Leagues Cup Returns With a Bang — And a New, Slimmed-Down Look

Will this be the year that Liga MX finally breaks MLS’s stranglehold on the Leagues Cup?

The third edition of the expanded Leagues Cup tournament — the World Cup-style competition that pits Major League Soccer clubs against their counterparts from Mexico — kicked off on Tuesday night with six games across the U.S. and Canada.

The last two editions of the Leagues Cup featured all-MLS finals.

MLS clubs Inter Miami and Columbus Crew won the last two editions of the Leagues Cup. (Getty Images)

Lionel Messi memorably led Inter Miami to the 2023 title before ever playing an official MLS match for the Herons, scoring 10 goals in seven appearances — including the decider against Nashville.

Last year, the Columbus Crew topped LAFC in a rematch of the previous fall’s MLS Cup final.

But a format shift this year favors the squads from south of the Rio Grande.

LEAGUES CUP PREDICTIONS, TEAMS TO WATCH AS MLS-LIGA MX RIVALRY RENEWS

First, after every MLS franchise participated in the Leagues Cup in each of the last two years, only the 18 American and Canadian teams that qualified for the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs are involved (except for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who were replaced by expansion San Diego FC) joining all 18 Liga MX clubs.

Second, there are no more intra-league matches: MLS sides and those from Mexico won’t face opponents from their own circuit during the first phase of the Leagues Cup, or in the quarterfinals.

That switch probably also benefits the Liga MX teams, which are not bound by the strict roster and salary restrictions that limit the competitiveness of MLS entrants in international play.

Tuesday’s results suggest as much, with Mexican sides winning five of the six contests, including three-goal victories by Puebla