“Breaking Down the Leagues Cup: Unveiling the Groups, Teams, Odds, and Inner Workings”

The Leagues Cup: A North American Soccer Showdown

The 2023 Leagues Cup is set to make history by featuring every club from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico’s Liga MX in a World Cup-style tournament. This month-long competition aims to crown the best club team from the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Leagues Cup has gained significant attention, thanks in part to Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated debut for Inter Miami on the first day of group stage play. This event has sparked excitement among fans and has increased ticket prices for Messi’s debut match.

What is the Leagues Cup?

The Leagues Cup is a relatively new annual competition that brings together clubs from Liga MX and MLS for a month-long knockout-style tournament. While the competition was introduced in 2019, this year marks the first full-fledged edition of the competition, featuring all 47 clubs from both leagues. The winner of the Leagues Cup will earn a qualifying slot for the next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup, adding a tangible competitive reward for the victorious team.

Past editions of the Leagues Cup were smaller in scale and did not offer a significant prize for the winner. In 2022, the competition was held as a “showcase” without crowning a champion, serving as a prelude to the expanded format planned for 2023. This year’s edition, with its complete field of teams from both leagues, feels like an inaugural event, generating great anticipation among soccer enthusiasts.

How does the Leagues Cup work?

The 2023 Leagues Cup follows a format consisting of a group stage and a knockout stage. Given the large number of participating clubs (47), the teams were divided into 15 small groups of three, considering geographic factors. The seeding process matched the top MLS teams with the lowest-ranked Mexican clubs, creating an intriguing balance of competition. Each group will engage in round-robin matches, with the top two finishers advancing to the knockout stage. The bottom team in each group will be eliminated.

Tiebreakers in the group stage are determined by goal differential, goals scored, goals conceded, fair play points, and finally, a drawing of lots. The defending champions of each league, LAFC and Pachuca, receive a bye directly to the knockout stage. The group stage will narrow down the field, eliminating 15 clubs and allowing the remaining 30 to join the defending champions in the Round of 32.

The knockout stage will follow the traditional single elimination format, commencing with a Round of 32 and culminating in the final. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, matches will proceed directly to a penalty shootout, with no extra time played.

Leagues Cup Groups, Schedule, and Dates

All matches in the Leagues Cup will be played in the United States and Canada. MLS clubs will serve as hosts for all matches in both the group stage and knockout stage. For matches featuring two Liga MX clubs, an MLS stadium in the corresponding region will host the match.

The Leagues Cup schedule for 2023 is as follows:

Group Stage

• Matchday 1: July 21-23
• Matchday 2: July 25-27
• Matchday 3: July 29-31

Knockout Stage

• Round of 32: Aug. 2-4
• Round of 16: Aug. 6-8
• Quarterfinals: Aug. 11-12
• Semifinals: Aug. 15
• Final & 3rd Place: Aug. 19

The tournament grants a bye to the defending champions in each league, with LAFC and Pachuca receiving direct entry into the knockout stage. The group stage will whittle down the participants to 32, who will join the defending champions in the Round of 32. From there, the competition will progress to the final, determining the ultimate champion of the Leagues Cup.

How to Watch Leagues Cup

In the United States, select Leagues Cup matches will be broadcast in Spanish on TUDN and Univision, available for streaming on Fubo and Univision NOW. English-language broadcasts can be found exclusively on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.

For fans around the world, Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass offers access to the English-language broadcast. The Leagues Cup provides an opportunity for soccer enthusiasts globally to witness the exciting matchups between the top clubs from the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Leagues Cup 2023 Odds to Win

The favorites to win the Leagues Cup title are Club America and LAFC, two powerhouse clubs from Liga MX and MLS, respectively. Interestingly, Inter Miami, despite currently sitting last in the MLS Eastern Conference standings, is listed as a contender. The buzz around Lionel Messi’s debut for the club has led to high expectations and increased support for Inter Miami in the tournament.

Here are the odds to win the Leagues Cup 2023:

• Club America: +1000
• LAFC: +1000
• Inter Miami: +1200
• Tigres: +1200
• Monterrey: +1200
• Philadelphia Union: +1400
• Pachuca: +1600
• Club Leon: +1600
• Seattle Sounders: +2000
• FC Cincinnati: +2000
• Chivas: +2000

These odds reflect the excitement surrounding Lionel Messi’s arrival and the belief that he can make a significant impact on Inter Miami’s performance in the tournament. However, strong competition from established teams such as Club America and LAFC cannot be discounted.

Leagues Cup Winners

The Leagues Cup has had three editions thus far, with only one crowned champion. The first two tournaments featured a limited number of teams, and the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2023 onwards, all 47 top-flight teams from the U.S. and Mexican leagues will compete, and the title winner will earn qualification into the CONCACAF Champions League the following year.

Here are the past winners of the Leagues Cup:

• 2019: Cruz Azul (MEX)
• 2020: Tournament Cancelled
• 2021: Club Leon (MEX)

While the Leagues Cup is still relatively young, its expansion and the inclusion of all clubs from Liga MX and MLS promise an exciting future for North American soccer. The tournament offers an opportunity for clubs to showcase their talent, compete against top-quality opposition, and capture regional glory.