Leagues Cup 2025: Check Schedule, Host Cities and Location

League Cup 2025 is a major North American football tournament that brings together the top clubs of Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, continuing the growing rivalry between the top leagues of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. From July 29 to August 31, 2025, the tournament has 36 teams from each league-18-one month long, in high-level competition that provides more than just the right to be beaten.

 It also serves as a merit route for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the top three teams earning the spot. In its third official version as a fully integrated competition, the League Cup has adopted a unique format, where MLS and Liga MX teams only face opponents from other leagues during the group phase. 

The top four clubs from each league proceed to the knockout round, concluding in a final that is crowned the best club in North America. This structure promotes competitive balance and fan engagement, displaying top football talents from the entire region. With big names such as LAFC, Inter Miami, Club Amrika, and Tigress UANL, the 2025 tournaments promise intensive matchups, exciting goals, and major headlines. This is more than a tournament - it is a growing tradition in North American football.

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Leagues Cup 2025: Format Explained

The League Cup 2025 has a total of 36 teams, with 18 clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and 18 clubs from Liga MX of Mexico. The tournament runs from 29 July to 31 August 2025, and follows a unique structure that emphasizes the inter-League matchup.

 Group Phase (29 July - 7 August)

 Each team only plays three matches against clubs from the opposite league. MLS teams face Liga MX teams and vice versa. Teams do not compete against clubs from their own leagues at this stage. 

A special digit system is used to rank teams:

•  3 points for winning in regular time 
• 2 points for winning the penalty shootout after a draw 
• 1 point for a loss in a penalty shootout 
• 0 marks for loss in regular time

 Standing and Qualification

 Two separate points are maintained - one for MLS teams and one for Liga MX teams. After the completion of all matches in step one, the top four teams from each table begin with the quarter-finals, until the knockout stage.

Knockout Round 

The knockout phase has single-transport matches match determine who moves forward. The tournament ended on 31 August 2025 with a final and third-place match. Tournament Award 

The top three teams (champions, runner-ups, and third place) earn qualifications in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Schedule for the Leagues Cup 2025

Here is the complete dates for the Leagues Cup 2025 along with the phases: 

Participating Teams in the Leagues Cup 2025

The League Cup 2025 features a total of 36 teams, which are equally divided between two top football leagues in North America - Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX. This structure is designed to promote inter-League competition and promote regional football.

MLS teams (18)

 The top 9 clubs of the Eastern Conference and the 2024 MLS regular season are automatically qualified from the Western Conference of the regular season. In 2025, a new MLS Extension Team, San Diego FC, was included to replace the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, disqualified due to their participation in the Canadian championship.

Notable MLS teams participating:

• LAFC

• Inter Miami CF

• Seattle Sounders FC

• Columbus Crew

• FC Cincinnati

• San Diego FC (debut appearance)

Liga MX Teams (18)

The top 18 performing clubs from Liga MX’s 2024–25 season qualified based on their league standings and aggregate performance.

Notable Liga MX teams participating:

• Club América

• Tigres UANL

• CF Monterrey

• Chivas Guadalajara

• Toluca

• Pachuca

These teams were drawn into the matchup, ensuring that MLS clubs played only Liga MX Clubs during the group stage, maintaining a strong inter-league rivalry throughout the tournament.