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2024 Leagues Cup

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2024 Leagues Cup
Tournament details
Host countriesCanada
United States
DatesJuly 26 – August 25
Teams47 (from 3 associations)
Venue(s)31 (in 31 host cities)
Tournament statistics
Matches played61
Goals scored168 (2.75 per match)
Top scorer(s)United States Jeremy Ebobisse
(4 goals)
2023
2025
All statistics correct as of August 9, 2024.

The 2024 Leagues Cup is the ongoing fourth edition of the Leagues Cup, an international club soccer tournament contested by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX clubs in North America. It is taking place between July 26 and August 25, 2024, with all matches played in the United States and Canada. The three highest-placing teams will qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winner skipping directly to the tournament's round of 16 stage.[1]

The groups and format for the 2024 edition were announced on January 31.[2] Unlike the 2023 edition, only two regions were used for the tournament's group stage, divided into eight groups in the West and seven in the East. The 45 teams in the group stage were seeded in a combined table based on the 2023 regular season for MLS teams and most recent 34 matches in the Clausura and Apertura for Liga MX teams.[3] Seeding for the group stage was divided into three pots (named "tiers") with geographical balance also considered.[2] MLS Cup 2023 champions Columbus Crew and the top Liga MX team by aggregate points in 2023, América, both earned a bye to the round of 32.[2][4]

All matches will be played in the United States and Canada at MLS venues. The top four teams in the Liga MX table used for seeding (América, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and UANL) have hub privileges that allow them to be the designated home team in certain rounds. The predetermined venues for the hubs were announced on March 14, 2024.[2][4][5]

Teams

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Draw

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For the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup, the 45 teams participating in the group stage were drawn into groups based on a combined ranking that used the 2023 Supporters' Shield table for MLS teams and the most recent 34 matches in the 2023 Clausura and Apertura seasons for Liga MX teams. These teams were divided into three pots from which the groups were drawn.[2][4]

Seeding

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Pot 1
Team Rank
Mexico América Bye
Mexico Monterrey 1
United States FC Cincinnati 2
United States Orlando City SC 3
Mexico Guadalajara 4
United States Columbus Crew Bye
United States St. Louis City SC 5
Mexico UANL 6
United States Philadelphia Union 7
United States New England Revolution 8
Mexico Toluca 9
Mexico León 10
United States Seattle Sounders FC 11
Mexico Pachuca 12
United States Los Angeles FC 13
United States Houston Dynamo FC 14
United States Atlanta United FC 15
Pot 2
Team Rank
United States Real Salt Lake 16
United States Nashville SC 17
Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC 18
United States FC Dallas 19
Mexico UNAM 20
Mexico Puebla 21
United States Sporting Kansas City 22
United States San Jose Earthquakes 23
United States New York Red Bulls 24
United States Charlotte FC 25
United States Portland Timbers 26
Mexico Atlético San Luis 27
Mexico Santos Laguna 28
United States New York City FC 29
United States Minnesota United FC 30
Pot 3
Team Rank
Mexico Cruz Azul 31
Canada CF Montréal 32
United States D.C. United 33
United States Chicago Fire FC 34
United States Austin FC 35
Mexico Querétaro 36
Mexico Atlas 37
Mexico Tijuana 38
United States LA Galaxy 39
United States Inter Miami CF 40
Mexico Juárez 41
Mexico Necaxa 42
Mexico Mazatlán 43
United States Colorado Rapids 44
Canada Toronto FC 45
  Teams receiving bye to knockout stage.

Group stage

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The top four Liga MX clubs have "hub rights" that allow them to host in a fixed region with priority over most MLS teams:[5]

  • América plays in California starting at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego in the Round of 32; hub privilege to last through the semifinal.
  • Monterrey plays in Texas with both group games at Q2 Stadium in Austin; hub privilege to last through the Round of 16.
  • Guadalajara plays in California starting at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara; hub privilege to last through the Round of 32.
  • UANL played in Texas starting at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston; hub privilege for group stage games only.

