RSL now shifts its competitive focus to the 2025 Leagues Cup, RSL’s third foray into the CONCACAF-sanctioned tournament between MLS and LIGA MX clubs. This Summer’s competition runs from July 29 to August 31, with the knockout rounds running concurrently with the MLS regular season, with all games once again hosted in the United States and Canada.
Several format changes are now in place for this year's tournament as opposed to the past two very exciting competitions, so here’s everything you need to know as you follow RSL in the Leagues Cup 2025:
- Leagues Cup is an interleague competition between the United States, Canada, and México. Inaugurated in 2019, the tournament was created to encourage competition between clubs from all three North American countries. Originally featuring eight teams as a “showcase,” it soon expanded to include all clubs from both leagues.
- For this year’s tournament, the Leagues Cup Organizing Committee has announced that 36 clubs will participate, featuring the top 18 teams from each league, determined by their performance in the 2024 reg. season standings — with the exception of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, who will be replaced by San Diego FC.
- All 36 clubs have been divided evenly into two regions - Eastern and Western - determined by ranking and geographical considerations. Teams are grouped into three separate tiers in each region. Tier 1 will contain teams ranked 1-3 from each league, Tier 2 will contain teams ranked 4-6 from each league, and Tier 3 will contain teams ranked 7-9 from each league. Based on these tiers, six sets will be created, containing one MLS team from each tier and one LIGA MX team from each tier. These sets will determine the three opposite league opponents for each team in Phase One.
- These changes have been implemented to exclusively prioritize interleague play through the Quarterfinals, regardless of group stage placement or previous matchups. Subsequent rounds will not need to meet this criteria.
- Additionally, a new points format will be utilized to determine the eight teams - four from each league - that will advance to the knockout rounds. As clubs begin to earn points, they will be ranked in a league-specific table. In other words, MLS teams will be ranked exclusively against other MLS teams, while LIGA MX teams will be ranked only against fellow LIGA MX teams — a structure designed to guarantee more interleague matchups throughout the tournament.
- One detail that sets the League Cup apart from other soccer competitions is the ‘No Draws’ rule. This will take effect from the very first match of the tournament, where games that are tied after 90 minutes will see each team receive a point, with a winner then decided by kicks from the penalty mark. The winner of the penalty shootout will receive an additional point. Wins in regulation will earn the victorious side three points. In the knockout stages, if teams are tied at the end of regulation, the outcome will also be decided by a penalty shootout.
- Following the trio of Phase One matches, the top four teams in each league’s table will advance to the Quarterfinals. A predetermined bracket will pair the eight Quarterfinal participants, with each matchup decided in a single-elimination format. The four victors will advance to the Semifinals to decide the Finals and Third Place fixtures. Teams who finish in the top three of the Leagues Cup 2025 will qualify to CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2026, with the Champion earning a direct spot to the Round of 16.
In this year’s edition, RSL will host three LIGA MX opponents at America First Field during Phase One. The Claret-and-Cobalt will face Mexican giants and Tier 1 side Club América on Wednesday, July 30; Tier 2 side Atlético San Luis on Saturday, August 2; and Tier 3 side Club Querétaro on Wednesday, August 6. All games feature 7:30p MT kickoffs, with tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
