Leagues Cup#Format

Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs had previously played in the North American SuperLiga, which ran from 2007 to 2010. Both leagues also send clubs to the CONCACAF Champions League, which has been dominated by Mexican clubs, and the Campeones Cup, a single match played between the winners of the MLS Cup and the Campeón de Campeones. The two leagues began planning a bi-national, eight-team competition to complement the Champions League and provide Mexican clubs with matches to replace the Copa Libertadores in their calendar as soon as 2018.{{cite news |last=Pérez |first=Salvador |date=May 9, 2017 |title=Gustavo Guzmán confirma torneo binacional entre Liga MX y MLS |language=es |trans-title=Gustavo Guzmán confirms binational tournament between Liga MX and MLS |url=https://www.espn.com.mx/futbol/mexico/nota/_/id/3130078/gustavo-guzman-confirma-torneo-binacional-entre-liga-mx-y-mls |publisher=ESPN Mexico |access-date=May 31, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Tom |date=May 9, 2017 |title=Liga MX club owners set to approve cup with MLS this month – Atlas chief |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/mexican-liga-mx/story/3122836/liga-mx-club-owners-set-to-approve-cup-with-mls-this-month-atlas-chief |publisher=ESPN |access-date=May 31, 2019}} MLS and Liga MX announced a new partnership in March 2018 to create the Campeones Cup and explore options for other bi-national competitions between their clubs.{{cite magazine |last=Creditor |first=Avi |date=March 13, 2018 |title=MLS, Liga MX Join Forces for Campeones Cup, Future All-Star Game |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/13/mls-liga-mx-champions-all-star-game-partnership-campeones-cup |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=May 31, 2019}}

The Leagues Cup tournament was announced on May 29, 2019, featuring eight teams in its inaugural edition to be played during the summer. The announcement of the tournament was panned by soccer critics in the United States, who called it a meaningless friendly and "cash-grab" for American clubs.{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Paul |date=May 29, 2019 |title=Leagues Cup, new MLS-Liga MX venture, immediately panned in media |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/82467/leagues-cup-new-mls-liga-mx-venture-immediately.html |work=Soccer America |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 31, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Oshan |first=Jeremiah |date=May 31, 2019 |title=The MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup is going to suck, and it could have been so much cooler |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2019/5/31/18644828/mls-liga-mx-leagues-cup-criticism |work=SB Nation |access-date=May 31, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Paez-Pumar |first=Luis |date=May 29, 2019 |title=Liga MX And MLS Will Compete For A New, Meaningless Trophy |url=https://deadspin.com/liga-mx-and-mls-will-compete-for-a-new-meaningless-tro-1835096896 |work=Deadspin |access-date=May 31, 2019}} The MLS Players Association also expressed concerns over the tournament's creation on the basis of schedule congestion during the summertime.{{cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Will MLS show it can compete with Liga MX in upcoming Leagues Cup? |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/concacaf-leagues-cup/story/3904611/will-mls-show-it-can-compete-with-liga-mx-in-upcoming-leagues-cup |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 24, 2019}} Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada was later announced as the host venue for the final and a broadcasting contract for the tournament was awarded to ESPN and TUDN (formerly Univision Deportes Network).{{cite news |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Las Vegas to host Liga MX-MLS Leagues Cup final |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3898643/las-vegas-to-host-liga-mx-mls-leagues-cup-final |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 19, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Cattry |first=Pardeep |date=July 8, 2019 |title=MLS-Liga MX Leagues Cup to broadcast on ESPN, TUDN in United States |url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/leagues-cup-tv-info-schedule-mls-liga-mx/ |work=ProSoccerUSA |publisher=Tribune Publishing |access-date=July 19, 2019}} This event was also televised on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada and Televisa in Mexico.{{Cite web|title=MLS, Liga MX unveil broadcast info for Leagues Cup |publisher=Leagues Cup|url=https://www.leaguescup.com/2019-07-08-leagues-cup-broadcast-info-unveiled/?en|access-date=July 8, 2021}}

