What is the Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup enters its third year of existence in 2025 with a few new changes added into the mix. This year, 36 MLS and LIGA MX teams will compete including 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 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs qualified for this year’s edition.
In the group stage, Orlando City will play Pumas UNAM on Wed., July 30, (8 p.m. ET), Atlas F.C. on Sat., Aug. 2 (6 p.m. ET) and Club Nexaca on Wed., Aug. 6 (7 p.m. ET) with all three games hosted at Inter&Co Stadium.
The tournament lasts from July 29 - August 31, 2025.
What's the format?
New for this year, the Leagues Cup will be played in two rounds: Phase One and the Knockout Rounds. 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.
The MLS and LIGA MX regular seasons will continue play through the month of August, with most Leagues Cup knockout matches played midweek.
How does the tournament play out?
Each club will play three matches against the 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.
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. New to this format, clubs will earn points within their league-specific tables. For example, an MLS club's win earns points in the Leagues Cup MLS table, while a LIGA MX win contributes to the Leagues Cup
The top four (4) clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advance to the Quarterfinals. The tables were designed to ensure more interleague matches into the Knockout Rounds.
