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New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Leagues Cup's place in a Club World Cup world
We all agree that there's too much football, right? After the FIFA Club World Cup ushered in yet another major tournament into the game's crowded ecosystem, and less than one year away from an expanded 48-team men's World Cup, it appears that there's no turning back. The saturation of soccer is here to stay. Advertisement So in an ever-cluttered space, where does this leave Leagues Cup? The annual MLS and Liga MX inter-league tournament, which began Tuesday night and will run through Aug. 31, has tweaked its format for its third edition. The tournament field has been reduced to 36 teams and now pits 18 MLS clubs against all 18 Liga MX sides. Every match in the opening phase pits MLS sides against Liga MX opponents, and tie games go straight to penalties to add urgency to a tournament that is desperate for its results to matter. The competitive stakes remain, with the top three finishers receiving berths in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup – which presents a pathway to the next Club World Cup. But everyone's bandwidth – fans and players – has a maximum capacity. And just like the realities of the consumerization of football, fans in the U.S. have been inundated with the perceived virtues of the MLS vs. Liga MX rivalry. The two leagues have grown closer together over the past five years – they just staged their fourth All-Star Game in five years last week – leading plenty to envision a world where they eventually merge. Regardless, it all reflects the zeitgeist of North America's new-age football mentality. 'When I did my own homework and I dug into it, when you look at it, this rivalry is going nowhere,' Leagues Cup executive director Tom Mayo told The Athletic.' You know that this is going to be a rivalry around in 100, 200 years.' How much of that rivalry is cutting through to the mainstream, though? Arguably the most meaningful and impactful MLS vs. Liga MX showdown occurred in May almost by accident, when LAFC and Club América battled for Club León's vacated Club World Cup place and the $9.55 million prize that came along with it. FIFA stumbled onto a great showcase of both clubs and leagues. Whether Leagues Cup can replicate that aura without becoming redundant in the consumers' eye is its next challenge. As the 2025 edition kicked off, three of Tuesday night's six opening round games were decided from the penalty spot, though that's not necessarily a reflection of the tension that exists between clubs in the U.S. and Mexico. Penalties do make for more drama, and surely the players prefer that route over 30 extra minutes of football. But if you dig deeper into the new format, you'll realize that at some stage during this revised Leagues Cup, the competition will become a friendly tournament for most teams. Advertisement Losing in regulation or drawing and falling in penalties in the first match can make advancement impossible or highly unlikely before a team has played two group stage matches. A smaller field means goals scored and wins are more valuable than before. At the very least, the leagues are not taking a full hiatus while this competition plays out. 'I like this format better than the previous one, because in the previous format, if you were eliminated in the early stages, there was a long period of inactivity, which made you lose your rhythm in your (domestic) tournament,' Atlas head coach Gonzalo Pineda said on Tuesday. 'That's not the case with this one.' Portland Timbers coach Phil Neville agreed. Less down time appears to be a universally welcomed change by participating coaches. And with less margin for error, the perceived exigency of the tournament gives players and staff a taste of international knockout football. 'This is not just a game that you've got to win,' Neville said on the eve of Portland's debut versus Atlético San Luis. 'You've got to perform well. Score goals, keep clean sheets, and you cannot rest in these games because the odd goal or the yellow card here and there when it comes to the tie breaks could go a long way.' Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni didn't bite when asked where Leagues Cup's place is within the international football hierarchy – 'I think that question is for someone that's in a higher position than myself,' he said – but he appreciates the value it can provide for both his players and himself. RSL will face Mexican giant América at home on Wednesday in a major test. 'I think as a player, you always like to measure yourself with the big names in the region, whether you're in Concacaf or Europe,' Mastroeni said. 'It's a real barometer as to where you stand in the international game.' Advertisement Leagues Cup also allows both MLS and Liga MX teams to go head-to-head against some of the top tacticians in North America. Similarly, the Club World Cup allowed MLS sides Seattle, Inter Miami and LAFC to test themselves tactically against Europe and South America's top managers. So, even if schedule congestion is a reality, the innate competitive drive that professionals have could make Leagues Cup a value-add in the long run. 