All eighteen Liga MX sides are in action in the newly created Leagues Cup 2023 and will look to prove that the league south of the border is superior.
Paul Reidypaulreidy67Update: Jul 21st, 2023 15:55 EDT
Victor Posadas
The 2023 Leagues Cup gets underway as 18 Liga MX teams go head-to-head with all 29 MLS sides with the competition an interesting litmus test to see which is the stronger league.
The official CONCACAF competition gets underway on Friday 21 July and will reach its conclusion on Saturday 19 August. Matches will be played at MLS stadiums in the United States and Canada. Three teams from the Leagues Cup will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League.
Sí, Muchachos📍 pic.twitter.com/8E3f9hb9VU
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 15, 2023
17 of the sides competing in Mexico’s top flight will participate in the group stage with 2022 Apertura winner Pachuca CF getting a bye through to the Round of 32 (along with 2022 MLS champions LAFC).
Leagues Cup: format
Group Stage
The 45 clubs taking part in the group stage have been divided into 15 groups of three teams across four regions – West, Central, South and East – based on their geographic location.
The seeding system to allocate teams has been based on the 2022 MLS season Supporters Shield standings with the aggregate 2022 Liga MX table being used to seed the Mexican sides.
The top two teams from each of the 15 groups will advance to the knockout Round of 32. All games that end level in the group stage will be decided by a penalty shootout. The scoring system is as follows: a group stage win earns a team three points, a penalty shootout is worth two points and a shootout defeat will be worth one point for the defeated team.
1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣ All you need to know about the four groups in the Central Region at #LeaguesCup2023
— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) July 21, 2023
Knockout Rounds
The top teams in each group will secure home advantage in the one-off, Round of 32 knockout fixtures that will be staged over 2-4 August.
The competition then continues on a single game knockout format through to the final which will take place on 19 August with the match set to be preceded by a third-fourth game to determine the final team who secures the CONCACAF CCL place.
Messi Miami debut
The arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has boosted the profile of the competition with the Argentine expected to pull on the pink shirt for the first time in a competitive game as Cruz Azul are the Leagues Cup visitors to a sold out DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The latest chapter in Leo Messi’s legendary journey starts tonight.Esta noche un nuevo capítulo en la legendaria carrera de Leo Messi comienza.@InterMiamiCF take the field in @LeaguesCup action at 8pm ET—watch on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV. pic.twitter.com/ccGa1IEuby
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 21, 2023
The arrival of the Argentine and former Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets have seen the Herons propelled to one of the favorites to lift the cup.
Mexico threat
Liga MX sides will be determined to get one over their neighbours from the north as a shift at international level between the USMNT and Mexico is palpable.
Club America, Mexico’s most decorated club with 13 Liga MX titles are among the firm favourites to win the competition as are current Liga MX champions Tigres UANL who are shrewd operators when it comes to knockout football.
Share a photo of you wearing your Club América colors for a chance to win tickets for América vs. St. Louis City SC! 📸▪️ Use #LeaguesCup2023 🦅Good luck! @LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/03VgKMFcb6
— Club América EN (@ClubAmerica_EN) July 19, 2023
