About

FORMAT

• For the 2026 edition, Leagues Cup will feature 36 clubs from both leagues: 18 LIGA MX teams and 18 qualifying MLS teams. The top nine teams in each MLS Conference (Eastern Conference and Western Conference) who participated in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs from the prior season will qualify. 
• 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
• Leagues Cup 2026 will be played in two rounds: Phase One, beginning August 4, and the Knockout Rounds, ending with the Leagues Cup Final on September 6.
• The MLS and LIGA MX regular seasons will continue play through the month of August, with most Leagues Cup knockout matches played midweek.

POINT SYSTEM

• No ties!
• Each team will receive one (1) point if the game is tied after 90 minutes
• The winner of the subsequent penalty shootout will earn an additional point
• Regulation wins count as 3 points
• Top 4 clubs with the most points from each league will move on to the Knockout Rounds, right into the Quarterfinals

PHASE ONE

• Phase One will feature three consecutive match dates per club to be played between August 4-August 13, and all 54 Phase One matches will be played between MLS and LIGA MX clubs.
• Clubs will be divided evenly into two regions of 18 teams each: Eastern and Western. Within each region, the 18 teams will be sorted into three tiers based on their Leagues Cup Ranking:  
• Tier 1: Teams ranked 1-3 from each league  
• Tier 2: Teams ranked 4-6 from each league 
• Tier 3: Teams ranked 7-9 from each league 
• The Leagues Cup Ranking combines MLS and LIGA MX league performance across 34 regular season matches into a unified table. MLS teams will be ranked based on the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings; LIGA MX clubs will be ranked based on the cumulative 34 matches in the 2025 Clausura and Apertura tournaments.
• Each club will play three matches against the three opponents from the opposite league
• While competing on the field against teams from the opposite league, MLS and LMX teams will be competing in a league-specific table against the teams from their own league. Clubs will earn points within their league-specific tables; an MLS club's win earns points in the Leagues Cup MLS table, while a LIGA MX win contributes to the Leagues Cup LIGA MX table.

KNOCKOUT ROUNDS

• The top four (4) clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advance to the Knockout Rounds and will be placed in a fixed bracket to compete in the single-game elimination matches beginning with the Quarterfinals (four matches). Four MLS clubs and four LIGA MX clubs will advance.
• Quarterfinal pairings will be decided based on Leagues Cup Phase One performance with an inverse order of ranking among the respective league tables (MLS 1 vs. LIGA MX 4, MLS 2 vs. LIGA MX 3, MLS 3 vs. LIGA MX 2, and MLS 4 vs. LIGA MX 1).
• The four advancing clubs will compete in the two Semifinal matches, as determined by the bracket.
• 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, September 6.

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 2026 Champion qualifies directly to Concacaf Champion Cup Round of 16

HOW TO WATCH LEAGUES CUP 2026

• SEE IT LIVE: Once tickets for Leagues Cup 2026 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: All Leagues Cup matches will be presented live to fans in over 100 countries and regions through the Apple TV app with no blackouts. Broadcast information, once available, will be available at LeaguesCup.com/Schedule.