2023 LEAGUES CUP
Leagues Cup 2023 format explained: teams, rules, group stage, matchups, prizes…
The new incarnation of the Leagues Cup kicks off this week with 47 clubs taking part - 18 from the Liga MX and 29 from MLS.
A totally new and reimagined format of the MLS/Liga MX Leagues Cup gets underway later this week in Miami. Kicking off proceedings will be Orlando SC and Houston Dynamo - the inaugural match of a tournament involving 47 clubs - all 18 Liga MX teams plus 29 teams from MLS. Lionel Messi is expected to make his long-awaited debut for Inter Miami in the competition, most likely in the opening round of fixtures against Cruz Azul.
The official CONCACAF competition gets underway on Friday 21 July and will reach its conclusion on Saturday 19 August. Matches will be played at MLS stadiums in the United States and Canada. Three teams from the Leagues Cup will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League and as the competition looms, sponsors and partners such as Coors Light and Adidas have signed up to the new initiative.
Leagues Cup: format
Group Stage
The 45 clubs taking part in the group stage have been divided into 15 groups of three teams across four regions - West, Central, South and East - based on their geographic location with 2022 MLS Cup champion Los Angeles FC and Liga MX Apertura 2022 champions Pachuca both getting byes to the next stage (Round of 32).
The seeding system to allocate teams has been based on the 2022 MLS season Supporters Shield standings with the aggregate 2022 Liga MX table being used to seed the Mexican sides.
The top two teams from each of the 15 groups will advance to the knockout Round of 32. All games that end level in the group stage will be decided by a penalty shootout. The scoring system is as follows: a group stage win earns a team three points, a penalty shootout is worth two points and a shootout defeat will be worth one point for the defeated team.
West
West 1: Tigres UANL (No. 2 LIGA MX), Portland Timbers (No. 14 MLS), San Jose Earthquakes (No. 25 MLS)
West 2: Monterrey (No. 3 LIGA MX), Real Salt Lake (No. 13 MLS), Seattle Sounders FC (No. 20 MLS)
West 3: LA Galaxy (No. 7 MLS), Club Leon (No. 9 LIGA MX), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (No. 16 MLS)
Central
Central 1: América (No. 1 LIGA MX), Columbus Crew (No. 15 MLS), St. Louis CITY SC (No. 28 MLS)
Central 2: Puebla (No. 6 LIGA MX), Minnesota United FC (No. 10 MLS), Chicago Fire FC (No. 23 MLS)
Central 3: Chivas Guadalajara (No. 7 LIGA MX), FC Cincinnati (No. 9 MLS), Sporting Kansas City (No. 21 MLS)
Central 4: Nashville SC (No. 8 MLS), Toluca (No. 8 LIGA MX), Colorado Rapids (No. 17 MLS)
South
South 1: Austin FC (No. 3 MLS), Mazatlán FC (No. 13 LIGA MX), FC Juárez (No. 16 LIGA MX)
South 2: Santos Laguna (No. 4 LIGA MX), Orlando City SC (No. 12 MLS), Houston Dynamo FC (No. 24 MLS)
South 3: Cruz Azul (No. 5 LIGA MX), Inter Miami CF (No. 11 MLS), Atlanta United (No. 22 MLS)
South 4: FC Dallas (No. 6 MLS), Necaxa (No. 10 LIGA MX), Charlotte FC (No. 18 MLS)
East
East 1: Philadelphia Union (No. 1 MLS), Club Tijuana (No. 15 LIGA MX), Querétaro (No. 17 LIGA MX)
East 2: CF Montréal (No. 2 MLS), Pumas (No. 14 LIGA MX), D.C. United (No. 27 MLS)
East 3: New York City FC (No. 4 MLS), Atlas (No. 12 LIGA MX), Toronto FC (No. 26 MLS)
East 4: New York Red Bulls (No. 5 MLS), Atlético de San Luis (No. 11 LIGA MX), New England Revolution (No. 19 MLS)
Knockout Rounds
The top teams in each group will secure home advantage in the one-off, Round of 32 knockout fixtures that will be staged over 2-4 August.
The competition then continues on a single game knockout format through to the final which will take place on 19 August with the match set to be preceded by a third-fourth game to determine the final team who secures the CONCACAF CCL place.
Prizes
When the ‘new’ Leagues Cup was announced back in October 2022, an MLS spokesperson said that the financial rewards “will be substantial and valuable for participating clubs”, although there has no official confirmation of the prize money on offer.
The winning team will lift the Leagues Cup trophy, which is silver bowl atop a pedestal. The champions each year will be given a replica after keeping the original for 12 months. And as mentioned, the teams finishing first, second and third will qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League, with the winners going directly into the round of 16.
How to follow the 2023 Leagues Cup
The Apple TV MLS Season Pass will show every single game from the competition with additional broadcasting details in the US/Mexico set to be confirmed nearer the start date.
AS USA will also be carrying extensive coverage of the competition with special features and exclusive interviews ahead of the tournament.
Fans wanting to attend games in person can no do so with match tickets on sale via the individual club websites.