The Leagues Cup is an international soccer tournament that brings together teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, the top professional football division of the Mexican football league system.
The tournament, which has been played in different formats since 2019, allows teams from these two leagues to compete against each other, providing a platform for exciting cross-border soccer action.
In this comprehensive Fan Arch piece, we will delve into the intricate details of the Leagues Cup, exploring its history, format, regulations, notable teams, and upcoming 2024 season.
History of the Leagues Cup
The Leagues Cup was first introduced in 2019 as a competition involving a few teams from each league, aiming to create a bridge between MLS and Liga MX.
Since then, it has evolved, and the 2023 edition marked a significant milestone as it included all 29 MLS teams and all 18 Liga MX teams, totaling 47 teams, making it the most expansive edition to date.
Format of the Tournament
The Leagues Cup follows a World Cup format, with group phases followed by single-elimination rounds in the second stage.
The 2023 edition saw the tournament awarding 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup slots to the top teams.
The winners automatically qualified for the Round of 16, while the runner-up and third-place winning teams qualified for preliminary rounds.
Notably, the top two teams in each league, the MLS 2022 champion, LAFC, and the Apertura 2022 tournament champion, Pachuca, automatically qualified for the second round. The remaining 45 teams were divided into 15 groups of 3 teams located in four regions: West, Central, South, and East.
Group Stage and Tie-Breaking Criteria
During the group phase, each team played two matches, with no draws allowed. Tied matches at 90 minutes proceeded to penalty shootouts, where the winner received two points and the loser earned one point.
The top two teams in each group advanced to the second round in a single-elimination format until the final match.
The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined by points obtained in all group matches, direct head-to-head match results, goal differentials, number of goals scored and conceded, and the fair play table. The tie-breaking criteria ensured fair and competitive group stage matches.
Notable Teams and Matches
In the 2023 edition, St. Louis CITY SC was assigned to the central region and shared group C1 with Club América of Liga MX and Columbus Crew of the MLS.
This set the stage for intense and competitive matches, with CITY SC facing off against Mexico's team with the most wins and Columbus Crew, a team that had been making waves in the league in recent years. The group promised to be one of the most competitive in the tournament.
2023 Leagues Cup: a Significant Milestone
The 2023 Leagues Cup marked a significant milestone as it was the first edition to feature all MLS and Liga MX teams. It witnessed intense matches, culminating in Inter Miami CF winning the tournament after defeating Nashville SC in the final at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lionel Messi emerged as the top goal scorer and was awarded the best player of the tournament, adding to the excitement and prestige of the competition.
The 2024 Leagues Cup
The 2024 Leagues Cup is set to proceed largely in a similar fashion to its inaugural 2023 season, with a few format tweaks. One new feature of the 2024 Leagues Cup is the "hub" system, designed to give deserving Liga MX clubs a lighter travel burden.
This system provides hosting rights to the four highest-ranking Liga MX clubs, allowing them to avoid excessive travel through various stages of the group and knockout rounds.
On the whole, the Leagues Cup stands as a testament to the growing collaboration and competition between MLS and Liga MX.
It provides a platform for teams from both leagues to showcase their talent, compete at an international level, and foster cross-border footballing relationships. The 2023 edition was a historic milestone, and the upcoming 2024 edition promises to be equally thrilling.
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