Still in its infancy, the Leagues Cup has grown in popularity since its inaugural season in 2023 when Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to a first-ever title.
Since then, Major League Soccer and Liga MX have teamed up to try to push their new competition’s credibility and popularity, attempting to balance competitive fairness with a drive for increased fan interaction.
MLS has dominated the competition in its early years, forcing the collaboration committee to develop a plan that helps create a level playing field for Liga MX to compete. Thus, the format was significantly altered for the 2025 season, hoping to give Liga MX a boost in their attempts to perform in a competition that takes place on U.S. soil.
The Sporting News brings you a full overview of all results and matchups as it plays out.
Leagues Cup 2025 schedule
| Phase | Round | Dates |
| League Phase | Round 1 | July 29-31 |
| Round 2 | Aug. 1-3 | |
| Round 3 | Aug. 5-7 | |
| Knockout Phase | Quarterfinals | Aug. 19-20 |
| Semifinals | Aug. 26-27 | |
| Third Place | Aug. 31 | |
| Final |
Leagues Cup bracket, fixtures for 2025 tournament
In the knockout phase, the four MLS qualifiers will match up against the opposite qualifier from Liga MX. For example, the first-place finisher in the MLS table will face the fourth-place finisher in the Liga MX table, and so on.
Quarterfinals
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Wed, Aug. 20 | 8 p.m. | QF2: Inter Miami (MLS #2) 2-1 Tigres UANL (Liga MX #3) | Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) |
| Wed, Aug. 20 | 9 p.m. | QF3: Orlando City (MLS #4) 0-0 Toluca (Liga MX #1) Orlando City adv. 6-5 on pens |
Dignity Sports Health Park (Carson, CA) |
| Wed, Aug. 20 | 11 p.m. | QF1: Seattle Sounders (MLS #1) 0-0 Puebla (Liga MX #4) Seattle Sounders adv. 4-3 on pens |
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Wed, Aug. 20 | 11:45 p.m. | QF2: LA Galaxy (MLS #3) 2-1 Pachuca (Liga MX #2) | Dignity Sports Health Park (Carson, CA) |
Semifinals
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Wed, Aug. 27 | 8:30 p.m. | SF1: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City | Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) |
| Wed, Aug. 27 | 10:45 p.m. | SF2: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
Third place match
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Sun, Aug. 31 | TBD | Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2 | TBD |
Final
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Sun, Aug. 31 | TBD | Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2 | TBD |
Leagues Cup format 2025
The Leagues Cup has completely reworked its format for the 2025 competition.
In the past, the competition was structured as a group stage with three-team groups and a massive 32-team knockout bracket. That format has been scrapped for a model that more closely reflects the new UEFA Champions League structure.
You can read more about the format changes and how it all works here.
Leagues Cup 2025 league phase standings, results, fixtures
The tiebreakers in the League Phase, which will likely come into play given the low number of matches to be played to separate the 18 clubs on each side, are as follows:
- Wins in regular time
- Goal differential
- Most goals scored
- Fewest goals conceded
- Fair play points (all cards shown to both players and technical staff)
- Yellow card: 1 point
- 2nd yellow card: 3 points
- Direct red card: 4 points
- Drawing of lots
Standings as of all matches on Thursday, August 7.
MLS standings
| Pos | Club | GP | W-PW-PL-L | Pts | GD |
| 1. | Seattle Sounders – x | 3 | 3-0-0-0 | 9 | +9 |
| 2. | Inter Miami – x | 3 | 2-1-0-0 | 8 | +3 |
| 3. | LA Galaxy – x | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +7 |
| 4. | Orlando City – x | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +6 |
| 5. | Portland Timbers – e | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +5 |
| 6. | Columbus Crew – e | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +3 |
| 7. | Real Salt Lake – e | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +1 |
| 8. | LAFC – e | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +1 |
| 9. | NY Red Bulls – e | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 6 | +1 |
| 10. | Minnesota United – e | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | +1 |
| 11. | FC Cincinnati – e | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | 0 |
| 12. | Colorado Rapids – e | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | 0 |
| 13. | Charlotte FC – e | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | -1 |
| 14. | Atlanta United – e | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | 0 |
| 15. | San Diego FC – e | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -1 |
| 16. | NYCFC – e | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -2 |
| 17. | CF Montreal – e | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 2 | -2 |
| 18. | Houston Dynamo – e | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |
x = confirmed qualification to the knockout phase
e = confirmed eliminated from the competition
Liga MX standings
| Pos | Club | GP | W-PW-PL-L | Pts | GD |
| 1. | Toluca – x | 3 | 2-1-0-0 | 8 | +2 |
| 2. | Pachuca– x | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +2 |
| 3. | UNAL Tigres– x | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 | +3 |
| 4. | Puebla– x | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 | +2 |
| 5. | Juarez – e | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +3 |
| 6. | Guadalajara – e | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7. | Mazatlan – e | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 8. | Pumas UNAM – e | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 9. | San Luis – e | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | -2 |
| 10. | Club America – e | 3 | 0-2-1-0 | 5 | 0 |
| 11. | Necaxa – e | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | -2 |
| 12. | Cruz Azul – e | 3 | 0-2-0-1 | 4 | -7 |
| 13 | Tijuana – e | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -3 |
| 14 | Monterrey – e | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 2 | -3 |
| 15. | Club Leon – e | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 1 | -3 |
| 16. | Queretaro – e | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -5 |
| 17. | Atlas – e | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |
| 18. | Santos Laguna – e | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |
