Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs are getting ready for the reinvented 2023 Leagues Cup and, well, so should you.
Call the Leagues Cup a better idea at regional unity than the North American Free Trade Agreement or a cash-grab by soccer clubs – criticism certainly runs on both sides of that aisle. For soccer fans in North America it means one thing: more soccer, más futbol, plus fut!
Founded in 2019 as an eight-team, single-elimination knockout tournament, the Leagues Cup picked up where the North American SuperLiga (2007–10) left off. It has now blossomed into a 47-team tournament between Liga MX and MLS clubs from the U.S. and Canada.
The three-nation commitment to expanding the appeal of the sport can be seen in this year’s tournament as all domestic action in both leagues will pause to lessen the impact of fixture congestion.
For the first time ever, all Liga MX and MLS teams will face off in what is bound to be a thrilling Summer competition. And as the rivalry between the two leagues heats up, clubs will be fighting for more than just a spot in the upcoming Concacaf Champions League edition.
Here's all you need to know about the upcoming tournament...
How does the 2023 Leagues Cup work?
The month-long tournament will halt all league play across North America beginning July 21 through a final match scheduled for August 19. There will be 15, three-team groups arranged by geographic zones and will feature round-robin play, with the top two advancing to a knockout stage of one-off matches.
The Leagues Cup will award three points to winners and draws are not an option – tied games will go directly to penalties with the winner through this method receiving two points for their victory and the loser one point.
The winner will have their spot in the round of 16 of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League secured while the final’s loser and third-place winner will get a spot in the first round of the competition.
How to watch the 2023 Leagues Cup on TV
All of the tournament will take place in U.S. and Canadian stadiums, with Liga MX teams arranged by geography. MLS Season Pass on Apple TV will air all of the matches with TelevisaUnivision, FOX Sports, TSN and RDS picking up a few of the games.
2023 Leagues Cup groups & schedule
WEST ONE
- 07/22/23 - Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes
- 07/26/23 - Portland Timbers vs. Tigres UANL
- 07/30/23 - San Jose Earthquakes vs. Tigres UANL
WEST TWO
- 07/22/23 - Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders
- 07/26/23 - Real Salt Lake vs. CF Monterrey
- 07/30/23 - Seattle Sounders vs. CF Monterrey
WEST THREE
- 07/21/23 - Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Club Léon
- 07/25/23 - LA Galaxy vs. Club Léon
- 07/29/23 - LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
CENTRAL ONE
- 07/23/23 - Columbus Crew vs. St. Louis City SC
- 07/27/23 - St. Louis City SC vs. Club América
- 07/31/23 - Columbus Crew vs. Club América
CENTRAL TWO
- 07/23/23 - Minnesota United vs. Puebla
- 07/27/23 - Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire
- 07/31/23 - Chicago Fire vs. Puebla
CENTRAL THREE
- 07/23/23 - FC Cincinnati vs. Sporting Kansas City
- 07/27/23 - FC Cincinnati vs. Chivas
- 07/31/23 - Sporting Kansas City vs. Chivas
CENTRAL FOUR
- 07/23/23 - Nashville SC vs. Colorado Rapids
- 07/27/23 - Nashville SC vs. Toluca
- 07/31/23 - Colorado Rapids vs. Toluca
SOUTH ONE
- 07/21/23 - Austin FC vs. Mazatlán FC
- 07/25/23 - Mazatlán FC vs. FC Juárez
- 07/29/23 - Austin FC vs. FC Juárez
SOUTH TWO
- 07/21/23 - Orlando City vs. Houston Dynamo
- 07/25/23 - Houston Dynamo vs. Santos Laguna
- 07/29/23 - Orlando City vs. Santos Laguna
SOUTH THREE
- 07/21/23 - Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul
- 07/25/23 - Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United
- 07/29/23 - Atlanta United vs. Cruz Azul
SOUTH FOUR
- 07/21/23 - FC Dallas vs. Charlotte FC
- 07/25/23 - FC Dallas vs. Necaxa
- 07/29/23 - Charlotte FC vs. Necaxa
EAST ONE
- 07/22/23 - Philadelphia Union vs. Tijuana
- 07/26/23 - Philadelphia Union vs. Querétaro
- 07/30/23 - Tijuana vs. Querétaro
EAST TWO
- 07/22/23 - CF Montréal vs. Pumas UNAM
- 07/26/23 - CF Montréal vs. D.C. United
- 07/30/23 - D.C. United vs. Pumas UNAM
EAST THREE
- 07/23/23 - New York City FC vs. Atlas
- 07/26/23 - New York City FC vs. Toronto FC
- 07/30/23 - Toronto FC vs. Atlas
EAST FOUR
- 07/22/23 - New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution
- 07/26/23 - New England Revolution vs. Atlético San Luis
- 07/30/23 - New York Red Bulls vs. Atlético San Luis
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2023 Leagues Cup knockout rounds
The round of 32 matches will be played between August 2–4 with LAFC and Pachuca receiving byes to this stage based on their top spot placements during the 2022 regular season.
Then, between August 6–8, the round of 16 will take place with quarterfinals scheduled for August 11 and 12.
2023 Leagues Cup round schedule
This article was originally published on 90min as 2023 Leagues Cup: Schedule, groups and where to watch.