WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The winner receives:

• The Leagues Cup trophy, featuring two bowls – one for LIGA MX and one for MLS.
• Prize money and bragging rights.

In its third edition, Leagues Cup 2025 will also award three spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup – given to both finalists and the Third Place match winner.

The Concacaf Champions Cup provides a pathway towards the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

KEY DATES

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

The MLS and LIGA MX regular seasons will continue through August, with most Leagues Cup knockout matches played midweek.

The 12 MLS teams not competing during Phase One will have a break until Matchday 28 on August 9.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

The top nine teams in each MLS conference from the prior season qualify (18 total) alongside every LIGA MX team (18 total), creating a 36-team tournament.

Since Vancouver Whitecaps FC competed in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup as Canadian Championship winners, they won’t participate in Leagues Cup 2025. Instead, expansion club San Diego FC will join the tournament.

PHASE ONE

In a new format for 2025, all Leagues Cup Phase One matches exclusively feature games between MLS and LIGA MX sides.

Each club plays three matches against three opponents from the opposite league within their set. Leagues Cup Phase One matches are determined by the Leagues Cup Ranking, as well as by region.

Points & standings system

MLS and LIGA MX teams will compete and earn points in a league-specific table against teams from their own league.

For example, a win by an MLS club earns points in the Leagues Cup MLS table. A win by a LIGA MX team contributes to the Leagues Cup LIGA MX table.

The top four clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advance to the quarterfinals. The tables were designed to ensure more interleague matches in the Knockout Rounds.

There are no draws; games go straight to a penalty shootout if they end in a tie. Teams are awarded points as follows in Phase One:

• Regulation draw: 1 point for both teams
• Penalty shootout win: 2 points
• Regulation win: 3 points

KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

Like Phase One, all quarterfinal contests will feature only MLS vs. LIGA MX matchups.

The quarterfinal pairings will be decided based on Leagues Cup Phase One performance.

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

The four advancing clubs will compete in the two semifinal matches (irrespective of league).

The Leagues Cup 2025 Third Place match and Final will determine the three clubs that qualify for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

In the knockout stages, tied matches go straight to penalty shootouts (single-elimination).

HOSTING PRIVILEGES

Leagues Cup 2025 will feature 62 matches, including at least 58 MLS vs. LIGA MX games.

Hosting privileges

As MLS Cup 2024 presented by Audi champions, the LA Galaxy will enjoy hosting privileges throughout the tournament.

Additionally, Club América and the next five top-ranked LIGA MX clubs – Cruz Azul, Toluca, Tigres UANL, CF Monterrey and Pumas UNAM – will have varying degrees of hosting privileges to ensure less travel.

• Club America (Semifinal)
• CF Monterrey (Round of 16)
• Chivas de Guadalajara (Round of 32)
• Tigres UANL (Group Stage)

LEAGUES CUP 2024

In last year’s Leagues Cup, Columbus hosted LAFC in a memorable final at Lower.com Field, which also served as a rematch of MLS Cup 2023.

Cucho Hérnandez opened the scoring for the hosts just before the halftime break with a towering header, only for French icon Olivier Giroud to score a header of his own to equalize for the Black & Gold early in the second half.

2025 LEAGUES CUP DEFINITION

4 WEEKS. 3 COUNTRIES. 2 LEAGUES. 36 TEAMS, 1 CHAMPION

JULY 29 – AUGUST 31, 2025

Entering its third year, Leagues Cup represents a monumental new chapter for North American club soccer. Since 2023, Major League Soccer and LIGA MX have fueled the long-standing soccer rivalry between the three countries and its first division leagues to compete in this Concacaf-sanctioned summer cup, which qualifies the top three finishers for the Concacaf Champions Cup.

FORMAT

• For the 2025 edition, Leagues Cup has a new and enhanced format for the tournament, featuring 36 clubs from both leagues – all 18 LIGA MX teams and 18 qualifying MLS teams. The top nine teams in each MLS Conference (Eastern Conference and Western Conference) who participated in the MLS Cup Playoffs from the prior season will qualify. Per MLS’ new North American cup qualification criteria, MLS expansion club San Diego FC, set to debut this season, will take the place of Vancouver Whitecaps FC for Leagues Cup 2025
• Officially sanctioned by Concacaf, the top three teams will receive automatic bids into Concacaf Champions Cup with a chance to represent the Confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup
• Leagues Cup 2025 will be played in two rounds: Phase One, beginning July 29, and the Knockout Rounds, ending with the Leagues Cup Final on August 31.
• The MLS and LIGA MX regular seasons will continue play through the month of August, with most Leagues Cup knockout matches played midweek.

