The Leagues Cup, an interleague competition featuring Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX teams, begins on Tuesday, July 29, with Inter Miami, boosted by the signing of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, set to face Liga MX’s Atlas. This tournament pause MLS regular season play and draws attention as Columbus Crew aims to defend their title strengthened by forward Wessam Abou Ali, who impressed during the Club World Cup with Al Ahly.
Running through August 31, the Lionel Messi Inter Miami Leagues Cup brings together top clubs from MLS and Liga MX in a unique format that rewards winning in regular time and intensifies playoff qualification battles. Here is a detailed overview of the competition’s structure, participants, schedule, and what fans can expect.
Overview of the Tournament Structure and Group Phase
The competition’s Phase One features group-stage matches exclusively between MLS and Liga MX sides. Clubs are split into two separate standings: one for MLS teams and one for Liga MX teams, with the top four clubs from each league moving forward to the knockout stages. This format highlights the importance of goal difference and securing victories within regulation time since a team could win all their matches but still miss the quarterfinals if their goal difference suffers.
Matches cannot end in draws; if regulation time finishes tied, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. Points are awarded with three for a win in regulation, one point each for teams tied at the end of regulation, and two points for the winner of the shootout, creating added strategic value on how games conclude.
Reason Behind San Diego FC’s Participation
Unlike previous editions, not all MLS clubs will participate in this tournament. Qualification is based on league standings with only the top nine teams from each conference included. Due to the Vancouver Whitecaps’ commitments in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship, their slot in the Leagues Cup has been given to expansion side San Diego FC. The new franchise has quickly made a mark, leading the Western Conference early in their MLS tenure.
Teams Competing and Group Standings Snapshot
The competition divides teams across groups reflecting their league affiliations. MLS group contenders feature familiar clubs such as Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, LA Galaxy, and Inter Miami, among others. Liga MX’s group boasts established sides like Club America, Monterrey, Chivas Guadalajara, and Atlas, Inter Miami’s opening opponents.
While the full group stage standings will develop as the tournament progresses, fans are watching closely as rivalries intensify and playoff berths come within reach. This format promises compelling matchups between leagues steeped in competitive history and passionate fan bases.
Complete Schedule for the Group Matches
With all match times listed in Eastern Time Zone and available via MLS Season Pass, the early rounds commence Tuesday, July 29, featuring a mix of high-profile contests. Highlight games include:
- Toluca vs. Columbus Crew at 7 p.m.
- CF Montreal vs. Club Leon at 7 p.m.
- NYCFC vs. Puebla at 8 p.m.
- Tigres vs. Houston Dynamo at 9 p.m.
- LAFC vs. Mazatlan at 10:30 p.m.
- Pachuca vs. San Diego FC at 11 p.m.
Following days feature marquee matches such as Inter Miami against Atlas on Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m., further showcasing Messi’s debut in this tournament. The group stage will run through August 7, with MLS and Liga MX teams facing off regularly in a tight schedule filled with games designed to test the depth and quality of each squad.
Progression into Knockout Rounds and Dates to Watch
Once the group stage concludes, the top four teams from each league will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for August 19-20. The knockout pairings ensure an MLS team faces a Liga MX club, arranged as follows:
- MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4
- MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3
- MLS 3 vs. Liga MX 2
- MLS 4 vs. Liga MX 1
Winners from the quarterfinals move on to the semifinals on August 26-27. For those eliminated, a third-place match occurs alongside the final on August 31, concluding the tournament and crowning a winner.
Details on Tiebreakers and Match Outcomes
If teams finish Phase One level on points, the competition has tiebreakers in place to decide standings. This system is essential because goal difference and match results have substantial influence over which teams enter the knockout phase. The emphasis on regulation wins and penalty shootouts prevents deadlocked outcomes, adding excitement and urgency to every game.
Columbus Crew enters this edition seeking to defend their championship, with forward Wessam Abou Ali expected to play a critical role after his strong showing with Al Ahly at the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Inter Miami, spurred by the addition of Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, exemplifies MLS’s ambition to compete at a higher level and improve their status in North America.
The involvement of new franchises like San Diego FC adds fresh intrigue, showing the evolving landscape of MLS and its growing competitive balance with Liga MX clubs. This edition of the Leagues Cup offers compelling narratives that highlight increased cooperation and rivalry between the two leagues.
For fans and analysts, following this tournament will reveal how Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami influences the team’s performance against Liga MX opposition and whether seasoned squads like Columbus Crew can maintain their dominance. With the MLS season pause aligning with this major interleague event, attention now shifts to how this competition reshapes the broader North American soccer landscape.