Jump to content

2025 Leagues Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2025 Leagues Cup
Tournament details
Host countriesCanada
United States
DatesJuly 29 – August 31
Teams36 (from 3 associations)
Venue(s)TBD
Tournament statistics
Matches played18
Goals scored71 (3.94 per match)
Attendance315,673 (17,537 per match)
Top scorer(s)Nine players
(2 goals each)
2024
2026
All statistics correct as of July 31, 2025.

The 2025 Leagues Cup is the 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

[edit]

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 for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.[2]

In the group stage, teams earn three points for a win in regulation, two points for a win in a penalty shootout, or one point for a loss in a penalty shootout.[3]

Teams

[edit]

Thirty-six teams will participate in the Leagues Cup including all 18 Liga MX teams and 18 out of 30 MLS teams.[4] 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

[edit]

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.

Eastern clubs
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
Western clubs
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

[edit]

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]

Eastern 1
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
Eastern 2
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
Eastern 3
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
Western 1
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
Western 2
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
Western 3
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

[edit]

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[5]

Schedule for 2025 Leagues Cup
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 phase

[edit]

Table

[edit]
Liga MX

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 UANL 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 +3 3[a] Advance to knockout stage
2 Juárez 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 +3 3[a]
3 Necaxa 1 1 0 0 0 3 1 +2 3
4 Puebla 2 1 0 0 1 4 3 +1 3
5 Pachuca 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 +1 3
6 Toluca 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 2
7 Mazatlán 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2[b]
8 UNAM 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2[b]
9 América 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
10 León 2 0 0 1 1 1 3 −2 1
11 Monterrey 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0
12 Atlas 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0[c]
13 Santos Laguna 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0[c]
14 Guadalajara 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0
15 Tijuana 1 0 0 0 1 2 5 −3 0
16 Querétaro 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0
17 Atlético San Luis 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 −4 0
18 Cruz Azul 1 0 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0
Updated to match(es) played on July 31, 2025. Source: Leagues Cup
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Fair play points: UANL −1, Juárez −4.
  2. ^ a b Fair play points: Mazatlán 0, UNAM −2.
  3. ^ a b Fair play points: Atlas −3, Santos Laguna −9.
Major League Soccer

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Columbus Crew 2 1 0 1 0 5 3 +2 4 Advance to knockout stage
2 Seattle Sounders FC 1 1 0 0 0 7 0 +7 3
3 Portland Timbers 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 +4 3
4 LA Galaxy 1 1 0 0 0 5 2 +3 3
5 Minnesota United FC 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 +3 3
6 FC Cincinnati 1 1 0 0 0 3 2 +1 3
7 Inter Miami CF 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3[a]
8 Colorado Rapids 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 +1 3[a]
9 New York Red Bulls 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +1 3
10 New York City FC 2 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1 3
11 Real Salt Lake 1 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 2
12 CF Montréal 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2
13 Los Angeles FC 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1[b]
14 Orlando City SC 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1[b]
15 San Diego FC 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 −1 0
16 Atlanta United FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0
17 Houston Dynamo FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0[c]
18 Charlotte FC 1 0 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0[c]
Updated to match(es) played on July 31, 2025. Source: Leagues Cup
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Fair play points: Inter Miami CF −1, Colorado Rapids −2.
  2. ^ a b Fair play points: Los Angeles FC −1, Orlando City SC −5.
  3. ^ a b Fair play points: Houston Dynamo FC −2, Charlotte FC −7.

Results

[edit]
Matchday 1
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Toluca Mexico2–2
(4–2 p)
United States Columbus Crew
UANL Mexico4–1United States Houston Dynamo FC
Los Angeles FC United States1–1
(10–11 p)
Mexico Mazatlán
CF Montréal Canada1–1
(7–6 p)
Mexico León
New York City FC United States0–3Mexico Puebla
Pachuca Mexico3–2United States San Diego FC
Necaxa Mexico3–1United States Atlanta United FC
Inter Miami CF United States2–1Mexico Atlas
Minnesota United FC United States4–1Mexico Querétaro
UNAM Mexico1–1
(4–3 p)
United States Orlando City SC
Portland Timbers United States4–0Mexico Atlético San Luis
América Mexico2–2
(1–3 p)
United States Real Salt Lake
Monterrey Mexico2–3United States FC Cincinnati
Charlotte FC United States1–4Mexico Juárez
Colorado Rapids United States2–1Mexico Santos Laguna
LA Galaxy United States5–2Mexico Tijuana
Guadalajara Mexico0–1United States New York Red Bulls
Cruz Azul Mexico0–7United States Seattle Sounders FC
Matchday 3
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Columbus Crew United States3–1Mexico León
Houston Dynamo FC United StatesAug 5Mexico Pachuca
UANL MexicoAug 5United States Los Angeles FC
CF Montréal CanadaAug 5Mexico Puebla
Toluca MexicoAug 5United States New York City FC
Mazatlán MexicoAug 5United States San Diego FC
Atlanta United FC United StatesAug 6Mexico Atlas
Inter Miami CF United StatesAug 6Mexico UNAM
Minnesota United FC United StatesAug 6Mexico Atlético San Luis
Orlando City SC United StatesAug 6Mexico Necaxa
América MexicoAug 6United States Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake United StatesAug 6Mexico Querétaro
Seattle Sounders FC United StatesAug 6Mexico Tijuana
FC Cincinnati United StatesAug 7Mexico Guadalajara
Monterrey MexicoAug 7United States Charlotte FC
Cruz Azul MexicoAug 7United States Colorado Rapids
LA Galaxy United StatesAug 7Mexico Santos Laguna
New York Red Bulls United StatesAug 7Mexico Juárez

Knockout stage

[edit]

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

[edit]
 
QuarterfinalsSemifinals[broken anchor]Final[broken anchor]
 
          
 
August –
 
 
MLS 1
 
August –
 
Mexico LMX 4
 
 
 
August –
 
 
 
Mexico LMX 2
 
August 31 –
 
MLS 3
 
 
 
August –
 
 
 
Mexico LMX 1
 
August –
 
MLS 4
 
 
 
August –
 
 Third place playoff[broken anchor]
 
MLS 2
 
August –
 
Mexico LMX 3
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quarterfinals

[edit]
Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Liga MX 1 MexicoQF1MLS 4
MLS 1QF2Mexico Liga MX 4
Liga MX 2 MexicoQF3MLS 3
MLS 2QF4Mexico Liga MX 3

Statistics

[edit]

Top goalscorers

[edit]
As of matches played July 31, 2025[6]
  Team eliminated for this round.
  Player was inactive for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 QF SF 3rd F Total
1 Argentina Tomás Badaloni Mexico Necaxa 2 2
Argentina Ángel Correa Mexico UANL 2
Argentina Pedro de la Vega United States Seattle Sounders FC 2
Mexico Alexéi Domínguez Mexico Pachuca 2
Brazil Madson Mexico Juárez 2
Mexico Gilberto Mora Mexico Tijuana 2
Brazil Rafael Navarro United States Colorado Rapids 2
Ghana Joseph Paintsil United States LA Galaxy 2
Portugal Paulinho Mexico Toluca 2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hernandez, Cesar (January 30, 2025). "MLS vs. Liga MX to dominate Leagues Cup lineup". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Leagues Cup 2025 format & competition details: What to know". January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  3. ^ "Leagues Cup 2025 Guide: Everything fans need to know". MLSsoccer.com. July 25, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Leagues Cup 2025 Schedule is Here!". February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Leagues Cup 2025 » Top Scorer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
[edit]