Who’s playing in the 2025 Leagues Cup? Schedule, how to watch, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The next major tournament on the Major League Soccer calendar is here.
The 2025 Leagues Cup will feature the top MLS teams going up against all 18 of Liga MX’s clubs. It will mark the fifth edition of the tournament, with two teams from each league claiming the trophy at least once.
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Cruz Azul and Leon were the first two winners in 2019 and 2021, respectively, before Inter Miami made a sensational run in Lionel Messi’s debut months. Columbus Crew continued its recent dominance with a 3-1 win over LAFC in 2024.
Featuring 36 teams, the other 18 beyond Liga MX is comprised of the best MLS teams in the 2024 standings. The lone exception is expansion franchise San Diego FC, which replaced the Vancouver Whitecaps due to the Canadian side featuring in two other prominent tournaments.
So, which team and league will emerge victorious in 2025? Here’s everything to know:
What is the format for the 2025 Leagues Cup?
The tournament consists of a league phase and knockout phase. In the league phase, MLS teams will play three games against Liga MX teams. After the three games, the top four teams from each league will advance to the knockout phase: quarterfinals, semifinals, final. The top three teams — there is a third-place game — will qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
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What are the dates for the 2025 Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup will run from Tuesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 31.
How many teams are in the 2025 Leagues Cup?
There are 36 teams in the Leagues Cup — half from MLS, half from Liga MX.
What MLS teams qualified for the 2025 Leagues Cup?
As aforementioned, the top 18 teams from the MLS standings in 2024 qualified for the tournament. Here are those clubs:
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San Diego FC (replacing Vancouver)
What is the 2025 Leagues Cup schedule?
League phase games will run from July 29 until August 7, where afterward there will be a break until August 19. The full schedule for all matches is here.
Where to watch 2025 Leagues Cup games on TV, online
Leagues Cup games will be available to stream or watch on TV via the MLS Season Pass on Apple, Apple TV+, FS1, UniMas and TUDN.
