The Leagues Cup Organizing Committee officially announced all the key details of the 2026 Leagues Cup, the fourth edition of the tournament that pits LIGA MX and Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs against each other. The competition will be held from August 4 to September 6, 2026, when the 2026 Leagues Cup Final will take place.
The tournament will be played immediately after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing it to capitalize on global interest in soccer in North America and solidify the Leagues Cup as one of the most important competitions on the international club calendar.
A key tournament for soccer in North America after the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 Leagues Cup, sanctioned by Concacaf, will maintain its strategic role as a showcase for the growth of soccer in the region. The 2026 edition will reinforce the historic rivalry between MLS and LIGA MX, two of the continent’s leagues with the greatest commercial and sporting potential.
As in previous editions, the tournament will feature 36 clubs, divided equally between the two leagues: 18 teams from LIGA MX and 18 from MLS, competing in a fully interleague format.
Qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
One of the biggest incentives of the 2026 Leagues Cup will be direct entry into international competitions. The tournament will award three berths in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup:
- Champion: Direct qualification for the Round of 16
- Runner-up: Qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup
- Third place: Qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup
The Concacaf Champions Cup is the official pathway for clubs in the region to access tournaments organized by FIFA, including the FIFA Club World Cup.
Participating clubs in LIGA MX for the 2026 Leagues Cup
All 18 LIGA MX teams will be present at the 2026 Leagues Cup, guaranteeing the participation of Mexico’s top football clubs:
- Club América
- Atlas FC
- Atlético de San Luis
- Guadalajara Club (Chivas)
- Cruz Azul
- FC Juárez
- Club León
- Mazatlán FC
- CF Monterrey
- Club Necaxa
- CF Pachuca
- Puebla Club
- Pumas UNAM
- Querétaro Club
- Santos Laguna
- Tigres UANL
- Club Tijuana
- Toluca FC
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MLS clubs that have qualified for the 2026 Leagues Cup
The 18 MLS clubs were ranked based on their performance in the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, with the top nine teams from each conference (East and West):
- 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
Several clubs are returning to the tournament after not participating in 2025, reflecting the high competitiveness of the MLS qualifying process.
How are the matchups determined? Leagues Cup 2026 Qualifying Standings
The Leagues Cup standings combine the performance of clubs from both leagues into a unified table, which is used to determine the matchups for Phase One:
MLS: Ranking based on the final MLS Supporters’ Shield standings.
LIGA MX: Standings based on cumulative performance in the 2025 Apertura and Clausura tournaments
This system aims to generate more balanced matchups and high-level games from the very first phase.
Leagues Cup 2026 Competition Format
The 2026 Leagues Cup will maintain the format introduced in 2025, designed to maximize inter-league matchups:
- Phase One: 54 matches, all between MLS and LIGA MX clubs
- Separate tables will be created for MLS and LIGA MX.
- The top four teams from each league advance to the playoff rounds.
- Inter-league matchups guarantyd until the quarterfinals
- The tournament culminates with the Semifinals, the Third-Place Match, and the Final.
This format ensures constant competitiveness and keeps the rivalry between the two leagues alive throughout the tournament.
Upcoming announcements: schedule, venues, tickets, and broadcast
The Organizing Committee announced that more details will be released in the coming months about:
Official match schedule
Venues for the matches
Ticket sales
Broadcasts on Apple TV and free-to-air and pay-TV partners
The Leagues Cup will be available in more than 100 countries and regions, reinforcing its global reach.