'I'm always a learner,' Mastroeni said. 'I'm forever learning and having the opportunity to play against different opponents like this provides you with maybe a catalyst of different rotations, as far as the tactics are concerned. And from a player's perspective, it's the belief system that allows you to say, 'Man, we played against the best in the region and I held my own.' ' There's a clear distinction, however, between what coaches take away from Leagues Cup and what MLS sporting directors believe regarding the tournament. 'I was a fan in the beginning, but we have too many interruptions during our season and our playoffs,' one MLS sporting director said during The Athletic's anonymous executive survey in March. 'We have to fix that. Our season has to be continuous.' Another added: 'I prefer Leagues Cup to the U.S. Open Cup, but I don't think (Leagues Cup) is a great tournament. I just think it was lightning in a bottle because (Lionel) Messi got signed.' The inaugural tournament was indeed a smash success, with an inspired Messi debuting with a stoppage-time, free-kick winner vs. Cruz Azul and taking off from there to the tune of 10 goals and four assists in seven matches. Miami won the title and will once again be the marquee team this summer, opening Wednesday night against Atlas in Fort Lauderdale. Last season, Messi was injured and missed the competition, whose resonance dwindled surely as a direct result. This year, MLS Cup is what Miami truly desires at this point. How head coach Javier Mascherano manages the minutes for Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets during an already loaded summer that included the Club World Cup – and how important the club views Leagues Cup as a pathway to a Champions Cup berth – will determine Miami's fate and level of buy-in. The addition of Argentine World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul, who is eligible to make his Miami debut vs. Atlas, can also contribute to the intrigue of this edition of Leagues Cup and how it's perceived. Advertisement Or perhaps the needle won't move much at all. In the ever-saturated ecosystem, where players' unions continue to deride the congestion of the calendar, Leagues Cup could fade into the background as all of the ancillary competitions become a blur. For Mayo, though, a former managing director of the globally renowned America's Cup sailing competition and co-founder of SOS Hydration, Leagues Cup is an untapped venture with great potential. History, he claimed, is on the tournament's side. 'You've got a Leagues Cup in its third year, you've got a Club World Cup, you've got a World Cup, and you've got growing leagues independently themselves,' he said. 'But in three or four years time, there won't be a Club World Cup and there won't be a World Cup (in the U.S.). They might come back in 10 to 15 years time, but at some point you want to start laying down the foundations for a future tournament.'
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inter Miami vs. Atlas: How to watch tonight's Leagues Cup match, where to stream and more
After missing the Leagues Cup last year due to injury, Lionel Messi will join Inter Miami in the tournament this summer, and the team will begin their bid for the title at home on Wednesday when they host Liga MX's Atlas. The game at Chase Stadium kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The 2025 Leagues Cup features 36 clubs from both leagues – all 18 LIGA MX teams and 18 qualifying MLS teams – and consists of 62 games total, broken out into two phases. Phase One began on July 29 and runs through Thursday, August 7 and features with 54 matches, leading into Phase Two, the knockout round, where the top four clubs with the most points from each league will compete for a chance to play in the championship final on August 31. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlas in the Leagues Cup this Wednesday. How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlas in the Leagues Cup: Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL Channel/Streaming: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, DirecTV How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlas at the 2025 Leagues Cup: This week's Inter Miami vs. Atlas match – along with every other match of the Leagues Cup – will stream on MLS Season Pass through Apple TV or DirecTV. You can also tune into the match with a subscription to Apple TV (the game is free to subscribers with no MLS Season Pass necessary), 2025 Leagues Cup Schedule: The 2025 Leagues Cup begins on July 29 and runs through August 31. Phase One: July 29-August 7 Phase Two: August 19-31 Quarterfinals: August 19-20 Semifinals: August 26-27 Third-place match: August 31 Championship final: August 31 A complete breakdown of every match, including schedules and broadcast channels can be found here. What teams are participating in the Leagues Cup? 18 Liga MX teams and 18 MLS teams are participating in the 2025 Leagues Cup. MLS ● Atlanta United FC ● Charlotte FC ● FC Cincinnati ● Colorado Rapids ● Columbus Crew (2024 Champions) ● Houston Dynamo FC ● Los Angeles Galaxy ● Los Angeles FC ● Minnesota United FC ● Inter Miami CF ● CF Montréal ● New York City FC ● New York Red Bulls ● Orlando City SC ● Portland Timbers FC ● Real Salt Lake ● San Diego FC ● Seattle Sounders FC Liga MX ● Club América ● Atlas FC ● Atlético de San Luis ● Club León ● Cruz Azul ● CD Guadalajara ● FC Juárez ● Mazatlán FC ● CF Monterrey ● Club Necaxa ● CF Pachuca ● Club Puebla ● Pumas UNAM ● Club Querétaro ● Tigres UANL ● Club Tijuana ● Toluca FC ● Club Santos Laguna Where to watch the Inter Miami vs. Atlas:
