Leagues Cup 2026: Full Schedule, Teams, Tickets, Groups & Knockout Path

The 2026 Leagues Cup is underway, bringing together the best of Major League Soccer and Liga MX in a cross-border club tournament. Running from August 4 to September 6, this edition features 36 teams, exclusive MLS vs. Liga MX matchups in the opening phase, and a clear path to the final.

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026

This guide covers the complete schedule, participating teams, format (including groups/tiers), ticket information, key players to watch, quarterfinal and semifinal details, and the final date.

Table of Contents

What Is the Leagues Cup?

The Leagues Cup is an annual Concacaf-sanctioned competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs. It awards three qualification spots to the following year’s Concacaf Champions Cup (champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher). The champion advances directly to the Round of 16 of that competition.

The 2026 edition is the latest version of the tournament that began in its current form in 2023. Past winners include Inter Miami CF (2023), Columbus Crew (2024), and Seattle Sounders FC (2025).

Key Dates for Leagues Cup 2026

Stage	Dates
Phase One	August 4–13, 2026
Quarterfinals	August 25–27, 2026
Semifinals	September 1–2, 2026
Third-Place Match	September 6, 2026
Final	September 6, 2026

Phase One consists of 54 matches. The knockout stages are single-elimination, with no extra time—games tied after 90 minutes go straight to penalty kicks.

Leagues Cup 2026 Format Explained

Phase One Structure

All 36 teams compete in Phase One. Matches are exclusively MLS vs. Liga MX. Each club plays three games against opponents from the other league.

Teams are divided into Eastern and Western regions (18 teams each). Within each region, clubs are sorted into three tiers based on ranking:

Tier 1: Ranked 1–3 from each league
Tier 2: Ranked 4–6 from each league
Tier 3: Ranked 7–9 from each league

This tiered regional system creates competitive balance and geographic alignment.

Points System

There are no draws:

3 points for a win in regulation
2 points for a penalty-shootout win
1 point for a penalty-shootout loss

MLS and Liga MX teams compete in separate league-specific tables. The top four teams from each table advance to the quarterfinals.

Knockout Rounds

Quarterfinal pairings are seeded by Phase One performance:

MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4
MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3
MLS 3 vs. Liga MX 2
MLS 4 vs. Liga MX 1

Interleague matchups continue through the quarterfinals. Semifinals and the final follow a single-elimination format.

Participating Teams

MLS Teams (18)

Austin FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Inter Miami CF, LAFC, Minnesota United FC, Nashville SC, New York City FC, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Diego FC, Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

These clubs qualified based on reaching the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs (top nine from each conference).

Liga MX Teams (18)

All Liga MX clubs participate: Atlante, Atlas, Atlético de San Luis, Club América, Club León, Cruz Azul, Guadalajara (Chivas), FC Juárez, CF Monterrey, Club Necaxa, CF Pachuca, Club Puebla, Pumas UNAM, Club Querétaro, Santos Laguna, Tigres UANL, Club Tijuana, Toluca FC.

Phase One Schedule Overview

Phase One runs August 4–13 with matches across the United States, Canada, and—for the first time in recent editions—Mexico.

Notable early fixtures included:

Toluca vs. Seattle Sounders at Estadio Nemesio Díez (first Leagues Cup match in Mexico)
Club América vs. San Diego FC
Inter Miami vs. Atlético de San Luis
LAFC vs. Chivas de Guadalajara
Tigres UANL vs. Real Salt Lake

Full daily schedules and results are available on MLSsoccer.com, LeaguesCup.com, and Apple TV. As of early August 2026, several opening matches have already been played, with teams beginning to accumulate points in their respective tables.

Leagues Cup 2026 Full Schedule

Tournament Dates

Phase One: August 4–13, 2026 (54 matches)
Quarterfinals: August 25–27, 2026
Semifinals: September 1–2, 2026
Third-Place Match & Final: September 6, 2026

All times are Eastern Time (ET) unless noted. Matches stream on Apple TV (select games also on FOX, FS1, Univision/UniMás).

