By Victor Araiza
When the modern era of Leagues Cup began in 2023, clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX entered a new chapter in the relationship between the two leagues.
Four editions later, the tournament has become an important part of the summer calendar for soccer fans across North America.
With the confetti cleared from the 2026 edition, the focus now shifts to a landmark fifth edition as the battle for North American supremacy between MLS and Liga MX continues.
A New North American Tradition
A revamped Leagues Cup format debuted in 2023, featuring every MLS and Liga MX club in a World Cup-style tournament. Clubs competed in a Group Stage before advancing to the Knockout Rounds.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debut highlighted the start of the competition, as the Argentine superstar announced his arrival in North America with a stoppage-time winner before going on to lead his new club to its first major trophy.
Columbus Crew won the 2024 edition after the Semifinals featured four MLS clubs. The tournament was reduced to 36 teams for the 2025 edition, with all 18 Liga MX clubs participating and 18 MLS clubs qualifying through the previous season’s MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle Sounders won the 2025 edition.
Toluca became the first Liga MX club to win the tournament under its modern format in 2026, as the Final Four featured four Mexican clubs. The victory also completed an extraordinary run for the Diablos Rojos, who joined Seattle in completing their collection of every major North American trophy currently available to them.
Five Years of Memorable Moments
In a short time, Leagues Cup has delivered plenty of memorable moments.
Messi’s Leagues Cup debut kicks off the list. Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul served as the marquee opening match of the 2023 edition, with the FIFA World Cup winner coming off the bench for his debut with the MLS club and scoring a stoppage-time free kick to win the match.
From the start, Leagues Cup introduced a must-win format, with draws decided via penalty shootouts. The 2023 edition delivered a historic 19-round penalty shootout between Club León and Vancouver Whitecaps in the Group Stage, with León eventually winning 16-15. Puebla topped Chicago Fire 10-9 on penalties in another notable encounter during the opening phase.
New England Revolution won 8-7 on penalties in the Round of 32 before Dallas and Inter Miami delivered an epic encounter in the Round of 16 that Miami won 5-3 on penalties. The theme continued all the way to the Final, in which Inter Miami defeated Nashville 10-9 on penalties after Messi and Fafà Picault traded goals in regulation.
The penalty heroics continued in 2024, as Zack Steffen excelled for the Colorado Rapids, helping his club win shootouts against León in the Group Stage, Club América in the Quarterfinals and the Philadelphia Union in the Third Place Match to secure a place in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Another notable moment came when Chivas de Guadalajara and San Jose Earthquakes set a then-Leagues Cup attendance record with 50,675 fans at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The match ended 1-1 before San Jose won 4-3 on penalties.
Cucho Hernández was the star of the 2024 Final, scoring in the 92nd minute and providing an assist in the 94th as Columbus Crew defeated LAFC in an MLS Cup Final rematch.
Seattle won the 2025 edition in style, starting its campaign with a 7-0 victory over Cruz Azul, the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winner at the time. Seattle then ended the tournament by shutting out Messi, Luis Suárez and Inter Miami 3-0 in the Final in front of a tournament-record 69,314 fans at Lumen Field.
The first Leagues Cup match played in Mexico kicked off the 2026 edition, with Toluca defeating defending champion Seattle Sounders 3-0 at Estadio Nemesio Diez. For the first time, four Liga MX clubs made up the Semifinals. Toluca ultimately reigned supreme, defeating Monterrey 2-0 in the Final as the tournament concluded with a celebration of Mexican soccer and culture during a championship doubleheader in Houston.
The 2026 edition also featured a battle for the all-time Leagues Cup scoring record between Lionel Messi and Denis Bouanga. Bouanga ultimately claimed the record outright with 15 goals, one ahead of Messi.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The fifth edition gives Leagues Cup an opportunity to reflect on the history built over its first four tournaments.
There are champions to remember, rivalries to revisit, records to chase and moments that have already become part of the tournament’s story.
There is also another major change on the horizon: MLS will transition to a new summer-to-spring calendar in 2027.
That means Leagues Cup will enter its fifth edition during a new era for the North American club soccer calendar.
The fifth edition will be a chance to celebrate where the competition has been—while looking ahead to where the rivalry between MLS and Liga MX can go next.
