Leagues Cup 2025: Messi, Inter Miami, and the Battle for MLS vs. Liga MX Supremacy

Overview of the Leagues Cup 2025

The Leagues Cup, still in its early stages, has seen a surge in popularity since its debut in 2023 when Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to their first-ever title. Since then, Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX have collaborated to enhance the competition’s credibility and appeal. Their goal is to maintain competitive fairness while increasing fan engagement. In the initial years, MLS dominated the competition, prompting the collaboration committee to implement changes aimed at creating a more balanced playing field for Liga MX teams. The format was significantly modified for the 2025 season, with the hope of giving Liga MX a stronger chance to compete on U.S. soil.

Leagues Cup 2025 Schedule

The Leagues Cup 2025 will consist of two main phases: the League Phase and the Knockout Phase. Here is the detailed schedule:

League Phase
– Round 1: July 29–31
– Round 2: August 1–3
– Round 3: August 5–7

Knockout Phase
– Quarterfinals: August 19–20
– Semifinals: August 26–27
– Third Place Match: August 31
– Final: August 31

Leagues Cup Bracket and Fixtures for 2025 Tournament

In the knockout phase, the four MLS qualifiers will face off against the corresponding Liga MX qualifier. For example, the top team from the MLS table will play against the fourth-place team from the Liga MX table, and so on.

Quarterfinals
– QF1: Seattle Sounders (MLS #1) vs. Puebla (Liga MX #4)
– QF2: LA Galaxy (MLS #3) vs. Pachuca (Liga MX #2)
– QF3: Orlando City (MLS #4) vs. Toluca (Liga MX #1)
– QF4: Inter Miami (MLS #2) vs. UANL (Liga MX #3)

Semifinals
– SF1: Winner of QF1 vs. Winner of QF2
– SF2: Winner of QF3 vs. Winner of QF4

Third Place Match
– Loser of SF1 vs. Loser of SF2

Final
– Winner of SF1 vs. Winner of SF2

Leagues Cup Format 2025

The Leagues Cup has completely restructured its format for the 2025 competition. Previously, it featured a group stage with three-team groups and a large 32-team knockout bracket. This structure has been replaced with a model that closely resembles the new UEFA Champions League format.

Leagues Cup 2025 League Phase Standings, Results, and Fixtures

During the League Phase, tiebreakers will be crucial due to the limited number of matches played. The criteria for breaking ties are as follows:
– Wins in regular time
– Goal differential
– Most goals scored
– Fewest goals conceded
– Fair play points (based on cards shown to players and technical staff)
– Yellow card: 1 point
– Second yellow card: 3 points
– Direct red card: 4 points
– Drawing of lots

MLS Standings

Here are the current standings as of all matches on Thursday, August 7:

| Pos | Club | GP | W-PW-PL-L | Pts | GD |
|—–|—————|—-|———–|—–|—-|
| 1 | Seattle Sounders | 3 | 3-0-0-0 | 9 | +9 |
| 2 | Inter Miami | 3 | 2-1-0-0 | 8 | +3 |
| 3 | LA Galaxy | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +7 |
| 4 | Orlando City | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +6 |
| 5 | Portland Timbers | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +5 |
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +3 |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +1 |
| 8 | LAFC | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +1 |
| 9 | NY Red Bulls | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 6 | +1 |
| 10 | Minnesota United | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | +1 |
| 11 | FC Cincinnati | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | Colorado Rapids | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | 0 |
| 13 | Charlotte FC | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | -1 |
| 14 | Atlanta United | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | San Diego FC | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -1 |
| 16 | NYCFC | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -2 |
| 17 | CF Montreal | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 2 | -2 |
| 18 | Houston Dynamo | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |

