FORMAT
- An unprecedented event in global football, Leagues Cup is the very first two-league tournament sanctioned by the Confederation
- 77 matches in one action-packed month hosted at MLS stadiums throughout the U.S. and Canada
- All 29 MLS clubs and 18 Liga MX clubs participate every year
- World Cup style tournament with a Group Stage made up of 2 regions (East & West) followed by Knockout Rounds until one team is crowned the champion
- Officially sanctioned by Concacaf, the top three teams will receive automatic bids into Concacaf Champions Cup with a chance to represent the Confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup
POINT SYSTEM
- Regulation wins count as 3 points
- No ties!
- Each team will receive 1 point if the game is tied after 90 minutes
- The winner of the subsequent penalty shootout will earn an additional point
GROUP STAGE
- Two teams will bypass the group stage and have automatic spots in the Round of 32 – Columbus Crew, the winner of the 2023 MLS Cup, and Club América, the club with the most points across Clausura 2023 and Apertura 2023
- Each club will play a minimum of 2 matches in the Group Stage
- The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 32
- Group Assignments: In 2024, a tiered Leagues Cup Ranking system was introduced, placing clubs in tiers based on combined MLS and LIGA MX club performance in the last 34 regular season matches. MLS teams are ranked based on the 2023 MLS Supporters' Shield standings, while LIGA MX clubs are ranked based on the cumulative 34 matches in the 2023 Clausura and Apertura tournaments. All participating Clubs - except the two Leagues' champions - are divided into three tiers based on the Leagues Cup Ranking (1-15, 16-30, and 31-45), forming 15 groups of three clubs each, one club from each tier, prioritizing geographical and competitive balance among the 45 clubs.
- The LIGA MX Champion and the three top-ranked LIGA MX clubs will be granted hub privileges. The hub privileges, which will minimize LIGA MX club travel and reward them by playing in pre-determined venues as the home team, are based on the Leagues Cup Ranking
KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
- Single game elimination to move on to the next round
- The knockout rounds begin with the Round of 32 for a total of 16 matches
- The winners from the Round of 32 will face off in the Round 16, which will consist of 8 matches, and then continue on to the Quarterfinals, where 8 teams will vie for a chance to advance
- The four winners of the Quarterfinals will compete in the Semifinals
- The losers of the Semifinals will compete in a Third Place Match
- The winners of the Semifinals will compete in the Leagues Cup Final on Sunday, August 25
TOURNAMENT REWARDS
- The winner of the Third Place Match will qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup
- Both clubs in the Leagues Cup Final will automatically qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup
- Leagues Cup 2023 Champion qualifies directly to Concacaf Champion Cup Round of 16
HOW TO WATCH LEAGUES CUP 2024
- SEE IT LIVE: Once tickets for Leagues Cup 2024 matches go on sale, fans can visit LeaguesCup.com/Tickets to secure their seats. MLS club season ticket holders should contact their club representative for more information.
- WATCH FROM HOME: As part of Major League Soccer’s 10-year partnership with Apple, all Leagues Cup matches will be presented live to fans around the world through the Apple TV app with no blackouts. Check back in later for additional broadcast information.