POINT SYSTEM

• No ties!
• Each team will receive one (1) point if the game is tied after 90 minutes
• The winner of the subsequent penalty shootout will earn an additional point
• Regulation wins count as 3 points
• Top 4 clubs with the most points from each league will move on to the Knockout Rounds, right into the Quarterfinals

• Phase One will feature three consecutive match dates per club to be played between July 29-August 7, and all 54 Phase One matches will be played between MLS and LIGA MX clubs Clubs will be divided evenly into two regions of 18 teams each: Eastern and Western. Within each region, the 18 teams will be sorted into three tiers based on their Leagues Cup Ranking:  
• Tier 1: Teams ranked 1-3 from each league  
• Tier 2: Teams ranked 4-6 from each league 
• Tier 3: Teams ranked 7-9 from each league 
• The Leagues Cup Ranking combines MLS and LIGA MX league performance across 34 regular season matches into a unified table. MLS teams will be ranked based on the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with San Diego listed last, while LIGA MX clubs will be ranked based on the cumulative 34 matches in the 2024 Clausura and Apertura tournaments.
• Each club will play three matches against the three opponents from the opposite league
• While competing on the field against teams from the opposite league, MLS and LMX teams will be competing in a league-specific table against the teams from their own league. Clubs will earn points within their league-specific tables; an MLS club’s win earns points in the Leagues Cup MLS table, while a LIGA MX win contributes to the Leagues Cup LIGA MX table.

KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

• The top four (4) clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advance to the Knockout Rounds and will be placed in a fixed bracket to compete in the single-game elimination matches beginning with the Quarterfinals (four matches). Four MLS clubs and four LIGA MX clubs will advance.
• Quarterfinal pairings will be decided based on Leagues Cup Phase One performance with an inverse order of ranking among the respective league tables (MLS 1 vs. LIGA MX 4, MLS 2 vs. LIGA MX 3, MLS 3 vs. LIGA MX 2, and MLS 4 vs. LIGA MX 1).
• The four advancing clubs will compete in the two Semifinal matches, as determined by the bracket.
• The losers of the Semifinals will compete in a Third Place Match
• The winners of the Semifinals will compete in the Leagues Cup Final on Sunday, August 31

TOURNAMENT REWARDS

• The winner of the Third Place Match will qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup
• Both clubs in the Leagues Cup Final will automatically qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup
• Leagues Cup 2025 Champion qualifies directly to Concacaf Champion Cup Round of 16

HOW TO WATCH LEAGUES CUP 2025

• SEE IT LIVE: Once tickets for Leagues Cup 2025 matches go on sale, fans can visit LeaguesCup.com/Tickets to secure their seats. MLS club season ticket holders should contact their club representative for more information.
• WATCH FROM HOME: As part of Major League Soccer’s 10-year partnership with Apple, all Leagues Cup matches will be presented live to fans in over 100 countries and regions through the Apple TV app with no blackouts. In addition, TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca, FOX Sports, TSN and RDS will be the linear broadcast home for selected matches in Mexico, United States and Canada.Broadcast information, once available, will be available at LeaguesCup.com/Schedule

Seattle Sounders FC (MLS 1) vs. Club Puebla (LIGA MX 4)

Seattle got the perfect score, all 9 points allowed. They were the only team to go three-for-three in Phase One, maintaining their strong post-Club World Cup form. Meanwhile, Puebla are the Leagues Cup Cinderella team given their recent struggles in LIGA MX.

Inter Miami CF (MLS 2) vs. Tigres UANL (LIGA MX 3)

MLS and LIGA MX powerhouses square off in a matchup befitting a tournament final. Miami are eyeing their second Leagues Cup title in three years, while Tigres have one of North America’s most talented squads.

LA Galaxy (MLS 3) vs. CF Pachuca (LIGA MX 2)

The Galaxy have salvaged their season, showing glimpses of why they won MLS Cup 2024. But a clash with Pachuca is no walk in the park, as they lead the LIGA MX Apertura table.

Orlando City (MLS 4) vs. Toluca FC (LIGA MX 1)

Orlando face arguably the toughest matchup in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. They’ll look to stop the freight train that is Toluca, who won two LIGA MX titles last season.

MLS – QUALIFIERS

1 Seattle Sounders FC

Phase One: 9 points, 3W-0L-0D, +9 GD

• 7-0 win vs. Cruz Azul
• 2-1 win vs. Santos Laguna
• 2-1 win vs. Club Tijuana

The only perfect team in Phase One, Seattle kicked off their Leagues Cup campaign with the largest margin of victory in tournament history, downing the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners at Lumen Field.