Liga MX Standings

| Pos | Club | GP | W-PW-PL-L | Pts | GD |
|—–|—————|—-|———–|—–|—-|
| 1 | Toluca | 3 | 2-1-0-0 | 8 | +2 |
| 2 | Pachuca | 3 | 2-0-1-0 | 7 | +2 |
| 3 | UNAL Tigres | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 | +3 |
| 4 | Puebla | 3 | 2-0-0-1 | 6 | +2 |
| 5 | Juarez | 3 | 1-1-1-0 | 6 | +3 |
| 6 | Guadalajara | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Mazatlan | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | Pumas UNAM | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | San Luis | 3 | 1-1-0-1 | 5 | -2 |
| 10 | Club America | 3 | 0-2-1-0 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | Necaxa | 3 | 1-0-1-1 | 4 | -2 |
| 12 | Cruz Azul | 3 | 0-2-0-1 | 4 | -7 |
| 13 | Tijuana | 3 | 1-0-0-2 | 3 | -3 |
| 14 | Monterrey | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 2 | -3 |
| 15 | Club Leon | 3 | 0-1-0-2 | 1 | -3 |
| 16 | Queretaro | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -5 |
| 17 | Atlas | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |
| 18 | Santos Laguna | 3 | 0-0-0-3 | 0 | -6 |

League Phase – Matchday 1

Here are the results from the first matchday of the League Phase:

• CF Montreal 1-1 Club Leon – CF Montreal won 7-6 on penalties
• Toluca 2-2 Columbus Crew – Toluca won 4-2 on penalties
• NYCFC 0-3 Puebla
• UNAL Tigres 4-1 Houston Dynamo
• LAFC 1-1 Mazatlan – Mazatlan won 11-10 on penalties
• Pachuca 3-2 San Diego FC
• Necaxa 3-1 Atlanta United
• Inter Miami 2-1 Atlas
• Pumas UNAM 1-1 Orlando City – Pumas UNAM won 4-3 on penalties
• Minnesota United 4-1 Queretaro
• Club America 2-2 Real Salt Lake – RSL won 3-1 on penalties
• Portland Timbers 4-0 Atletico San Luis
• Monterrey 2-3 FC Cincinnati
• Charlotte FC 1-4 Juarez
• Guadalajara 0-1 NY Red Bulls
• Colorado Rapids 2-1 Santos Laguna
• Cruz Azul 0-7 Seattle Sounders
• LA Galaxy 5-2 Tijuana

League Phase – Matchday 2

Results from the second matchday of the League Phase:

• NYCFC 2-0 Club Leon
• Columbus Crew 3-1 Puebla
• Houston Dynamo 0-2 Mazatlan
• Toluca 2-1 CF Montreal
• LAFC 1-1 Pachuca – LAFC won 4-2 on penalties
• UNAL Tigres 2-1 San Diego FC
• Orlando City 3-1 Atlas
• Inter Miami 2-2 Necaxa – Inter Miami won 5-4 on penalties
• Club America 3-3 Minnesota United – Club America won 8-7 on penalties
• Pumas UNAM 3-2 Atlanta United
• Real Salt Lake 2-2 Atletico San Luis – Atletico San Luis won 4-1 on penalties
• Portland Timbers 1-0 Queretaro
• FC Cincinnati 2-2 Juarez – Juarez won 4-3 on penalties
• Guadalajara 2-2 Charlotte FC – Guadalajara won 4-2 on penalties
• Monterrey 1-1 NY Red Bulls – Monterrey won 5-3 on penalties
• Colorado Rapids 1-2 Tijuana
• LA Galaxy 1-1 Cruz Azul – Cruz Azul won 8-7 on penalties
• Seattle Sounders 2-1 Santos Laguna

League Phase – Matchday 3

Results from the third matchday of the League Phase:

• Columbus Crew 1-0 Club Leon
• Toluca 2-1 NYCFC
• CF Montreal 1-2 Puebla
• Houston Dynamo 1-2 Pachuca
• Mazatlan 0-2 San Diego FC
• UNAL Tigres 1-2 LAFC
• Orlando City 5-1 Necaxa
• Inter Miami 3-1 Pumas UNAM
• Atlanta United 4-1 Atlas
• Minnesota United 0-2 Atletico San Luis
• Club America 1-1 Portland Timbers – Club America won 5-3 on penalties
• Real Salt Lake 1-0 Queretaro
• Seattle Sounders 2-1 Tijuana
• FC Cincinnati 1-2 Guadalajara
• Monterrey 0-2 Charlotte FC
• NY Red Bulls 1-1 Juarez – NY Red Bulls won 5-3 on penalties
• Cruz Azul 2-2 Colorado Rapids – Cruz Azul won 5-4 on penalties
• LA Galaxy 4-0 Santos Laguna