In July 2019, MLS and Liga MX announced that the second edition of the Leagues Cup in 2020 would feature 16 teams—eight from each league. The MLS participants would be drawn from the top four teams in each conference that do not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League; the Liga MX participants would include the 2019 Apertura champion, 2020 Clausura champion, the 2019–20 Copa MX champion, and the next five best-placed teams in the 2019-20 season aggregate table the league.{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Tom |date=July 18, 2019 |title=MLS-Liga MX tourney to have 16 teams in '20 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3902151/mls-liga-mx-tourney-to-have-16-teams-in-20 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 19, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Sigal |first=Jonathan |date=July 18, 2019 |title=Leagues Cup expands to 16 teams in 2020 with new qualification format |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/07/18/leagues-cup-expands-16-teams-2020-new-qualification-format |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 19, 2019}} The tournament was canceled on May 19, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite press release |date=May 19, 2020 |title=MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/19/mls-all-star-game-leagues-cup-and-campeones-cup-canceled-2020 |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=May 19, 2020}} The eight-team format debuted in the 2021 Leagues Cup, which was played in August and September.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=August 10, 2021 |title=Nico Lodeiro scores as Sounders knock off Tigres in Leagues Cup |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/nico-lodeiro-scores-as-sounders-knock-off-tigres-in-league-cup/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 5, 2022}} In the final at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, Mexican club León defeated Seattle Sounders FC, the first American finalist in the competition's history.{{cite news |last=Gotz |first=Ben |date=September 21, 2021 |title=MLS, Liga MX teams to fight for title at Allegiant Stadium |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/soccer/mls-liga-mx-teams-to-fight-for-title-at-allegiant-stadium-2445038/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |accessdate=November 5, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=September 22, 2021 |title=Sounders can't hold lead against Club Leon of Mexico, lose Leagues Cup final 3-2 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-cant-hold-lead-against-club-leon-of-mexico-lose-leagues-cup-final-3-2/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 5, 2022}}

On April 14, 2022, MLS and Liga MX announced the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase, which was held starting August 3, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The event included a doubleheader of matches: LA Galaxy against C.D. Guadalajara and Los Angeles FC against Club América.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/lafc-la-galaxy-chivas-and-club-america-headline-leagues-cup-showcase-at-sofi-sta|title=LAFC, LA Galaxy, Chivas and Club América headline Leagues Cup Showcase at SoFi Stadium |work=MLSSoccer.com|accessdate=April 23, 2022}} On June 30, 2022, it was announced that the Leagues Cup Showcase was expanded to include three more matches—FC Cincinnati against C.D. Guadalajara at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio; Nashville SC against Club América at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 21; and Real Salt Lake against Atlas F.C. at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, on September 22.{{cite news |title=Leagues Cup Showcase to feature FC Cincinnati, Nashville SC, Real Salt Lake against Liga MX clubs |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/leagues-cup-showcase-to-feature-fc-cincinnati-nashville-sc-real-salt-lake-agains |access-date=July 1, 2022 |work=MLSSoccer.com |date=June 30, 2022 |language=en}} The events served as a one-time replacement of the previously planned 2022 Leagues Cup which was not held due to fixture congestion from the 2022 FIFA World Cup and other factors.{{cite magazine |last1=Straus |first1=Brian |title=MLS, Liga MX Won't Play Leagues Cup in 2022 |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/04/14/mls-liga-mx-leagues-cup-pause-2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=April 15, 2022 |date=April 14, 2022}}

The Leagues Cup was expanded in 2023 to include all MLS and Liga MX clubs, during a month-long pause in their respective seasons. It also became a qualification tournament for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup with three berths for teams from North America.{{cite magazine |last1=Straus |first1=Brian |title=Concacaf Reveals New CCL Format, Starting in 2023 |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2021/02/04/ccl-concacaf-champions-league-format-expansion-details-2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=February 5, 2021 |language=en-us |date=February 4, 2021}} The Leagues Cup champion qualified directly to the round of 16, while the runner-up and third-place finisher earned round one berths.{{cite news |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Historic reimagined Leagues Cup starting in 2023 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/historic-reimagined-leagues-cup-starting-in-2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=September 21, 2021}} Inter Miami CF won the first edition of the expanded tournament in 2023, led by top goalscorer Lionel Messi.{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |author-link=Michelle Kaufman |date=August 19, 2023 |title=Messi scores, Callender shines, Inter Miami wins League Cup in 11-round PK shootout |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/inter-miami/article278388354.html |work=Miami Herald |accessdate=August 19, 2023}}

