Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs are getting ready for the reinvented 2023 Leagues Cup and, well, so should you.
Call the Leagues Cup a better idea at regional unity than the North American Free Trade Agreement or a cash-grab by soccer clubs – criticism certainly runs on both sides of that aisle. For soccer fans in North America it means one thing: more soccer, más futbol, plus fut!
Founded in 2019 as an eight-team, single-elimination knockout tournament, the Leagues Cup picked up where the North American SuperLiga (2007–10) left off. It has now blossomed into a 47-team tournament between Liga MX and MLS clubs from the U.S. and Canada.
The three-nation commitment to expanding the appeal of the sport can be seen in this year’s tournament as all domestic action in both leagues will pause to lessen the impact of fixture congestion.
For the first time ever, all Liga MX and MLS teams will face off in what is bound to be a thrilling Summer competition. And as the rivalry between the two leagues heats up, clubs will be fighting for more than just a spot in the upcoming Concacaf Champions League edition.
Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming tournament…
The month-long tournament will halt all league play across North America beginning July 21 through a final match scheduled for August 19. There will be 15, three-team groups arranged by geographic zones and will feature round-robin play, with the top two advancing to a knockout stage of one-off matches.
The Leagues Cup will award three points to winners and draws are not an option – tied games will go directly to penalties with the winner through this method receiving two points for their victory and the loser one point.
The winner will have their spot in the round of 16 of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League secured while the final’s loser and third-place winner will get a spot in the first round of the competition.
All of the tournament will take place in U.S. and Canadian stadiums, with Liga MX teams arranged by geography. MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will air all of the matches with TelevisaUnivision, FOX Sports, TSN and RDS picking up a few of the games.
WEST ONE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Portland Timbers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Tigres UANL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
WEST TWO
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
CF Monterrey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Real Salt Lake |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Seattle Sounders |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
WEST THREE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Club Léon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
LA Galaxy |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CENTRAL ONE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Columbus Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Club América |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
St. Louis City SC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CENTRAL TWO
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Chicago Fire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Minnesota United |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Puebla |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CENTRAL THREE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Chivas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
FC Cincinnati |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Sporting Kansas City |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CENTRAL FOUR
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Colorado Rapids |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Nashville SC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Toluca |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SOUTH ONE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Austin FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
FC Juárez |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Mazatlán FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SOUTH TWO
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Houston Dynamo |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Orlando City |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Santos Laguna |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SOUTH THREE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Atlanta United |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Cruz Axul |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Inter Miami CF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SOUTH FOUR
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Charlotte FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
FC Dallas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Necaxa |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
EAST ONE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Philadelphia Union |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
Querétaro |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Tijuana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
EAST TWO
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
CF Montréal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
D.C. United |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Pumas UNAM |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
EAST THREE
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Atlas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
New York City FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
Toronto FC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
EAST FOUR
|
Position |
Team |
Played |
Won |
Won after penalties |
Lost after penalties |
Lost |
Goal difference |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Atlético San Luis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2 |
New England Revolution |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
3 |
New York Red Bulls |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Read the latest MLS news here
The round of 32 matches will be played between August 2–4 with LAFC and Pachuca receiving byes to this stage based on their top spot placements during the 2022 regular season.
Then, between August 6–8, the round of 16 will take place with quarterfinals scheduled for August 11 and 12.
|
Round |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Group stage Matchday 1 |
July 21-23 2023 |
|
Group stage Matchday 2 |
July 25-27 2023 |
|
Group stage Matchday 3 |
July 29-31 2023 |
|
Round of 32 |
August 2-4 2023 |
|
Round of 16 |
August 6-8 2023 |
|
Quarter finals |
August 11-12 2023 |
|
Semi finals |
August 15 2023 |
|
Third place play-off |
August 19 2023 |
|
Final |
August 19 2023 |