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Leagues Cup 2025: Teams, New Format, Schedule, Kick-Off Time - All you need to know
The 2025 Leagues Cup officially kicked off Tuesday night (July 29), as reigning champions Columbus Crew begin their title defense in a revamped format. This year's edition introduces a new twist, with only 18 teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and 18 from Liga MX participating, each competing within their respective leagues in Phase One group play. The interleague showdown will run from July 29 to August 31, offering a month-long spectacle of North American soccer. To accommodate the tournament, MLS will pause regular league play until August 9, allowing full focus on the Cup's early stages. With national pride and regional bragging rights on the line, fans can expect intense matchups and high-stakes drama as top clubs from both leagues battle for supremacy. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Technology Degree Data Analytics Leadership Finance others Project Management healthcare Design Thinking Product Management Data Science Healthcare Others Data Science Cybersecurity Public Policy PGDM CXO MCA MBA Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Management Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Leagues Cup Teams One of the biggest changes in the 2025 edition of the Leagues Cup is its expanded format. While the tournament originally featured just eight teams in its debut, this year's competition includes a total of 36 clubs - 18 from Liga MX and 18 from MLS. All Liga MX teams have been included, ensuring full representation from Mexico's top flight. For Major League Soccer, only clubs that qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs earned a spot in the tournament, raising the overall level of competition. New Leagues Cup Format Live Events In the 2025 Leagues Cup format, each MLS and Liga MX team will play three matches against opponents from their own league. After these intraleague fixtures, the top four teams from each group based on points will advance to the quarterfinals. From the knockout stage onward, teams will be re-seeded to maximise cross-league matchups between MLS and Liga MX clubs, increasing the interleague competition that defines the tournament. Running from July 29 to August 31, the Leagues Cup introduces another key change - starting in the quarterfinals, all matches will be played midweek. This adjustment is designed to reduce disruption to both domestic leagues, which previously paused entirely during the tournament. Leagues Cup Points System Any match that ends in a draw after 90 minutes will go directly to a penalty shootout - no extra time will be played. The tournament's points system has also been adjusted to reflect this format: teams will earn three points for a win in regulation, two points for a shootout win, one point for a shootout loss, and zero points for a loss in regular time. This structure adds strategic weight to every group-stage match and ensures added drama in closely contested fixtures. Leagues Cup Schedule (Phase One: July 29 - August 7 - All times are Eastern) Tuesday, July 29 Toluca vs Columbus Crew, 7pm CF Montreal vs Club Leon, 7pm NYCFC vs Puebla, 8pm Tigres vs Houston Dynamo, 9pm LAFC vs Mazatlan, 10:30pm Pachuca vs San Diego FC, 11pm Wednesday, July 30 Inter Miami vs Atlas, 7:30pm Necaxa vs Atlanta United, 7:30pm Pumas vs Orlando City, 8pm Minnesota United vs Queretaro, 8:30pm Club America vs Real Salt Lake, 9:30pm Portland vs San Luis, 10:30pm Thursday, July 31 Monterrey vs Cincinnati, 7pm Chivas Guadalajara vs RBNY, 7:30pm Charlotte vs Juarez, 7:30pm Colorado Rapids vs Santos Laguna, 9:30pm Cruz Azul vs Seattle Sounders 10:30pm LA Galaxy vs Club Tijuana, 11pm Friday, August 1 NYCFC vs Club Leon, 6pm Columbus Crew vs Puebla, 7pm Houston Dynamo vs Mazatlan, 8:30pm Toluca vs Montreal, 9pm LAFC vs Pachuca, 10:30pm Tigres vs San Diego, 11pm Saturday, August 2 Orlando City vs Atlas, 6pm Inter Miami vs Necaxa, 7pm Pumas vs Atlanta United, 9pm Club America vs Minnesota United, 9pm Real Salt Lake vs San Luis, 9:30pm Portland Timbers vs Queretaro, 11pm Sunday, August 3 Cincinnati vs Juarez, 5:30pm Chivas Guadalajara vs Charlotte, 7:50pm Monterrey vs RBNY, 8:30pm Colorado Rapids vs Club Tijuana, 9:30pm Seattle Sounders vs Santos Laguna, 10:30pm LA Galaxy vs Cruz Azul, 10:30pm Tuesday, August 5 Columbus Crew vs Club