The 2025 Leagues Cup will feature 18 of 30 MLS teams and all 18 clubs from LIGA MX, beginning July 29 to the Aug. 31 final. Tournament organizers announced the new format Thursday.
At least 94% of the tournament (58 of the 62 possible matches) features an MLS club against a LIGA MX club before the semifinals.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami won the tournament in 2023, while the Columbus Crew won the 2024 edition. Both clubs, along with MLS Cup champion L.A. Galaxy, LAFC and Real Salt Lake are among the Top 10 ranked clubs in the 2025 field.
Leagues Cup 2025 will be played in two rounds: Phase One and the Knockout Rounds. Phase One will feature three consecutive match dates per club, and all 54 Phase One matches will be played between MLS and LIGA MX clubs.
Most Leagues Cup knockout matches will be played midweek as the MLS and LIGA MX regular seasons will continue play through the month of August.
The top four MLS and LIGA MX clubs, ranked with a points system after Phase One, will advance to the quarterfinals.
The new format was created following a collaborative effort of the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee with representatives from Leagues Cup, MLS and LIGA MX leadership.
Considerations included rewarding regular season results and geographical regions while addressing what they’ve learned from the last two editions of the tournament, including the need for more interleague matchups.
The Leagues Cup champion, runner-up and third-place team will again be awarded spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
More information regarding Leagues Cup 2025 matchups, schedule and other details will be announced later.
What is the new Leagues Cup tournament format?
The teams will be separated into six sets of six clubs – three sets in the East, and three sets in the West – in Phase One of the tournament.
Each set of six will include an MLS and LIGA MX club ranked in Tier 1 (teams ranked 1-3 from each league), Tier 2 (ranked 4-6) and Tier 3 (ranked 7-9).
Each team will play three matches against the opponents from the opposite league within their set.
For example, Inter Miami would play three matches against LIGA MX clubs during Phase One.
What is the new Leagues Cup tournament points system?
MLS and Liga MX teams will compete in a league-specific table against the teams from their own league.
MLS clubs will earn points in the Leagues Cup MLS table, while LIGA MX clubs earn points in the Leagues Cup LIGA MX table.
The top four clubs from each league-specific table advance to the quarterfinals.
Leagues Cup points format, and no draws
Leagues Cup will maintain its current ‘No Draws’ format: Regulation wins count as three points, but games will go to an immediate penalty shootout if tied at the end of regulation.
During Phase One: Each club receives one point if the game is tied after 90 minutes. The winner of the penalty shootout will earn an additional point.
If tied at the end of regulation in the quarterfinals and beyond, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.
How will MLS and LIGA MX teams be ranked in Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup ranking combines MLS and LIGA MX league performance across 34 regular season matches into a unified table.
MLS teams will be ranked based on the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings with expansion franchise San Diego FC listed last.
LIGA MX clubs will be ranked based on the cumulative 34 matches in the 2024 Clausura and Apertura tournaments.
Here are the Leagues Cup East and West tier rankings:
East
Tier 1: Inter Miami, Toluca FC, Columbus Crew, CF Monterrey, FC Cinncinnati, Pumas
Tier 2: Chivas de Guadalajara, Orlando City, Charlotte FC, New York City FC, Club Leon, Club Necaxa.
Tier 3: New York Red Bulls, CF Montreal, Atlanta United, Atlas FC, FC Juarez, Club Puebla.
West
Tier 1: Cruz Azul, Club Tigres, LAFC, L.A. Galaxy, Club America, Real Salt Lake.
Tier 2: Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo FC, Minnesota United, Atletico de San Luis, Club Tijuana, Club Pachuca.
Tier 3: Colorado Rapids, Portland Timbers, Club Queretaro, Mazatlan FC, Club Santos Laguna, San Diego FC.
