2025 Leagues Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host countries | Canada United States |
| Dates | July 29 – August 31 |
| Teams | 36 (from 3 associations) |
| Venue(s) | TBD |
← 2024 2026 → | |
The 2025 Leagues Cup is the upcoming fifth edition of the Leagues Cup, an international club soccer tournament contested by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX clubs in North America. It will be held from July 29 to August 31, 2025, and feature 36 teams. Unlike the previous editions, only the top 18 MLS teams from the 2024 season qualified for the tournament. All 18 Liga MX clubs will participate.
Format
The tournament will consist of a league phase, known as "phase one", and a knockout phase. During phase one, teams will play three games against teams in the other league (i.e. all games will be MLS vs Liga MX).[1] The top four teams from each league will advance to the knockout stage which will consist of the quarterfinals, semifinals and a final. Like previous editions of the Leagues Cup the top three clubs will qualify the CONCACAF Champions Cup.[2]
Teams
Thirty-six teams will participate in the Leagues Cup including all 18 Liga MX teams and 18 out of 30 MLS teams.[3] The 18 MLS teams qualified for Leagues Cup by reaching the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, with one exception. San Diego FC replaced Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who will not participate because they will compete in two other cup competitions in 2025.[2]
Draw
To determine matchups, all teams were placed into a combined ranking that used the 2024 Supporters' Shield table for MLS teams and the most recent 34 matches in the 2024 Clausura and Apertura seasons for Liga MX teams. These teams were then divided into an East region and a West region based on geographical and performance criteria. Within each region, teams were assigned to tiers based on the combined ranking with the restriction that each tier includes three teams from each league.
| Rank | Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tier 1 | Inter Miami CF | MLS |
| 3 | Tier 1 | Toluca | Liga MX |
| 4 | Tier 1 | Columbus Crew | MLS |
| 8 | Tier 1 | Monterrey | Liga MX |
| 11 | Tier 1 | FC Cincinnati | MLS |
| 12 | Tier 1 | UNAM | Liga MX |
| 14 | Tier 2 | Guadalajara | Liga MX |
| 16 | Tier 2 | Orlando City SC | MLS |
| 18 | Tier 2 | Charlotte FC | MLS |
| 19 | Tier 2 | New York City FC | MLS |
| 27 | Tier 2 | León | Liga MX |
| 28 | Tier 2 | Necaxa | Liga MX |
| 22 | Tier 3 | New York Red Bulls | MLS |
| 25 | Tier 3 | CF Montréal | MLS |
| 29 | Tier 3 | Atlanta United FC | MLS |
| 30 | Tier 3 | Atlas | Liga MX |
| 32 | Tier 3 | Juárez | Liga MX |
| 35 | Tier 3 | Puebla | Liga MX |
| Rank | Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tier 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX |
| 5 | Tier 1 | UANL | Liga MX |
| 6 | Tier 1 | Los Angeles FC | MLS |
| 7 | Tier 1 | LA Galaxy | MLS |
| 9 | Tier 1 | América | Liga MX |
| 10 | Tier 1 | Real Salt Lake | MLS |
| 13 | Tier 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS |
| 15 | Tier 2 | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS |
| 17 | Tier 2 | Minnesota United FC | MLS |
| 23 | Tier 2 | Atlético San Luis | Liga MX |
| 24 | Tier 2 | Tijuana | Liga MX |
| 26 | Tier 2 | Pachuca | Liga MX |
| 20 | Tier 3 | Colorado Rapids | MLS |
| 21 | Tier 3 | Portland Timbers | MLS |
| 31 | Tier 3 | Querétaro | Liga MX |
| 33 | Tier 3 | Mazatlán | Liga MX |
| 34 | Tier 3 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX |
| 36 | Tier 3 | San Diego FC | MLS |
Sets
Finally, six "sets" were formed by drawing one team per league from each of the three tiers of a region. Teams will play three matches against teams from their set who are not from their league.[2]
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toluca | Liga MX |
| 1 | Columbus Crew | MLS |
| 2 | New York City FC | MLS |
| 2 | León | Liga MX |
| 3 | CF Montréal | MLS |
| 3 | Puebla | Liga MX |
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Miami CF | MLS |
| 1 | UNAM | Liga MX |
| 2 | Orlando City SC | MLS |
| 2 | Necaxa | Liga MX |
| 3 | Atlanta United FC | MLS |
| 3 | Atlas | Liga MX |
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monterrey | Liga MX |
| 1 | FC Cincinnati | MLS |
| 2 | Guadalajara | Liga MX |
| 2 | Charlotte FC | MLS |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | MLS |
| 3 | Juárez | Liga MX |
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UANL | Liga MX |
| 1 | Los Angeles FC | MLS |
| 2 | Houston Dynamo FC | MLS |
| 2 | Pachuca | Liga MX |
| 3 | Mazatlán | Liga MX |
| 3 | San Diego FC | MLS |
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | América | Liga MX |
| 1 | Real Salt Lake | MLS |
| 2 | Minnesota United FC | MLS |
| 2 | Atlético San Luis | Liga MX |
| 3 | Portland Timbers | MLS |
| 3 | Querétaro | Liga MX |
| Tier | Team | League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX |
| 1 | LA Galaxy | MLS |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | MLS |
| 2 | Tijuana | Liga MX |
| 3 | Colorado Rapids | MLS |
| 3 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX |
Round dates
The schedule of the competition is as follows.[4]
| Phase | Round | Date |
|---|---|---|
| League stage | Matchday 1 | July 29–31 |
| Matchday 2 | August 1–3 | |
| Matchday 3 | August 5–7 | |
| Knockout stage | Quarterfinals | August 19–20 |
| Semifinals | August 26–27 | |
| Third place play-off | August 31 | |
| Final |
League stage
Table
Liga MX
