Wikipedia - Leagues Cup

The Leagues Cup is an annual soccer competition between clubs from Major League Soccer, the main soccer league in the United States and Canada, and Liga MX, the main soccer league in Mexico. It is hosted in Canada and the United States. It began in July 2019 with four teams from both leagues participating. The first edition was a single-elimination tournament hosted in the United States with a final played in Whitney, Nevada, near Las Vegas, on September 18, 2019.

In 2023, the tournament was expanded to include all clubs from MLS and Liga MX, and now functions as a regional cup for CONCACAF between the top division leagues in Mexico and United States, and includes MLS teams that are based in Canada. The top three Leagues Cup teams, regardless of nation, qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the champions receiving a bye to the round of 16.

History

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. 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.

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. The MLS Players Association also expressed concerns over the tournament's creation on the basis of schedule congestion during the summertime. 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). This event was also televised on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada and Televisa in Mexico.

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. The tournament was canceled on May 19, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The eight-team format debuted in the 2021 Leagues Cup, which was played in August and September. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. The Leagues Cup champion qualified directly to the round of 16, while the runner-up and third-place finisher earned round one berths. Inter Miami CF won the first edition of the expanded tournament in 2023, led by top goalscorer Lionel Messi.

Criticism

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. 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.

The Leagues Cup is an exciting annual soccer tournament that showcases the best talent from two of North America's premier leagues: Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX. This prestigious competition brings together top clubs from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, creating a thrilling platform for teams to compete for regional supremacy.

The tournament features a knockout format, with teams battling it out in high-stakes matches that captivate fans across the continent. Each game is a showcase of skill, strategy, and passion, as clubs vie for the coveted Leagues Cup trophy. The event not only highlights the rich soccer culture in North America but also fosters a sense of rivalry and camaraderie between the leagues.

With a diverse array of players, including international stars and emerging talents, the Leagues Cup promises to deliver unforgettable moments and electrifying performances. Fans can expect a festival of soccer, complete with vibrant atmospheres, cultural celebrations, and the chance to witness some of the most thrilling matchups in the sport.

Join us for the Leagues Cup, where the best of MLS and Liga MX collide in a celebration of soccer that transcends borders and unites fans in their love for the beautiful game!