Phase One Schedule (August 4–13)

Tuesday, August 4

Columbus Crew 3–1 Atlas (ScottsMiracle-Gro Field)
FC Cincinnati 3–1 Pachuca (TQL Stadium)
Charlotte FC 3–0 Pumas UNAM (Bank of America Stadium)
Minnesota United 1–2 FC Juárez (Allianz Field)
Tigres UANL 1–1 Real Salt Lake (Tigres win 6–5 on penalties) (America First Field)
Vancouver Whitecaps 0–1 Atlante (BC Place)

Wednesday, August 5

Inter Miami vs. Atlético de San Luis (Nu Stadium) – 7:30 p.m.
Monterrey vs. Orlando City (Inter&Co Stadium) – 7:30 p.m.
Nashville SC vs. Club León (GEODIS Park) – 8:30 p.m.
FC Dallas vs. Querétaro (Mansfield Stadium) – 8:30 p.m.
Toluca vs. Seattle Sounders (Estadio Nemesio Díez, Mexico) – 10:00 p.m.
LAFC vs. Chivas de Guadalajara (BMO Stadium) – 10:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 6

New York City FC vs. Santos Laguna (Sports Illustrated Stadium / Red Bull Arena area) – 7:30 p.m.
Cruz Azul vs. Philadelphia Union (Subaru Park) – 8:00 p.m.
Chicago Fire vs. Necaxa (SeatGeek Stadium) – 8:30 p.m.
Austin FC vs. Club Tijuana (Q2 Stadium) – 9:00 p.m.
Club América vs. San Diego FC (Estadio Banorte / Mexico) – 10:00 p.m.
Portland Timbers vs. Puebla (Providence Park) – 10:30 p.m.

Friday, August 7

Charlotte FC vs. Atlas (Bank of America Stadium) – ~7:30 p.m.
Columbus Crew vs. Pachuca (ScottsMiracle-Gro Field) – ~7:30 p.m.
FC Cincinnati vs. Pumas UNAM (TQL Stadium) – ~8:00 p.m.
Tigres UANL vs. Minnesota United (Allianz Field) – ~9:00 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. FC Juárez (BC Place) – ~10:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 8

Orlando City vs. Club León (Inter&Co Stadium)
Inter Miami vs. Monterrey (Nu Stadium)
Chivas de Guadalajara vs. FC Dallas
Real Salt Lake vs. Atlante
Toluca vs. LAFC (or related Western matchups)

Sunday, August 9 and continuing through August 13 Remaining Phase One matches include:

Seattle Sounders vs. Querétaro (Lumen Field)
Cruz Azul vs. New York City FC
Philadelphia Union vs. Necaxa
Chicago Fire vs. Santos Laguna
Additional fixtures involving teams such as Tigres (including a home match vs. Vancouver Whitecaps around August 11), Toluca (second home game), and other regional matchups.

Each of the 36 teams plays three matches in Phase One (all MLS vs. Liga MX). Standings are tracked separately for MLS and Liga MX teams. The top four from each league table advance to the quarterfinals.

Knockout Stage

Quarterfinals (August 25–27) Seeded as:

MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4
MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3
MLS 3 vs. Liga MX 2
MLS 4 vs. Liga MX 1

Semifinals (September 1–2)

Third-Place Match & Final (September 6)

Venues for knockout matches are determined after Phase One based on the advancing teams.

How to Buy Leagues Cup 2026 Tickets

Tickets for Phase One matches are available through:

Official club websites
Ticketmaster
LeaguesCup.com/tickets
Secondary marketplaces such as Vivid Seats

Season ticket holders often receive priority access or automatic inclusion (with opt-out options). Prices vary widely by venue and matchup—Marquee games featuring Inter Miami or popular Liga MX clubs tend to command higher prices.

For knockout rounds, tickets typically go on sale after Phase One concludes and pairings are set. Check official sources regularly, as availability for high-demand matches can change quickly.

Key Players to Watch

Several high-profile players feature in the 2026 tournament:

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) — The Argentine star returns after the 2026 World Cup and remains one of the biggest draws in the competition. He previously led Miami to the 2023 title.
Rodrigo De Paul and Casemiro (Inter Miami) — Strong midfield support alongside Messi.
Players from defending champions Seattle Sounders and strong Liga MX sides such as Toluca, Tigres, Club América, and Cruz Azul.
USMNT and other international talents returning from World Cup duty who feature for their MLS or Liga MX clubs.

