Leagues Cup to Ditch Month-Long Pause in 2025: What It Means for Liga MX and MLS
Big changes are coming to the Leagues Cup in 2025, and they’re shaking up the way Liga MX and MLS fans will experience the inter-league competition. On Sunday, Liga MX president Mikel Arriola announced that the tournament will no longer require a month-long pause in the summer. Instead, the games will be played midweek, allowing Liga MX teams to continue their regular season matches on weekends. This decision marks a significant shift in how the tournament will be structured moving forward.
“We just approved the new Leagues Cup format. We’re no longer going to hold camps there [in the USA]. We’ll play midweek so Mexican teams don’t struggle, and Liga MX games will be played on the weekends,” Arriola said ahead of the Liga MX final in Monterrey, Mexico. His comments reflect a clear effort to address the concerns raised by Mexican teams about the disruptions caused by the previous format.
Why the Change?
The 2023 and 2024 editions of the Leagues Cup required both Liga MX and MLS to pause their regular seasons for an entire month during the summer. This break allowed teams from both leagues to face off in a tournament that saw Mexican teams traveling across the United States. While some Liga MX teams enjoyed “hub privileges” in certain cities, MLS teams largely played at home, giving them a logistical advantage.
However, this extended pause didn’t sit well with many Mexican teams. According to sources cited by ESPN, these teams voiced their frustrations and actively pushed for a change to the tournament’s format. Their concerns were heard, and the 2025 edition of the Leagues Cup will now feature midweek matches throughout the summer, ensuring that Liga MX’s weekend schedule remains intact.
What to Expect in 2025
The revamped Leagues Cup will include all Liga MX teams and 18 MLS teams, with matches taking place midweek. While the MLS participants have not been officially announced yet, some teams, such as Inter Miami CF, have already confirmed their involvement in the 2025 edition. This new format aims to strike a balance between maintaining the integrity of each league’s regular season and continuing the inter-league competition that fans have come to enjoy.
MLS Dominance So Far
When it comes to Leagues Cup champions, MLS has had the upper hand so far. Inter Miami CF lifted the inaugural trophy in 2023, and the Columbus Crew followed suit in 2024, defeating LAFC in the final. This dominance has added an extra layer of rivalry to the competition, as Liga MX teams will undoubtedly be looking to reclaim bragging rights in 2025.
What’s at Stake?
The Leagues Cup isn’t just about the trophy—it’s also about the rewards that come with it. The final two teams, along with the winner of the third-place match, earn prize money and secure spots in the next edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup. This added incentive ensures that teams from both leagues will bring their A-game to the tournament, making for an exciting summer of soccer.
Key Takeaways
- The Leagues Cup will no longer require a month-long summer pause starting in 2025.
- Midweek matches will allow Liga MX teams to continue their regular season games on weekends.
- All Liga MX teams and 18 MLS teams will participate in the revamped tournament.
- MLS teams have won the first two editions of the Leagues Cup, with Inter Miami CF and Columbus Crew claiming the titles in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
- The tournament offers prize money and spots in the Concacaf Champions Cup for the top teams.
As the 2025 Leagues Cup approaches, fans from both sides of the border will be eager to see how this new format plays out. Will the midweek matches level the playing field for Liga MX teams? Or will MLS continue its dominance in the competition? One thing is for sure: the rivalry between these two leagues is only getting more intense, and the revamped Leagues Cup promises to deliver plenty of drama and excitement.
Originally Written by: Unknown
