The 2024 Leagues Cup is the ongoing fourth edition of the Leagues Cup, an international club soccer tournament contested by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX clubs in North America. It is taking place between July 26 and August 25, 2024, with all matches played in the United States and Canada. The three highest-placing teams will qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winner skip directly to the tournament at the round of 16.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host countries | Canada United States |
| Dates | July 26 – August 25 |
| Teams | 47 (from 3 associations) |
| Venue(s) | 31 (in 31 host cities) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 48 |
| Goals scored | 129 (2.69 per match) |
The groups and format for the 2024 edition were announced on January 31.[2] Unlike the 2023 edition, only two regions are used for the tournament's group stage, divided into eight groups in the West and seven in the East. The 45 teams in the group stage are seeded in a combined table based on the 2023 regular season for MLS teams and most recent 34 matches in the Clausura and Apertura for Liga MX teams.[3] Seeding for the group stage was divided into three pots (named "tiers") with geographical balance also considered.[2] MLS Cup 2023 champions Columbus Crew and the top Liga MX team by aggregate points in 2023, América, both earned a bye to the round of 32.[2][4]
All matches will be played in the United States and Canada at MLS venues. The top four teams in the Liga MX table used for seeding (América, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and UANL) have hub privileges that allow them to be the designated home team in certain rounds. The predetermined venues for the hubs were announced on March 14, 2024.[2][4][5]
Teams
editDraw
editFor the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup, the 45 teams participating in the group stage were drawn into groups based on a combined ranking that used the 2023 Supporters' Shield table for MLS teams and the most recent 34 matches in the 2023 Clausura and Apertura seasons for Liga MX teams. These teams were divided into three pots from which the groups were drawn.[2][4]
Seeding
edit| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Club América | Bye |
| Monterrey | 1 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2 |
| Orlando City SC | 3 |
| C.D. Guadalajara | 4 |
| Columbus Crew | Bye |
| St. Louis City SC | 5 |
| UANL | 6 |
| Philadelphia Union | 7 |
| New England Revolution | 8 |
| Toluca | 9 |
| Club León | 10 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 11 |
| Pachuca | 12 |
| Los Angeles FC | 13 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 14 |
| Atlanta United FC | 15 |
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Real Salt Lake | 16 |
| Nashville SC | 17 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 18 |
| FC Dallas | 19 |
| UNAM | 20 |
| Puebla | 21 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 22 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 23 |
| New York Red Bulls | 24 |
| Charlotte FC | 25 |
| Portland Timbers | 26 |
| Atlético San Luis | 27 |
| Santos Laguna | 28 |
| New York City FC | 29 |
| Minnesota United FC | 30 |
| Team | Rank |
|---|---|
| Cruz Azul | 31 |
| CF Montréal | 32 |
| D.C. United | 33 |
| Chicago Fire FC | 34 |
| Austin FC | 35 |
| Querétaro | 36 |
| Atlas | 37 |
| Tijuana | 38 |
| LA Galaxy | 39 |
| Inter Miami CF | 40 |
| Juárez | 41 |
| Necaxa | 42 |
| Mazatlán | 43 |
| Colorado Rapids | 44 |
| Toronto FC | 45 |
Group stage
editThe top four Liga MX clubs will have "hub rights" that will allow them to host in a fixed region with priority over most MLS teams:[5]
- América will play in California starting at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego in the Round of 32; hub privilege to last through the semifinal.
- Monterrey will play in Texas with both group games at Q2 Stadium in Austin; hub privilege to last through the Round of 16.
- Guadalajara will play in California starting at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara; hub privilege to last through the Round of 32.
- UANL will play in Texas starting at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston; hub privilege for group stage games only.
East
edit| East 1 | East 2 | East 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East 4 | East 5 | East 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
West
edit| West 1 | West 2 | West 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West 4 | West 5 | West 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West 7 | West 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Source: Leagues Cup
|
Knockout stage
editBracket
editRound of 32
editRound of 16
edit| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders FC | Aug 12 | UNAM |
| Los Angeles FC | Aug 13 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Inter Miami CF | ||
| UANL | ||
Quarterfinals
editSemifinals
editThird place playoff
editFinal
editBoth clubs qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winners qualifying directly to the round of 16.
Statistics
editTop goalscorers
edit| Rank | Player | Team | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | R32 | R16 | QF | SF | 3rd | F | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristian Olivera | Los Angeles FC | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||
| 2 | Jesús Angulo | Toluca | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
| Ramiro Árciga | Mazatlán | 2 | ||||||||||
| Yamil Asad | FC Cincinnati | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Christian Benteke | D.C. United | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Denis Bouanga | Los Angeles FC | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Jeremy Ebobisse | San Jose Earthquakes | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Ramiro Enrique | Orlando City SC | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Georgios Koutsias | Chicago Fire FC | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Zac McGraw | Portland Timbers | 2 | ||||||||||
| Daniel Ríos | Atlanta United FC | 2 | ||||||||||
| Marcel Ruiz | Toluca | 2 | ||||||||||
| Jared Stroud | D.C. United | 2 | ||||||||||
Controversies
editSome have pointed out that the Leagues Cup interrupts the schedules of both Liga MX and MLS. French player André-Pierre Gignac stated:[7] "I don't think that in Europe Marseille would have agreed to stop the local tournament for a month to go to another country to compete in an international one, but it is part of the growth of two leagues, of a rivalry. The United States is a spectacle and is great."
He also added: "It would be good if American clubs could come to play in Mexico because in Mexico there are different altitudes and climates, which would be beneficial."
In a similar way, Portuguese trainer Renato Paiva declared: “For me it doesn't make sense to cut the tournament. Who am I to teach people to organize tournaments, but I think these types of strikes should be for national teams. Today you start the Leagues Cup, you finish it and start the championship later or you start the championship, you finish it and you start the Leagues Cup later."[8]
Additionally, a reporter from the newspaper Récord reported that the Leagues Cup would impose a $25,000 fine on anyone who spoke negatively about the tournament, which is slightly more than 450,000 Mexican pesos. This decision was reportedly due to the negative feedback received by the event's organizers in 2023, when Club León players spent an extended period at the airport due to logistical problems [1].
Following Xolos' defeat to LAFC, and regarding a controversial expulsion during the match, the goalkeeper Toño Rodríguez limited his comments to the press area, as he admitted that he could face punishment.
“I don't have the slightest idea, I was far away and I only saw that they gave him the red card (…) We can't speak badly about the Leagues Cup because they'll fine us” the goalkeeper told Salvadoran journalist Rodrigo Serrano [2].
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "MLS unveils 2024 Regular Season schedule". MLSSoccer.com. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Leagues Cup 2024: Groups for MLS and LIGA MX teams". MLSSoccer.com. January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Jason (January 31, 2024). "MLS, Liga MX announce modified 2024 Leagues Cup". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c Cardenas, Felipe (January 31, 2024). "MLS, Liga MX announce Leagues Cup changes to reduce travel, add regional hubs". The Athletic. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ a b "Leagues Cup 2024: Schedule, bracket & hubs for MLS-LIGA MX competition". MLSSoccer.com. March 14, 2024.
- ^ "Leagues Cup 2024 » Top Scorer". worldfootball.net. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ "Gignac se une a críticas sobre Leagues Cup: "Marsella no hubiera aceptado parar un mes el torneo local"". Marca México (in Mexican Spanish). July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
- ^ "Paiva critica la pausa de Liga MX por la Leagues Cup: "No tiene sentido" | TUDN Liga MX | TUDN". www.tudn.com (in Spanish). Retrieved July 31, 2024.