On January 28, 2025, Major League Soccer announced that they would only send 18 representatives to the Leagues Cup for 2025 as part of their new competition guidelines, which only allowed teams to play in at most two cup competitions. Most of the teams in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs qualified for Leagues Cup; the Vancouver Whitecaps, as winners of the 2024 Canadian Championship, had their place forfeited and given to expansion club San Diego FC.{{cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Cesar |title=MLS doubles first-team presence in U.S. Open Cup |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43518330/mls-sets-new-cup-qualification-standards-clubs |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=ESPN.com |date=January 28, 2025 |language=en}}

The addition of the Leagues Cup and subsequent schedule congestion led Major League Soccer to announce their intention not to field senior teams in the U.S. Open Cup, the domestic cup competition for the United States. The announcement was met with "widespread anger and condemnation" and the proposal was rejected by the United States Soccer Federation. A hybrid plan with eight MLS participants and MLS Next Pro reserve teams as replacements for the remaining teams was used for the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.{{cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Cesar |date=May 7, 2024 |title=U.S. Open Cup at a crossroads: What's next for the tournament? |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40083423/us-open-cup-crossroads-mls-change-lies-ahead-americas-oldest-tournament |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=July 26, 2024}} Several Major League Soccer supporters' groups announced boycotts of the Leagues Cup as a result of the league's attempted withdrawal from the U.S. Open Cup.{{cite news |last=Livengood |first=Paul |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Boycotting Leagues Cup: MLS supporters groups around the league stand up against 'money grab' tournament |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/soccer/leagues-cup-2024-boycott-mls/287-f9f9998c-53ca-4720-8c74-c628bd989379 |publisher=WFAA |accessdate=July 26, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Battista |first=Michel |date=July 25, 2024 |title=Leagues Cup Boycott: Here are the supporters' groups protesting the tournament |url=https://www.hudsonriverblue.com/leagues-cup-boycott-here-are-the-supporters-groups-protesting-the-tournament/ |work=Hudson River Blue |accessdate=July 26, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Joey |date=July 29, 2024 |title=St. Louis CITY SC navigates fan boycott in Leagues Cup matches |url=https://fox2now.com/sports/stl-city-sc/st-louis-city-sc-navigates-fan-boycott-in-leagues-cup-matches/#:~:text=We%20will%20not%20be%20participating,several%20months%20after%20the%20St. |work=Fox2}}

The first two editions of Leagues Cup featured four clubs from each league in an eight-team single-elimination knockout tournament, with the first two rounds hosted by the MLS club. The finals were played at neutral venues in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=May 29, 2019 |title=MLS and Liga MX are partnering for a new tournament called the Leagues Cup |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-leagues-cup-mls-liga-mx-20190529-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 31, 2019}} The participating MLS teams in the first edition were invitees, but the second edition used league results for qualification; the four Liga MX participants were chosen based on their league results in both of these editions.{{cite news |last=Santaromita |first=Dan |date=May 29, 2019 |title=MLS, Liga MX announce Leagues Cup 8-team tournament |url=https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/chicago-fire/mls-liga-mx-announce-leagues-cup-8-team-tournament/ |work=Pro Soccer USA |publisher=Tribune Publishing |access-date=May 31, 2019}}

For the 2022 season, an official tournament was not held due to fixture congestion from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, among other factors.

For the 2023 and 2024 editions, the Leagues Cup included all MLS and Liga MX teams—47 teams in total with 77 matches hosted in Canada and the United States. The top 15 teams from each league were seeded into 15 groups based on their league standings from the previous season, while the remaining teams were drawn based on geographic proximity. The group stage had three matches in a round-robin format and the top two teams qualified for the knockout stage. Two teams receive byes to the knockout stage: the reigning MLS Cup champion and highest-ranked Liga MX champion from either the previous Apertura and Clausura. The knockout stage was single-elimination on a fixed bracket.{{cite magazine |last=Straus |first=Brian |date=October 6, 2022 |title=How MLS, Liga MX's Leagues Cup Competition Will Work |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/10/06/leagues-cup-format-mls-liga-mx |magazine=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=October 6, 2022}}{{cite news |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Leagues Cup 2023 dates and structure announced |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/leagues-cup-2023-dates-and-structure-announced |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=October 6, 2022}}