East

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East 1 East 2 East 3

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States FC Cincinnati 2 6
2 United States New York City FC 2 2
3 Mexico Querétaro 2 1
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States Orlando City SC 2 5
2 Canada CF Montréal 2 3
3 Mexico Atlético San Luis 2 1
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Mexico UANL 2 6
2 United States Inter Miami CF 2 3
3 Mexico Puebla 2 0
Source: Leagues Cup
East 4 East 5 East 6

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States Philadelphia Union 2 4
2 Mexico Cruz Azul 2 3
3 United States Charlotte FC 2 2
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States New England Revolution 2 5
2 Mexico Mazatlán 2 3
3 United States Nashville SC 2 1
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Canada Toronto FC 2 5
2 Mexico Pachuca 2 2
3 United States New York Red Bulls 2 2
Source: Leagues Cup
East 7

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States D.C. United 2 5
2 Mexico Santos Laguna 2 2
3 United States Atlanta United FC 2 2
Source: Leagues Cup

West

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West 1 West 2 West 3

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States Austin FC 2 6
2 Mexico UNAM 2 2
3 Mexico Monterrey 2 1
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States LA Galaxy 2 5
2 United States San Jose Earthquakes 2 2
3 Mexico Guadalajara 2 2
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Mexico Juárez 2 5
2 United States St. Louis City SC 2 4
3 United States FC Dallas 2 0
Source: Leagues Cup
West 4 West 5 West 6

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Mexico Toluca 2 6
2 United States Sporting Kansas City 2 3
3 United States Chicago Fire FC 2 0
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States Portland Timbers 2 6
2 United States Colorado Rapids 2 2
3 Mexico León 2 1
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Mexico Necaxa 2 3
2 United States Seattle Sounders FC 2 3
3 United States Minnesota United FC 2 3
Source: Leagues Cup
West 7 West 8

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 5
2 United States Los Angeles FC 2 4
3 Mexico Tijuana 2 0
Source: Leagues Cup

Pos Team Pld Pts
1 United States Houston Dynamo FC 2 3
2 Mexico Atlas 2 3
3 United States Real Salt Lake 2 3
Source: Leagues Cup

Knockout stage

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Bracket

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Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
 
                  
 
August 9 – San Diego, CA
 
 
Mexico América2
 
August 13 – Carson, CA
 
Mexico Atlas1
 
Mexico América0
 
August 9 – St. Louis, MO
 
United States St. Louis City SC0
 
United States St. Louis City SC3
 
August
 
United States Portland Timbers1
 
0
 
August 9 – Houston, TX
 
0
 
Mexico Toluca (p)2 (5)
 
August 13 – Commerce City, CO
 
United States Houston Dynamo FC2 (4)
 
Mexico Toluca0
 
August 9 – Commerce City, CO
 
United States Colorado Rapids0
 
Mexico Juárez2
 
August
 
United States Colorado Rapids3
 
0
 
August 8 – Seattle, WA
 
0
 
United States LA Galaxy1
 
August 12 – Seattle, WA
 
United States Seattle Sounders FC3
 
United States Seattle Sounders FC0
 
August 7 – Vancouver, BC
 
Mexico UNAM0
 
Mexico UNAM2
 
August
 
Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC0
 
0
 
August 7 – Los Angeles, CA
 
United States 0
 
United States Los Angeles FC2
 
August 13 – Los Angeles, CA
 
United States Austin FC0
 
United States Los Angeles FC0
 
August 8 – San Jose, CA
 
United States San Jose Earthquakes0
 
Mexico Necaxa0
 
August 25
 
United States San Jose Earthquakes5
 
0
 
August 9 – Cincinnati, OH
 
0
 
United States FC Cincinnati (p)1 (6)
 
August 13 – Cincinnati, OH
 
Mexico Santos Laguna1 (5)
 
United States FC Cincinnati0
 
August 9 – Chester, PA
 
United States Philadelphia Union0
 
Canada CF Montréal0
 
August
 
United States Philadelphia Union2
 
United States 0
 
August 9 – Washington, D.C.
 
Mexico 0
 
United States D.C. United1
 
August 13 – Washington, D.C.
 
Mexico Mazatlán2
 
Mexico Mazatlán0
 
August 9 – Orlando, FL
 
Mexico Cruz Azul0
 
Mexico Cruz Azul (p)0 (5)
 
August
 
United States Orlando City SC0 (4)
 
0
 
August 8 – Austin, TX
 
0 Third place playoff
 
Mexico UANL1
 
August 13 – Harrison, NJAugust 25
 
Mexico Pachuca0
 
Mexico UANL0 0
 
August 9 – Foxborough, MA
 
United States New York City FC 0 0
 
United States New York City FC (p)1 (7)
 
August
 
United States New England Revolution1 (6)
 
