Leagues Cup 2023 Dates and Structure Announced
October 6, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami CF News Release
Major League Soccer and LIGA MX announced today important competition details, including dates, format and hosting process for the first edition of the historic and highly-anticipated 2023 Leagues Cup which will feature every club in the top two leagues in North America.
Leagues Cup 2023 dates
Tournament runs from July 21 to August 19
MLS and LIGA MX will pause their respective league seasons. No MLS or LIGA MX regular season matches will be played during Leagues Cup.
Format
An official Concacaf competition
All MLS and LIGA MX clubs will participate
World Cup style tournament: group stage followed by knockout rounds
4 regions: East, West, South, Central
No ties!
No ties in Leagues Cup 2023
Each team receives 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 three points.
Hosted at MLS stadiums
77 games hosted at MLS stadiums throughout the U.S. and Canada
LIGA MX v. LIGA MX matches will be played at MLS venues depending on region
Group Stage byes for 2022 champions
2022 MLS Cup Champion skips the group stage and starts at Round of 32
Of the two LIGA MXâ¯recent champions in Clausura 2022 and Apertura 2022, the club with the most combined points accumulated acrossâ¯both tournaments in the 2022 calendar yearâ¯will skip the group stage and start at Round of 32
Group Stage
Each club will play a minimum of two matches in group stage
The top two teams from each group will advance, based on group points
Tiebreakers and full competition guidelines will be published in the coming months
Group assignments
MLS clubs ranked 2 to 16 based on 2022 Supporters’ Shield finish are seeded first in each group
LIGA MX clubs ranked 2 to 16 based on total points from Clausura 2022 and Apertura 2022 combined will be in the second position in each group, opposite the MLS rankings (LIGA MX #15 paired with MLS #2)
The remaining 13 MLS clubs, together with the 2 remaining LIGA MX clubs, will be drawn into groups and divided geographically.
Knockout Rounds
Single game elimination
Round of 32: 16 matches
Round of 16: 8 matches
Quarterfinals: 4 matches
Semifinals
Third place match (winner qualifies for Concacaf Champions League)
Final on on Saturday, August 19 (both clubs qualify for Concacaf Champions League; Leagues Cup winner skips directly to Concacaf Champions League Round of 16)
Tournament Rewards
Third place match winner qualifies for Concacaf Champions League
Both clubs in the Leagues Cup final qualify for Concacaf Champions League
Leagues Cup 2023 Champion qualifies directly to Concacaf Champions League Round of 16
How to watch 2023 Leagues Cup
As part of Major League Soccer’s 10-year partnership with Apple, all Leagues Cup matches will be presented live to fans around the world through the Apple TV app (no blackouts). Additional broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
2023 Leagues Cup Tickets
MLS club season ticket holders should contact their club representative for more information.
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