For the 2025 season, the Leagues Cup will only include 18 out of the 30 MLS teams (those who qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs in most instances), as well as all Liga MX teams, for a total of 36 participants. The MLS and Liga MX teams will be separated into their own separate groups of 18 and play three games against teams from the other league. The top four teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage, where the quarter-finals are guaranteed to be MLS vs Liga MX like in the group stage.{{cite news |last1=Maurer |first1=Pablo |title=MLS, Liga MX announce Leagues Cup overhaul: How new tournament will work |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6099861/2025/01/30/leagues-cup-mls-liga-mx-format-how/ |access-date=January 30, 2025 |work=The Athletic |date=January 30, 2025}} All games are again held in Canada and the United States, but unlike the past two years, the competition also takes place during the MLS and Liga MX seasons.{{cite news |last1=Bogert |first1=Tom |title=MLS sets US Open Cup, Leagues Cup and Champions Cup update |url=https://www.givemesport.com/mls-sets-us-open-cup-leagues-cup-and-champions-cup-update/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=GiveMeSport |date=January 28, 2025 |language=en}}

The Leagues Cup trophy was unveiled in September 2019 and consists of a {{convert|22|lbs|kg|adj=mid}} silver bowl atop a pedestal. It is {{convert|16.5|in|cm}} in height and {{convert|16.1|in|cm}} wide. A replica trophy will be gifted to the winners following 12 months with the original trophy.{{cite news |date=September 5, 2019 |title=Leagues Cup trophy unveiled ahead of inaugural final |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/09/05/leagues-cup-trophy-unveiled-ahead-inaugural-final |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=September 6, 2019}}

Since 2023, all Leagues Cup matches have been broadcast worldwide on MLS Season Pass, an online streaming platform operated by Apple under its Apple TV brand. All matches have commentary in English and Spanish, while those involving Canadian teams also include French commentary.{{cite press release |date=July 15, 2023 |title=Apple and Major League Soccer Announce MLS Season Pass Coverage Plans for Leagues Cup 2023, including Enhanced Productions for Inter Miami CF Matches, Live Coverage of Lionel Messi's Unveiling, and Major Training Session |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/apple-and-major-league-soccer-announce-mls-season-pass-coverage-plans-for-league |publisher=Major League Soccer |accessdate=July 20, 2023}} A select group of matches are also set to be broadcast on television networks using their own crews, including Fox Sports and TUDN in the United States; and TSN and RDS in Canada.{{cite news |date=July 20, 2023 |title=Leagues Cup 2023: Standings, teams, schedule, TV and streaming |url=https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/07/20/leagues-cup-2023-standings-teams-schedule-tv-streaming/ |work=USA Today |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}{{cite press release |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Major League Soccer, FOX Sports, TUDN, TSN & RDS Announce Multi-year Linear TV Rights Agreements |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-fox-sports-televisaunivision-tsn-rds-announce-multi-year-lin |publisher=Major League Soccer |accessdate=July 20, 2023}}

;Notes

{{Reflist|group=n}}

The third place play-off was added in 2023.

{{Hatnote|Note: Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not counted towards players' goal counts or to match goal counts.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_goalgetter/leagues-cup_2/tore/1/|title=Leagues Cup » All-time Topscorers|website=worldfootball.net|date=August 20, 2023 |access-date=April 12, 2024}}}}

• CONCACAF Central American Cup – Zonal championships for club sides from Central America
• CONCACAF Caribbean Cup – Zonal championships for club sides from the Caribbean, Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana.
• Campeones Cup – Zonal super cup for the champions of MLS and Liga MX
• North American SuperLiga – previous cross border competition between Mexican and MLS teams.
• CONCACAF League
• NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup

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{{Leagues Cup}}

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Category:International club association football competitions in North America

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2019

Category:Major League Soccer

Category:Liga MX

Category:2019 establishments in North America