 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 1

• NYCFC vs. Club Leon, 6 p.m.
• Columbus Crew vs. Puebla, 7 p.m.
• Houston Dynamo vs. Mazatlan, 8:30 p.m.
• Toluca vs. Montreal, 9 p.m.
• LAFC vs. Pachuca, 10:30 p.m.
• Tigres vs. San Diego, 11 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 2

• Orlando City vs. Atlas, 6 p.m.
• Inter Miami vs. Necaxa, 7 p.m.
• Pumas vs. Atlanta United, 9 p.m.
• Club America vs. Minnesota United, 9 p.m.
• Real Salt Lake vs. San Luis, 9:30 p.m.
• Portland Timbers vs. Queretaro, 11 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 3

• Cincinnati vs. Juarez, 5:30 p.m.
• Chivas Guadalajara vs. Charlotte, 7:50 p.m.
• Monterrey vs. RBNY, 8:30 p.m.
• Colorado Rapids vs. Club Tijuana, 9:30 p.m.
• Seattle Sounders vs. Santos Laguna, 10:30 p.m.
• LA Galaxy vs. Cruz Azul, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

• Columbus Crew vs. Club Leon, 7:30 p.m.
• Toluca vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
• Montreal vs. Puebla, 8 p.m.
• Houston Dynamo vs. Pachuca, 8:30 p.m.
• Mazatlan vs. San Diego, 10 p.m.
• Tigres vs. LAFC, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

• Orlando City vs. Necaxa, 7 p.m.
• Inter Miami vs. Pumas, 7:30 p.m.
• Atlanta United vs. Atlas, 7:30 p.m.
• Minnesota United vs. San Luis, 8:30 p.m.
• Real Salt Lake vs. Queretaro, 9:30 p.m.
• Club America vs. Portland Timbers, 9:30 p.m.
• Seattle Sounders vs. Club Tijuana, 11 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 7

• Cincinnati vs. Chivas Guadalajara, 7 p.m.
• Monterrey vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
• RBNY vs. Juarez, 7:30 p.m.
• Cruz Azul vs. Colorado Rapids, 8:30 p.m.
• LA Galaxy vs. Santos Laguna, 11 p.m.

Following the completion of the group stage, the quarterfinals will be set with MLS teams facing Liga MX teams according to the following pairings:

• MLS 1 vs. LIGA MX 4
• MLS 2 vs. LIGA MX 3
• MLS 3 vs. LIGA MX 2
• MLS 4 vs. LIGA MX 1

Key Dates for Knockout Stages

• Phase One (Group Stage): July 29 – August 7
• Quarterfinals: August 19-20
• Semifinals: August 26-27
• Third Place Match: August 31
• Final: August 31

Tie-Breaking Rules

For any clubs that are level on points after the conclusion of Phase One, the following tiebreakers will be applied in the specified order:

1. Wins in regular time
2. Goal differential
3. Most goals scored
4. Fewest goals conceded
5. Fewest points in the fair play table (based on yellow and red card accumulation)
6. Draw organized by Leagues Cup officials