The League Cup, an interleague tournament featuring teams from Major League Soccer and La Liga MX, begins on Tuesday. Columbus Crew, fresh off a strong performance at the Club World Cup with Al Ahly, is looking to defend its title, bolstered by the addition of new designated player Wessam Abou Ali. This forward is pivotal to their strategy, but they’re not alone in bringing in significant talent—Rodrigo de Paul is set to join Inter Miami, further enhancing their midfield.
The tournament runs from July 29 to August 31, with a pause for MLS league play, resuming on August 9. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.
League Cup Format
- Who competes in the group stage? Only MLS clubs will face off against La Liga MX teams in the first phase of the tournament.
- How will the knockout stage be determined? Clubs from both leagues will compete against one another, with standings being calculated separately for each league. The top four teams from each league will secure a spot in the quarterfinals, set for August 19-20. A team might win all their group matches but miss out on the knockout stage due to goal differentials, emphasizing the importance of goal scoring.
- What happens if there’s a tie? Matches cannot end in a draw; if regulation time concludes with a tie, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. A victory earns three points, a regulation draw gives one point, and two points go to the penalty shootout winner.
San Diego FC’s Participation
Not all MLS teams are participating, as qualification is determined by league standings. Only the top nine teams in each league meet this criterion. Additionally, the Vancouver Whitecaps aim to kickstart their season with a strong showing after competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship.
League Cup Standings
Group A
| Standing | Club | MP | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Atlanta United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Charlotte FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | FC Cincinnati | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Colorado Rapids | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Columbus Crew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Houston Dynamo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Inter Miami | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | LA Galaxy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Los Angeles FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Minnesota United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | CF Montreal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | New York City FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | New York Red Bulls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Orlando City FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Portland Timbers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Real Salt Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | San Diego FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Seattle Sounders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group B
| Standing | Club | MP | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Atlas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Atlético de San Luis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Club América | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Blue Cross | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Chivas Guadalajara | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Juárez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Club León | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Mazatlán | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Monterrey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Necaxa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Pachuca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Puebla | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Pumas UNAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Querétaro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Santos Laguna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Tigres UANL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Club Tijuana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Toruca | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
League Cup Schedule and Results
All matches will be broadcast on the MLS Season Pass.
Tuesday, July 29
- Toluca vs. Columbus Crew, 7 PM
- CF Montreal vs. Club León, 7 PM
- NYCFC vs. Puebla, 8 PM
- Tigres vs. Houston Dynamo, 9 PM
- LAFC vs. Mazatlán, 10:30 PM
- Pachuca vs. San Diego FC, 11 PM
Wednesday, July 30
- Inter Miami vs. Atlas, 7:30 PM
- Necaxa vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 PM
- Pumas vs. Orlando City, 8 PM
- Minnesota United vs. Club Budget, 8:30 PM
- Club América vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:30 PM
- Portland vs. San Luis, 10:30 PM
Thursday, July 31
- Monterrey vs. Cincinnati, 7 PM
- Chivas Guadalajara vs. RBNY, 7:30 PM
- Charlotte vs. Juárez, 7:30 PM
- Colorado Rapids vs. Santos Laguna, 9:30 PM
- Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders, 10:30 PM
- LA Galaxy vs. Club Tijuana, 11 PM
Knockout Phase and Important Dates
- Phase 1: July 29 – August 7
- Quarterfinals: August 19-20
- Semi-finals: August 26-27
- 3rd Place Match: August 31
- Final: August 31
Tiebreaker Rules
In the event of a tie at points after Phase 1, the following criteria will be used:
- Wins in regular time
- Goal difference
- Most goals scored
- Fewest goals conceded
- Lowest points for fair play (accumulated yellow and red cards)
- Tiebreak draws conducted by the League Cup
Fan Take: The League Cup presents an exciting clash between two prominent soccer leagues, which could spark greater interest in soccer in North America. For soccer fans, this tournament offers a glimpse of emerging talent and intensified competition, promising thrilling matches and potential surprises.