Leon, 7:30pm Toluca vs NYCFC, 7:30pm Montreal vs Puebla, 8pm Houston Dynamo vs Pachuca, 8:30pm Mazatlan vs San Diego, 10pm Tigres vs LAFC, 10:30pm Wednesday, August 6 Orlando City vs Necaxa, 7pm Inter Miami vs Pumas, 7:30pm Atlanta United vs Atlas, 7:30pm Minnesota United vs San Luis, 8:30pm Real Salt Lake vs Queretaro, 9:30pm Club America vs Portland Timbers, 9:30pm Seattle Sounders vs Club Tijuana, 11pm Thursday, August 7 Cincinnati vs Chivas Guadalajara, 7pm Monterrey vs Charlotte, 7:30pm RBNY vs Juarez, 7:30pm Cruz Azul vs Colorado Rapids, 8:30pm LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna, 11pm QUARTERFINALS FORMAT: MLS 1 vs LIGA MX 4 MLS 2 vs LIGA MX 3 MLS 3 vs LIGA MX 2 MLS 4 vs LIGA MX 1 Quarterfinals: August 19-20 Semifinals: August 26-27 Third Place: August 31 Final: August 31
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch Pachuca vs San Diego FC: Live Stream Leagues Cup, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. On Tuesday night, San Diego FC debuts in Leagues Cup play, as the team takes on Pachuca at Snapdragon Stadium. Anders Dreyer #10 of San Diego FC attacks against Los Angeles FC during the second half of a game at Snapdragon Stadium on March 29, 2025 in San Diego, California. Anders Dreyer #10 of San Diego FC attacks against Los Angeles FC during the second half of a game at Snapdragon Stadium on March 29, 2025 in San Diego, to Watch Pachuca vs San Diego FC Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Time: 11:00 PM EDT Channel: FOX Sports 1 Stream: Fubo (watch now) Both are in impressive form coming into Leagues Cup play. Pachuca is coming off a 2024–25 season as CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, and the roster has been strengthened by the addition of new players William Carvalho and Jhonder Cádiz. The team is currently at the top of the Liga MX standings with an undefeated record. San Diego FC has also got off to a strong start, leading the Western Conference with a record of 14-4-7 thanks to the dynamic duo of Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano. They have made San Diego a dominant force, leading the league in goals scored with 48. San Diego may have a slight edge due to its home-field advantage, but Pachuca by no means can be counted out. Live stream the Leagues Cup play on Fubo. With games airing on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2, you'll have a chance to watch many of the top soccer players in the world compete. Live stream Pachuca vs San Diego FC with Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
CF Montreal wins Leagues Cup opener by beating Club Leon in penalty kicks
MONTREAL – It took seven rounds of a penalty shootout to decide, but CF Montreal secured a dramatic 7-6 victory over LIGA MX side Club Leon in the first match of the 2025 Leagues Cup at Stade Saputo. Rogelio Funes Mori opened the scoring for Club Leon in the 11th minute, while Montreal's Prince Owusu scored in the 62nd minute to tie the match. In the penalty shootout, Joel Waterman, Brendan Craig, Bryce Duke, Olger Escobar, Luca Petrasso, Tom Pearce and Owusu scored for Montreal. James Rodriguez, Adonis Frias, Emiliano Rigoni, Ettson Ayon, Rodrigo Echeverria, Valentin Gauthier all scored for Club Leon, with Sebastian Santos hitting the bar and ending the game. Montreal looked to set the tone physically from the opening kickoff, pressing a Leon side that has only played three competitive matches this season. This helped keep the danger in front of the Leon goal, but the Mexican side would be the first to score, against the run of play. Rodriguez was able to carve out enough room on the right flank to send in a perfect ball that was met by Funes Mori's header. The shot was then mishandled by Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, giving the visitors an early lead. Montreal replied with an immediate increase in pressure, spending the rest of the first half firmly planted in the attacking third, but Leon's low defensive block held. That same pressure continued into the second half as Montreal created two more golden scoring opportunities, but missed the target on both, leading to a change in formation at the hour-mark that immediately paid off. After breaking away from his defender, Dante Sealy was able to pick out a ball into space for Owusu, who was in flight behind the defensive line and finished into the bottom right corner. With momentum now on their side, Montreal nearly took the lead on several occasions in the 10 minutes following the goal but were frustrated repeatedly by Leon goalkeeper Oscar Jiminez. With nothing to separate both teams after 90 minutes, penalties were needed, setting the stage for seven rounds of drama. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. This year's Leagues Cup features 36 teams — 18 from Major League Soccer, and 18 from LIGA MX. The tournament runs until the end of August. UP NEXT Montreal: Travel to New Jersey to face the 2024-2025 Liga MX Champions Deportivo Toluca F.C. on Friday. Leon: Visits New York City FC on Friday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
