The Leagues Cup is an annual soccer competition that features clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS), the main soccer league in the United States and Canada, and Liga MX, the top professional league in Mexico. It was inaugurated in 2019 as a tournament to encourage competition between the top club teams from these North American leagues. The tournament has evolved over time:
- Initially, it was a smaller knockout tournament with four teams each from MLS and Liga MX.
- In 2023, it expanded to include all teams from both leagues, making it a larger competition with a group stage followed by knockout rounds.
- By 2025, the format was adjusted again to include the top 18 MLS clubs (based on the previous season) and all 18 Liga MX clubs, totaling 36 teams.
- The competition features interleague matches where MLS teams play Liga MX teams in a group phase called "Phase One," followed by knockout rounds where the top teams advance.
- Matches are held in the United States and Canada, and the Leagues Cup serves as a qualifier for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the top three teams earning spots in that continental tournament.
- The tournament uses a unique points system where wins in regulation time earn three points, shootout wins earn two points, shootout losses earn one point, and regulation losses earn no points.
- The 2025 edition runs from late July to the end of August.
Overall, the Leagues Cup is a regional club championship that highlights the rivalry and competition between the premier soccer teams from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, aimed at increasing the profile of the sport in North America and providing a prestigious title and pathway to broader international club competition. This tournament has grown into a marquee event for North American soccer fans, combining the best teams from both leagues in a high- stakes, cross-border competition.
