Everything You Must Know About the 2026 Leagues Cup: The Ultimate Guide

The Leagues Cup returns, and the 2026 tournament will adopt a format similar to the 2025 edition, featuring 36 clubs drawn from Liga MX and Major League Soccer, with 18 representatives from each of the two domestic competitions. 

Unlike previous editions where every club from both leagues took part, the 2026 tournament sees 12 MLS sides absent, as those clubs juggle commitments in the U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, and Concacaf Champions Cup.

Here's everything you need to know about the competition, which kicks off on Aug. 4 and crowns its champion on Sept. 6.

Which Teams Are in the 2026 Leagues Cup?

MLS Clubs

Liga MX Clubs

Click here for the full Leagues Cup 2026 schedule

When Is the 2026 Leagues Cup?

How Does the 2026 Leagues Cup Work?

The 2026 Leagues Cup will operate as a split-table competition, featuring separate MLS and Liga MX standings, which then feed into a knockout bracket running from the quarterfinals through to the championship and third-place matches. 

Phase One will consist of cross-league matchups, with each MLS side facing a Liga MX opponent across three total games, accumulating points toward their respective league tables. Each match will award the standard three points for a victory; however, games level at full time will proceed to a penalty shootout, with the winning side earning two points and the losing side receiving one.

Once Phase One concludes, the top four clubs in each table advance to the knockout stage. Under this format, two teams from the same league cannot meet until the semifinal round.

The Leagues Cup offers three qualification berths for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, awarded to the champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher. The tournament winner earns a direct entry into the round of 16 of that competition.

What's New in the 2026 Leagues Cup?

The 2026 Leagues Cup closely resembles the edition the Seattle Sounders claimed in 2025, with one notable change: matches held in Mexico. Liga MX clubs will host four games this season, marking the first time since the tournament's debut in 2019 that fixtures will be played south of the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Liga MX Matches in Mexico

What Happened in 2025?

The 2025 Leagues Cup will be remembered for years to come, as the Seattle Sounders claimed their maiden title with a dominant 3–0 victory over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami before a record attendance of 69,314 at Lumen Field.

Miami arrived at the match in poor summer form, having been eliminated by Vancouver in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. For a club with lofty ambitions, it felt like a pivotal moment, particularly as Messi had yet to lift a trophy in 2025 with club or country. Those hopes were thoroughly dashed, as Seattle's Osaze De Rosario and Alex Roldan powered the Rave Green to glory.

After the final whistle, both sides became embroiled in physical confrontations, with Miami forward Luis Suárez appearing to spit at a Seattle staff member. His conduct resulted in a three-game MLS ban and a six-game Leagues Cup suspension, meaning he will miss the entirety of the 2026 tournament.

Who Has Won the Leagues Cup in the Past?