League Phase — Matchday 1
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 7 p.m. | CF Montreal 1-1 Club Leon CF Montreal won 7-6 on pens |
Saputo Stadium (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 7 p.m. | Toluca 2-2 Columbus Crew Toluca won 4-2 on pens |
Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH) |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 8 p.m. | NYCFC 0-3 Puebla | Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ) |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 9 p.m. | UNAL Tigres 4-1 Houston Dynamo | Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 10:30 p.m. | LAFC 1-1 Mazatlan Mazatlan won 11-10 on pens |
BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA) |
| Tue, Jul. 29 | 11 p.m. | Pachuca 3-2 San Diego FC | Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, CA) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Necaxa 3-1 Atlanta United | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Inter Miami 2-1 Atlas | Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 8 p.m. | Pumas UNAM 1-1 Orlando City Pumas UNAM won 4-3 on pens |
Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Minnesota United 4-1 Queretaro | Allianz Field (St. Paul, MN) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 9:30 p.m. | Club America 2-2 Real Salt Lake RSL won 3-1 on pens |
America First Field (Sandy, UT) |
| Wed, Jul. 30 | 10:30 p.m. | Portland Timbers 4-0 Atletico San Luis | Providence Park (Portland, OR) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 7 p.m. | Monterrey 2-3 FC Cincinnati | TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Charlotte FC 1-4 Juarez | Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Guadalajara 0-1 NY Red Bulls | Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 9:30 p.m. | Colorado Rapids 2-1 Santos Laguna | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 10:30 p.m. | Cruz Azul 0-7 Seattle Sounders | Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Thu, Jul. 31 | 11 p.m. | LA Galaxy 5-2 Tijuana | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
League Phase — Matchday 2
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 6 p.m. | NYCFC 2-0 Club Leon | Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ) |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 7 p.m. | Columbus Crew 3-1 Puebla | Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH) |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 8:30 p.m. | Houston Dynamo 0-2 Mazatlan | Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 9 p.m. | Toluca 2-1 CF Montreal | Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ) |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 10:30 p.m. | LAFC 1-1 Pachuca LAFC won 4-2 on pens |
BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA) |
| Fri, Aug. 1 | 11 p.m. | UNAL Tigres 2-1 San Diego FC | Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, CA) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 6 p.m. | Orlando City 3-1 Atlas | Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 7 p.m. | Inter Miami 2-2 Necaxa Inter Miami won 5-4 on pens |
Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 9 p.m. | Club America 3-3 Minnesota United Club America won 8-7 on pens |
Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 9 p.m. | Pumas UNAM 3-2 Atlanta United | Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 9:30 p.m. | Real Salt Lake 2-2 Atletico San Luis Atletico San Luis won 4-1 on pens |
America First Field (Sandy, UT) |
| Sat, Aug. 2 | 11 p.m. | Portland Timbers 1-0 Queretaro | Providence Park (Portland, OR) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 5:30 p.m. | FC Cincinnati 2-2 Juarez Juarez won 4-3 on pens |
TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 7:50 p.m. | Guadalajara 2-2 Charlotte FC Guadalajara won 4-2 on pens |
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 8:30 p.m. | Monterrey 1-1 NY Red Bulls Monterrey won 5-3 on pens |
TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 9:30 p.m. | Colorado Rapids 1-2 Tijuana | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 10:30 p.m. | LA Galaxy 1-1 Cruz Azul Cruz Azul won 8-7 on pens |
Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Sun, Aug. 3 | 10:30 p.m. | Seattle Sounders 2-1 Santos Laguna | Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
League Phase — Matchday 3
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Columbus Crew 1-0 Club Leon | Lower.com Field (Columbus, OH) |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Toluca 2-1 NYCFC | Yankee Stadium (New York City, NY) |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 8 p.m. | CF Montreal 1-2 Puebla | Saputo Stadium (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Houston Dynamo 1-2 Pachuca | Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 10 p.m. | Mazatlan 0-2 San Diego FC | Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, CA) |
| Tue, Aug. 5 | 10:30 p.m. | UNAL Tigres 1-2 LAFC | BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 7 p.m. | Orlando City 5-1 Necaxa | Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, FL) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Inter Miami 3-1 Pumas UNAM | Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Atlanta United 4-1 Atlas | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 8:30 p.m. | Minnesota United 0-2 Atletico San Luis | Allianz Field (St. Paul, MN) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 9:30 p.m. | Club America 1-1 Portland Timbers Club America won 5-3 on pens |
Q2 Stadium (Auston, TX) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 9:30 p.m. | Real Salt Lake 1-0 Queretaro | America First Field (Sandy, UT) |
| Wed, Aug. 6 | 11 p.m. | Seattle Sounders 2-1 Tijuana | Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Thu, Aug. 7 | 7 p.m. | FC Cincinnati 1-2 Guadalajara | TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, OH) |
| Thu, Aug. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Monterrey 0-2 Charlotte FC | Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC) |
| Thu, Aug. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | NY Red Bulls 1-1 Juarez NY Red Bulls won 5-3 on pens |
Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ) |
| Thu, Aug. 7 | 8:30 p.m. | Cruz Azul 2-2 Colorado Rapids Cruz Azul won 5-4 on pens |
Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |
| Thu, Aug. 7 | 11:15 p.m. | LA Galaxy 4-0 Santos Laguna | Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA) |