Typifying the good vibes in the Emerald City, Pedro de la Vega scored a jaw-dropping volley against Cruz Azul, while Osaze De Rosario, son of MLS legend Dwayne De Rosario, is having a breakout tournament with two goals in three matches.

2 Inter Miami CF

Phase One: 8 points, 2W-0L-1D, +3 GD

• 2-1 win vs. Atlas FC
• 2-2 draw vs. Club Necaxa, PK win
• 3-1 win vs. Pumas UNAM

Not even Lionel Messi picking up a minor muscle injury against Club Necaxa could slow down Inter Miami as they rolled through Phase One undefeated.

Marquee summer signing Rodrigo De Paul hit the ground running with two assists against Atlas before adding his first Herons goal in the win over Pumas. Telasco Segovia and Luis Suárez have also delivered clutch moments, helping the 2023 Leagues Cup champions progress into the knockout rounds.

3 LA Galaxy

Phase One: 7 points, 2W-0L-1D, +7 GD

• 5-2 win vs. Club Tijuana
• 1-1 draw vs. Cruz Azul, PK loss
• 4-0 win vs. Santos Laguna

The 2024 MLS Cup winners are gaining steam, delivering blowout wins over Club Tijuana and Santos Laguna to book their spot in Leagues Cup quarterfinals.

Silverware may be in the cards for the Galaxy, who hold hosting privileges through the Aug. 31 final. They’ve gotten notable contributions from Joseph Paintsil (3g/1a), Matheus Nascimento (3g/1a) and Gabriel Pec (2g/0a) throughout the tournament.

4Orlando City

Phase One: 7 points, 2W-0L-1D, +6 GD

• 1-1 draw vs. Pumas UNAM, PK loss
• 3-1 win vs. Atlas FC
• 5-1 win vs. Club Necaxa

Orlando recovered from a PK defeat against Pumas with convincing victories over Atlas and Necaxa, maintaining their dreams of lifting the Leagues Cup title.

The Lions have gotten 3g/3a from midfielder Martín Ojeda, who now has a goal contribution in 13 consecutive matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, veteran striker Luis Muriel scored the fastest-ever Leagues Cup hat-trick against Necaxa.

LIGA MX – QUALIFIERS

1 Toluca FC

Phase One: 8 points, 2W-0L-1D, +2 GD

• 2-2 draw vs. Columbus Crew, PK win
• 2-1 win vs. CF Montréal
• 2-1 win vs. New York City FC

The reigning LIGA MX champions were the first club to book a Leagues Cup 2025 quarterfinal berth, thanks to an undefeated Phase One.

Portuguese striker Paulinho has scored in all three games for a joint-tournament-best four goals, including a brace that spurred a comeback PK shootout victory over last year’s winners, the Columbus Crew. Mexican international Alexis Vega has also been key for Los Diablos Rojos.

2 Club de Fútbol Pachuca

Phase One: 7 points, 2W-0L-1D, +2 GD

• 3-2 win vs. San Diego FC
• 1-1 draw vs. LAFC, PK loss
• 2-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo FC

The current LIGA MX Apertura leaders, Pachuca have carried their strong domestic form into Leagues Cup with an impressive three-match run.

After defeating San Diego FC in a highly anticipated reunion match against Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Los Tuzos rallied to beat LAFC in PKs before concluding Phase One play with a convincing win over Houston Dynamo FC.

3 Club Tigres

Phase One: 6 points, 2W-1L-0D, +3 GD

• 4-1 win vs. Houston Dynamo FC
• 2-1 win vs. San Diego FC
• 2-1 loss vs. LAFC

The only one of LIGA MX’s “Big 5” clubs to reach the Leagues Cup knockout stages, Tigres secured qualification despite dropping their Phase One finale against LAFC.

Argentine striker Ángel Correa has been clutch, netting braces in wins over Houston and San Diego. Meanwhile, playmaker Juan Brunetta has delivered an assist in every one of Tigres’ matches for a joint-best three helpers.

4 Club Puebla

Phase One: 6 points, 2W-1L-0D, +2 GD

• 3-0 win vs. New York City FC
• 3-1 loss vs. Columbus Crew
• 2-1 win vs. CF Montréal

Puebla are perhaps the underdog among the quarterfinalists, advancing after beating NYCFC and Montréal. That’s largely thanks to Uruguayan forward Emiliano Gómez, who has a team-best 2g/1a this tournament.

During the 2024-25 LIGA MX season, Puebla finished 15th in the Apertura and 17th in the Clausura. Now, they’re looking to defy the odds.