0
 
August 9 – Columbus, OH
 
United States 0
 
United States Sporting Kansas City0
 
August 13 – Columbus, OH
 
United States Columbus Crew4
 
United States Columbus Crew0
 
August 8 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
 
United States Inter Miami CF0
 
Canada Toronto FC3
 
 
United States Inter Miami CF4
 

Round of 32

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Los Angeles FC United States 2–0 United States Austin FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Canada 0–2 Mexico UNAM
Inter Miami CF United States 4–3 Canada Toronto FC
UANL Mexico 1–0 Mexico Pachuca
Seattle Sounders FC United States 3–1 United States LA Galaxy
San Jose Earthquakes United States 5–0 Mexico Necaxa
FC Cincinnati United States 1–1 (6–5 p) Mexico Santos Laguna
Columbus Crew United States 4–0 United States Sporting Kansas City
D.C. United United States 1–2 Mexico Mazatlán
New England Revolution United States 1–1 (6–7 p) United States New York City FC
Orlando City SC United States 0–0 (4–5 p) Mexico Cruz Azul
Philadelphia Union United States 2–0 Canada CF Montréal
St. Louis City SC United States 3–1 United States Portland Timbers
Toluca Mexico 2–2 (5–4 p) United States Houston Dynamo FC
Juárez Mexico 2–3 United States Colorado Rapids
América Mexico 2–1 Mexico Atlas

Round of 16

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Team 1  Score  Team 2
Seattle Sounders FC United States Aug 12 Mexico UNAM
Columbus Crew United States Aug 13 United States Inter Miami CF
FC Cincinnati United States Aug 13 United States Philadelphia Union
Cruz Azul Mexico Aug 13 Mexico Mazatlán
UANL Mexico Aug 13 United States New York City FC
Toluca Mexico Aug 13 United States Colorado Rapids
América Mexico Aug 13 United States St. Louis City SC
Los Angeles FC United States Aug 13 United States San Jose Earthquakes

Quarterfinals

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Semifinals

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Third place playoff

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Final

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Both finalists qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winners advancing directly to the round of 16.


Statistics

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Top goalscorers

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  Team eliminated for this round.
  Player was inactive for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 R32 R16 QF SF 3rd F Total
1 United States Jeremy Ebobisse United States San Jose Earthquakes 1 1 2 4
2 Mexico Jesús Angulo Mexico Toluca 1 1 1 3
Israel Tai Baribo United States Philadelphia Union 1 2
Uruguay Cristian Olivera United States Los Angeles FC 2 1
Paraguay Matías Rojas United States Inter Miami CF 1 2
6 23 players 2

Controversies

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Some have pointed out that the Leagues Cup interrupts the schedules of both Liga MX and MLS. French player André-Pierre Gignac stated:[7] "I don't think that in Europe Marseille would have agreed to stop the local tournament for a month to go to another country to compete in an international one, but it is part of the growth of two leagues, of a rivalry. The United States is a spectacle and is great."

He also added: "It would be good if American clubs could come to play in Mexico because in Mexico there are different altitudes and climates, which would be beneficial."

In a similar way, Portuguese trainer Renato Paiva declared: “For me it doesn't make sense to cut the tournament. Who am I to teach people to organize tournaments, but I think these types of strikes should be for national teams. Today you start the Leagues Cup, you finish it and start the championship later or you start the championship, you finish it and you start the Leagues Cup later."[8]

Additionally, a reporter from the newspaper Récord reported that the Leagues Cup would impose a $25,000 fine on anyone who spoke negatively about the tournament, which is slightly more than 450,000 Mexican pesos. This decision was reportedly due to the negative feedback received by the event's organizers in 2023, when Club León players spent an extended period at the airport due to logistical problems [1].

Following Xolos' defeat to LAFC, and regarding a controversial expulsion during the match, the goalkeeper Toño Rodríguez limited his comments to the press area, as he admitted that he could face punishment.

“I don't have the slightest idea, I was far away and I only saw that they gave him the red card (…) We can't speak badly about the Leagues Cup because they'll fine us” the goalkeeper told Salvadoran journalist Rodrigo Serrano [2].

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MLS unveils 2024 Regular Season schedule". MLSSoccer.com. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Leagues Cup 2024: Groups for MLS and LIGA MX teams". MLSSoccer.com. January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Anderson, Jason (January 31, 2024). "MLS, Liga MX announce modified 2024 Leagues Cup". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Cardenas, Felipe (January 31, 2024). "MLS, Liga MX announce Leagues Cup changes to reduce travel, add regional hubs". The Athletic. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Leagues Cup 2024: Schedule, bracket & hubs for MLS-LIGA MX competition". MLSSoccer.com. March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "Leagues Cup 2024 » Top Scorer". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Gignac se une a críticas sobre Leagues Cup: "Marsella no hubiera aceptado parar un mes el torneo local"". Marca México (in Mexican Spanish). July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Paiva critica la pausa de Liga MX por la Leagues Cup: "No tiene sentido" | TUDN Liga MX | TUDN". www.tudn.com (in Spanish). Retrieved July 31, 2024.
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