These stars elevate the tournament’s profile and create compelling storylines across both leagues.

Quarterfinals, Semifinals & Final Path

Quarterfinals (August 25–27) The top four MLS and top four Liga MX teams advance. Pairings follow the seeding listed earlier, guaranteeing continued interleague competition.

Semifinals (September 1–2) Winners of the quarterfinals advance. Specific venues and times are announced after the previous round.

Third-Place Match and Final (September 6) Both matches are scheduled for the same day. The final determines the 2026 Leagues Cup champion, while the third-place game decides the final Concacaf Champions Cup qualifier.

Venues for the later knockout stages are typically selected based on the advancing teams and logistical factors.

How to Watch Leagues Cup 2026

All matches stream on Apple TV. Select games also air on FOX, FS1, Univision, and UniMás in the United States, with additional coverage on TSN/RDS in Canada and local networks in Mexico.

Why the Tournament Matters

Beyond the trophy, the Leagues Cup offers:

High-level interleague competition
Pathway to the Concacaf Champions Cup and potential Club World Cup qualification routes
Fan experiences across North America, including new venues in Mexico
A midsummer showcase following the 2026 FIFA World Cup

For MLS clubs, it provides valuable knockout experience. For Liga MX sides, it offers another chance to compete against North American rivals on the continental stage.

Summary

Leagues Cup 2026 runs from August 4 to September 6. Phase One features 54 MLS vs. Liga MX matches through August 13. The top four teams from each league advance to quarterfinals (August 25–27), followed by semifinals (September 1–2) and the final plus third-place match on September 6.

Tickets are available via official club and tournament channels. Key attractions include star players such as Lionel Messi and strong contenders from both leagues.

For the latest results, standings, and ticket updates, visit LeaguesCup.com or MLSsoccer.com.

Key Takeaways

Tournament dates: August 4 – September 6, 2026
Final date: September 6, 2026
36 teams (18 MLS + 18 Liga MX)
Phase One: August 4–13 (MLS vs Liga MX only)
Top 4 from each league advance to quarterfinals
No draws—penalty kicks decide tied matches
Tickets available through club sites and Ticketmaster

5. FAQ

When does Leagues Cup 2026 start? August 4, 2026.

When is the Leagues Cup 2026 final? September 6, 2026.

How many teams are in Leagues Cup 2026? 36 teams — 18 from MLS and all 18 from Liga MX.

What is the format of Leagues Cup 2026? Phase One (three matches per team, MLS vs Liga MX) followed by single-elimination knockout rounds starting with quarterfinals.

Are there groups in Leagues Cup 2026? Teams are divided into Eastern and Western regions and further sorted into three tiers based on ranking. Standings are tracked in separate MLS and Liga MX tables.

How do teams advance from Phase One? The top four teams from the MLS table and the top four from the Liga MX table advance.

When are the quarterfinals? August 25–27, 2026.

When are the semifinals? September 1–2, 2026.

Where can I buy Leagues Cup 2026 tickets? Official club websites, Ticketmaster, LeaguesCup.com/tickets, and authorized resale platforms.

Is Lionel Messi playing in Leagues Cup 2026? Yes. He is expected to feature for Inter Miami CF.

Will matches be played in Mexico? Yes. Select Phase One matches are hosted in Mexico for the first time in recent editions.

How are points awarded? 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for a penalty-shootout win, 1 for a penalty-shootout loss.

What does the winner of Leagues Cup receive? The trophy plus a direct berth in the Round of 16 of the next Concacaf Champions Cup. The finalists and third-place team also qualify.

Where can I watch Leagues Cup 2026? All matches on Apple TV; select games on FOX, Univision, and other regional networks.

Which MLS teams qualified? The 18 clubs that reached the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs (top nine from each conference).

Is there extra time in knockout matches? No. Tied games go straight to penalty kicks.

Who won the previous Leagues Cup? Seattle Sounders FC won the 2025 edition.

How many matches are in Phase One? 54 matches.

Can non-playoff MLS teams participate? No. Only the 18 qualifying clubs from the previous season’s playoffs take part.

Where is the final being held? Venue to be determined based on advancing teams and announced closer to the date.