What Happened to Leagues Cup?

The Leagues Cup was inaugurated in July 2019 as an annual international club soccer competition, bringing together teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States and Canada, and Liga MX in Mexico. The initial format was a modest eight-team single-elimination tournament, with four clubs from each league participating. The first edition saw Cruz Azul defeat UANL 2-1 in the final.

The tournament's early years faced challenges and criticism. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022, no official champion was crowned, with only exhibition matches held due to fixture congestion. Despite this, the Leagues Cup quickly evolved, aiming to deepen the regional rivalry between North American leagues and provide a pathway to continental club competitions. Critics initially panned the tournament as a "meaningless friendly" and a "cash-grab," with concerns also raised by the MLS Players Association regarding schedule congestion.

A significant turning point occurred in 2023 when the tournament underwent a major expansion, including all 29 MLS teams and all 18 Liga MX teams, totaling 47 clubs. This expanded format also made the Leagues Cup a qualification tournament for the Concacaf Champions Cup (formerly Concacaf Champions League), with the top three teams earning berths. Inter Miami CF, led by Lionel Messi, won the first edition of the expanded tournament in 2023.

The format continued to be refined. The 2024 Leagues Cup featured all 47 clubs, with a tiered ranking system and hubs for high-ranked Liga MX clubs. Columbus Crew won the 2024 title, defeating Los Angeles FC. For the 2025 edition, the tournament contracted to 36 teams, comprising all 18 Liga MX clubs and 18 qualified MLS clubs (those participating in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs). A new "Phase One" and Knockout Rounds structure was introduced, with MLS and Liga MX regular seasons continuing concurrently with most Leagues Cup knockout matches. Seattle Sounders FC claimed their first Leagues Cup title in 2025, defeating Inter Miami CF in the final.

Current Status as of 2026-08-03: The Leagues Cup 2026 is currently underway, having commenced on August 4 and scheduled to conclude on September 6. This sixth edition maintains the 36-team format (18 MLS, 18 Liga MX) and the two-round structure (Phase One and Knockout Rounds). A notable development for 2026 is the introduction of matches hosted in Mexico, marking the first time since the inaugural 2019 tournament that games will be played south of the U.S.-Mexico border. The tournament continues to offer three qualification spots for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the champion advancing directly to the Round of 16. All matches are broadcast live on the Apple TV app, with select games also airing on TelevisaUnivision, FOX Sports, TSN, and RDS.