what is the leagues cup
The Leagues Cup is an annual club soccer tournament between Major League Soccer (MLS) teams from the U.S. and Canada and Liga MX teams from Mexico, created to crown a top North American club and award spots in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
What the Leagues Cup Is
- It’s an official, CONCACAF‑sanctioned tournament featuring only MLS and Liga MX clubs.
- The competition is hosted in the United States and Canada over a tight summer window, usually about a month long.
- The top three finishers qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, giving clubs a pathway toward continental glory and, ultimately, the Club World Cup via that route.
Quick history
- The tournament started in 2019 with just eight teams (four from each league) in a simple knockout bracket.
- In 2023 it was massively expanded to include all MLS and Liga MX clubs, turning into a World‑Cup‑style summer break from the regular league seasons.
- From 2025 onward, the format shifted again: only 18 MLS clubs (based on league performance) plus all Liga MX clubs take part, still with a strong focus on MLS vs. Liga MX matchups.
How the Format Works (Modern Version)
The exact format has evolved, but the recent setup has a clear structure built around inter‑league clashes.
Phase One: Group-style play
- Clubs are divided into regions (East and West) and then into “tiers” based on league performance (for example, Tier 1 = top‑ranked teams in each league, Tier 2 = next best, and so on).
- Sets of six clubs are formed: typically one MLS and one Liga MX team from each tier, to keep balance and ensure intriguing cross‑border matchups.
- Each club plays three matches against clubs from the opposite league within its set, so every game is MLS vs. Liga MX.
Points:
- Wins in regulation earn three points to the team’s league‑specific Leagues Cup table (MLS table or Liga MX table).
- If a match goes to penalties, the winner gets two points and the loser one point, similar to formats used in some developmental leagues.
Knockout rounds
- Clubs from each league are ranked in their own Leagues Cup table based on Phase One results.
- The top teams from each table advance to the knockout stages (starting from quarterfinals in the newer format).
- Knockout games are single elimination: win and you move on, lose and you’re out.
Why It Matters
- Bragging rights : It’s the most direct MLS vs. Liga MX measuring stick, fueling the long‑running “which league is better?” debate.
- Money and exposure : Extra TV and streaming attention, plus big‑name matchups, make it a commercial and marketing play for both leagues.
- Competitive stakes : With Champions Cup spots on the line, teams treat it as more than just friendlies; it can reshape a club’s entire season trajectory.
Leagues Cup vs. Other Tournaments
Here’s a quick view of how Leagues Cup compares to other regional competitions:
| Tournament | Who plays? | Main goal | Includes Central America / Caribbean? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leagues Cup | MLS + Liga MX clubs only | [1][5]Determine top club between MLS and Liga MX; award Champions Cup spots | [5][1]No, limited to U.S., Canada, Mexico clubs | [5]
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | Top clubs from all CONCACAF regions | [5]Continental champion; path toward Club World Cup via this route | [5]Yes, includes Central American and Caribbean teams | [5]
Recent and “Trending” Context
- The tournament has become a regular summer fixture, sitting alongside MLS and Liga MX league calendars rather than replacing them.
- In recent editions, storylines have focused on big‑club clashes, surprise runs from mid‑table sides, and how MLS clubs stack up tactically and physically against Mexico’s traditional powers.
- League organizers continue to tweak the format (tiers, sets, seeding, and number of teams) to boost competitiveness, TV appeal, and cross‑border rivalry intensity.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.