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | América | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Atlas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Atlético San Luis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Cruz Azul | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Guadalajara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Juárez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | León | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Mazatlán | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Monterrey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Necaxa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Pachuca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Puebla | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Querétaro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Santos Laguna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Tijuana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Toluca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | UANL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | UNAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Major League Soccer
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | FC Cincinnati | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Charlotte FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Houston Dynamo FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | LA Galaxy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Inter Miami CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Minnesota United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | CF Montréal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | New York City FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Orlando City SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Real Salt Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | San Diego FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Results
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Necaxa | Jul 30 | Atlanta United FC |
| Monterrey | Jul 31 | FC Cincinnati |
| Toluca | Jul 29 | Columbus Crew |
| Charlotte FC | Jul 31 | Juárez |
| Colorado Rapids | Jul 31 | Santos Laguna |
| UANL | Jul 29 | Houston Dynamo FC |
| LA Galaxy | Jul 31 | Tijuana |
| Los Angeles FC | Jul 29 | Mazatlán |
| Inter Miami CF | Jul 30 | Atlas |
| Minnesota United FC | Jul 30 | Querétaro |
| León | Jul 29 | CF Montréal |
| New York City FC | Jul 29 | Puebla |
| Guadalajara | Jul 31 | New York Red Bulls |
| UNAM | Jul 30 | Orlando City SC |
| Portland Timbers | Jul 30 | Atlético San Luis |
| América | Jul 30 | Real Salt Lake |
| Cruz Azul | Jul 31 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Pachuca | Jul 29 | San Diego FC |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| UNAM | Aug 2 | Atlanta United FC |
| FC Cincinnati | Aug 3 | Juárez |
| Columbus Crew | Aug 1 | Puebla |
| Guadalajara | Aug 3 | Charlotte FC |
| Colorado Rapids | Aug 3 | Tijuana |
| Houston Dynamo FC | Aug 1 | Mazatlán |
| LA Galaxy | Aug 3 | Cruz Azul |
| Los Angeles FC | Aug 1 | Pachuca |
| Inter Miami CF | Aug 2 | Necaxa |
| América | Aug 2 | Minnesota United FC |
| Toluca | Aug 1 | CF Montréal |
| New York City FC | Aug 1 | León |
| Monterrey | Aug 3 | New York Red Bulls |
| Orlando City SC | Aug 2 | Atlas |
| Portland Timbers | Aug 2 | Querétaro |
| Real Salt Lake | Aug 2 | Atlético San Luis |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Aug 3 | Santos Laguna |
| UANL | Aug 1 | San Diego FC |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | Aug 6 | Atlas |
| FC Cincinnati | Aug 7 | Guadalajara |
| Columbus Crew | Aug 5 | León |
| Monterrey | Aug 7 | Charlotte FC |
| Cruz Azul | Aug 7 | Colorado Rapids |
| Houston Dynamo FC | Aug 5 | Pachuca |
| LA Galaxy | Aug 7 | Santos Laguna |
| UANL | Aug 5 | Los Angeles FC |
| Inter Miami CF | Aug 6 | UNAM |
| Minnesota United FC | Aug 6 | Atlético San Luis |
| CF Montréal | Aug 5 | Puebla |
| Toluca | Aug 5 | New York City FC |
| New York Red Bulls | Aug 7 | Juárez |
| Orlando City SC | Aug 6 | Necaxa |
| América | Aug 6 | Portland Timbers |
| Real Salt Lake | Aug 6 | Querétaro |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Aug 6 | Tijuana |
| Mazatlán | Aug 5 | San Diego FC |
Knockout stage
The quarterfinal pairings will be determined as follows:[2]
- MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4
- MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3
- MLS 3 vs. Liga MX 2
- MLS 4 vs. Liga MX 1
Bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| MLS 1 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| LMX 4 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| LMX 2 | ||||||||||
| August 31 – | ||||||||||
| MLS 3 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| LMX 1 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| MLS 4 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| Third place play-off | ||||||||||
| MLS 2 | ||||||||||
| August – | ||||||||||
| LMX 3 | ||||||||||
Quarterfinals
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Liga MX 1 | QF1 | MLS 4 |
| MLS 1 | QF2 | Liga MX 4 |
| Liga MX 2 | QF3 | MLS 3 |
| MLS 2 | QF4 | Liga MX 3 |
References
- ^ Hernandez, Cesar (January 30, 2025). "MLS vs. Liga MX to dominate Leagues Cup lineup". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Leagues Cup 2025 format & competition details: What to know". January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- ^ Deen, Safid (January 30, 2025). "Leagues Cup: Here's what's new about the 2025 tournament featuring MLS, LIGA MX teams". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ "Leagues Cup 2025 Schedule is Here!". February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.