What are the best teams in Liga MX? América, Chivas, Tigres, Monterrey...

The 2023 Leagues Cup gets underway as 18 Liga MX teams go head-to-head with all 29 MLS sides with the competition an interesting litmus test to see which is the stronger league.

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.

17 of the sides competing in Mexico’s top flight will participate in the group stage with 2022 Apertura winner Pachuca CF getting a bye through to the Round of 32 (along with 2022 MLS champions LAFC).

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.

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.

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.

Messi Miami debut

The arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has boosted the profile of the competition with the Argentine expected to pull on the pink shirt for the first time in a competitive game as Cruz Azul are the Leagues Cup visitors to a sold out DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

The arrival of the Argentine and former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets have seen the Herons propelled to one of the favorites to lift the cup.

Mexico threat

Liga MX sides will be determined to get one over their neighbours from the north as a shift at international level between the USMNT and Mexico is palpable.

Club America, Mexico’s most decorated club with 13 Liga MX titles are among the firm favourites to win the competition as are current Liga MX champions Tigres UANL who are shrewd operators when it comes to knockout football.

Current Liga MX leaders Chivas Guadalajara are flying domestically and have 12 league titles in the vaults and are another solid Mexican bet for the cup.

Rayados de Monterrey who are set to see their squad bolstered by the acquisition of Real Betis midfield maestro Sergio Canales are another good shout for the 2023 Leagues Cup with Pumas UNAM a good outside bet from a Liga MX perspective.