History of Leagues Cup in Timeline
The Leagues Cup is an annual soccer tournament held in Canada and the United States, featuring teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX, the top leagues in the US/Canada and Mexico, respectively. First held in July 2019 with four teams from each league, the inaugural edition was a single-elimination tournament culminating in a final in Whitney, Nevada, near Las Vegas, on September 18, 2019.
2007: North American SuperLiga Kicks Off, Featuring MLS and Liga MX Clubs
The North American SuperLiga, a tournament that featured teams from both the MLS and Liga MX, began in 2007.
2010: North American SuperLiga Concludes After Four Seasons
After four seasons, the North American SuperLiga came to an end in 2010.
March 2018: MLS and Liga MX Announce Partnership and Explore Bi-National Competitions
In March 2018, the MLS and Liga MX announced a new partnership, with one of the goals being to create a binational tournament between the two leagues, which would eventually become the Leagues Cup.
May 29, 2019: Leagues Cup Officially Announced, Drawing Criticism and Concerns
The Leagues Cup was officially announced on May 29, 2019. The announcement was met with criticism from both fans and pundits, who saw the tournament as unnecessary and a cash grab.
July 2019: Leagues Cup Expansion to 16 Teams Announced for 2020
In July 2019, The Leagues Cup announced its intention to expand to 16 teams for the 2020 edition.
July 2019: Leagues Cup Debuts with Four Teams from MLS and Liga MX
The first ever Leagues Cup took place in July 2019, with four teams each from the MLS and Liga MX.
September 2019: Leagues Cup Trophy Unveiled
The trophy for the Leagues Cup was unveiled in September 2019.
May 19, 2020: Leagues Cup Canceled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
The Leagues Cup was set to expand to 16 teams in 2020, but was canceled on May 19, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: León Wins Leagues Cup, Defeating First American Finalist Seattle Sounders FC
In 2021, the Leagues Cup saw its first team from the MLS reach the finals, when the Seattle Sounders FC played for the cup. They would go on to lose the final to Leon.
April 14, 2022: MLS and Liga MX Announce Leagues Cup Showcase as a One-Time Event
On April 14, 2022, the MLS and Liga MX announced that a Leagues Cup Showcase would be held in place of the previously scheduled tournament.
June 30, 2022: Leagues Cup Showcase Expands to Include Three Additional Matches
On June 30, 2022, three additional matches were added to the Leagues Cup Showcase.
August 3, 2022: Leagues Cup Showcase Kicks Off at SoFi Stadium
On August 3, 2022, the Leagues Cup Showcase began at SoFi Stadium.
2022: Leagues Cup Showcase Held in Place of Official Tournament
Due to scheduling conflicts, the Leagues Cup was not held as scheduled in 2022. Instead, a showcase of five friendly matches between MLS and Liga MX teams was held in its place.
2023: Leagues Cup Matches Broadcast Globally on MLS Season Pass and Select Networks
Beginning in 2023, all Leagues Cup matches became available to stream worldwide via MLS Season Pass.
2023: Leagues Cup Implements New Format with All MLS and Liga MX Teams
Beginning in 2023, the Leagues Cup expanded to include all MLS and Liga MX teams, totaling 47 teams across the two leagues, with all 77 matches taking place in Canada and the United States. This new format also saw the top 15 teams from each league seeded into 15 groups based on the previous season's standings.
2023: Leagues Cup Expanded to Include All Clubs from MLS and Liga MX
In 2023, the Leagues Cup was expanded to include all teams from both the MLS and Liga MX.
2023: Inter Miami CF Wins Expanded Leagues Cup, Led by Lionel Messi
The first edition of the expanded Leagues Cup concluded in 2023 with Inter Miami CF winning the cup. Lionel Messi was the top scorer of the tournament.
2024: Leagues Cup to Serve as Qualification Tournament for CONCACAF Champions Cup
Beginning in 2024, the Leagues Cup will serve as a qualification tournament for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
2024: MLS Proposes Not Fielding Senior Teams in U.S. Open Cup, Facing Backlash
Due to the addition of the Leagues Cup creating congestion in the schedule, the MLS announced their intention to not field their senior teams in the U.S. Open Cup in 2024. The backlash from fans of the sport was swift, and the proposal was eventually rejected.
