The final set of games in Leagues Cup 2025 Phase One is here—and with it comes high-stakes drama, and elimination scenarios that could swing on a single goal or penalty shootout.
This year’s tournament, featuring all 18 Liga MX clubs and 18 MLS clubs, introduced a revamped format designed to heighten interleague competition and reward performance. With clubs battling for a limited number of Knockout Stage spots (only four from each league advance), every moment in these final fixtures will shape who moves on—and who goes home.
Remember, there are no ties in Leagues Cup—every match produces a winner. The point system is simple but unforgiving:
- Regulation win = 3 points
- Penalty shootout win = 2 points
- Penalty shootout loss = 1 point
- Regulation loss = 0 points
With one matchday remaining for each club, 7 teams are already eliminated, 17 more could be knocked out tomorrow, and the race to secure a spot in the top four of each league is reaching a boiling point.
Here’s where things stand heading into the final days of Phase One:
ALREADY ELIMINATED FROM KNOCKOUT STAGE CONTENTION
Seven teams have been officially knocked out of contention and will be playing their final game for the invaluable experience:
- Liga MX: Club León, Santos Laguna, Atlas FC, Querétaro
- MLS: San Diego FC, Atlanta United, Houston Dynamo
A LOT MORE CLUBS COULD BE ELIMINATED BY THE END OF TUESDAY'S GAMES
Out of the 29 remaining teams, 17 could be mathematically eliminated by the end of Tuesday's games. That includes contenders in both leagues who are currently sitting just outside the top four in their league standings.
FOUR LIGA MX CLUBS IN ACTION TUESDAY CAN CLINCH QUARTERFINALS SPOTS
- Tigres UANL (6 Pts after two games)
- Clinches quarterfinal spot with a regulation win.
- Would also secure the Liga MX No. 1 seed with that result, ensuring a matchup against the MLS No. 4 seed in the quarterfinals.
- Mazatlán (5 Pts, +2 GD), Toluca (5 Pts, +1 GD), Pachuca (4 Pts, +1 GD)
- Can all clinch a spot in quarterfinals with a win on Tuesday and some variation of losses + goal differential with other Liga MX clubs.
SIX MLS TEAMS AT RISK OF ELIMINATION
While no MLS team can clinch a quarterfinal berth yet, six are in danger of being eliminated on Tuesday: Charlotte FC, Columbus Crew, LAFC, CF Montréal, New York City FC, Real Salt Lake
Each faces a must-win situation or needs help from other results to remain alive in the standings. For some, even a penalty shootout win might not be enough depending on point totals and tiebreakers.
LIGA MX HOSTING RIGHTS STILL UNDECIDED
A key incentive is also still up for grabs: potential quarterfinal hosting privileges for Liga MX clubs. Under this year’s format, the top two Liga MX finishers in Phase One can host their quarterfinal matches. That means more than just qualification is on the line.
Heading into the final matchday, all six of the top Liga MX contenders with a shot at hosting—Tigres, América, Pachuca, Toluca, Chivas, and Monterrey—remain in the hunt.
