Leagues Cup 2025 Quarterfinals: Epic Showdowns and Must-Watch Clashes Await
While MLS and Liga MX regular season play resumed during the tournament break, the Leagues Cup remains ongoing, with eight clubs preparing to compete for the championship trophy.
Different from previous editions that featured group stages followed by extended knockout rounds, the 2025 Leagues Cup adopted a more compact format. Each squad faced three opponents from the opposing league while also competing against teams from their own league in a unified standings table.
Subsequently, the leading four clubs from both MLS and Liga MX advanced, creating a seeded eight-team elimination bracket for the Leagues Cup, with quarterfinal encounters scheduled for August 20th.
While the championship trophy holds tremendous importance for all participating clubs, the competition also provides three Concacaf Champions Cup berths for 2026, distributed to both finalists and the third-place playoff victor.
Prior to the quarterfinal action commencing, here's how Sports Illustrated forecasted these winner-take-all elimination matches.
Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL
Two powerhouses from their respective competitions, no previous Leagues Cup fixture has carried the significance of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami facing Ángel Correa's Tigres UANL.
Though Miami previously struggled against Liga MX opponents, they carved out an impressive path through Phase One, defeating Atlas, Necaxa and Pumas, including victories over the final two without Messi, who featured for only 11 minutes against Necaxa.
Meanwhile, the Leagues Cup Phase One provided an initial authentic look at what Correa can contribute to Tigres with his four strikes so far, as they transition away from Andre-Pierre Gignac.
Correa enters this clash as one of North America's newest high-profile acquisitions, while also getting the chance to face his former Atlético Madrid colleague, Rodrigo De Paul.
These represent two elite squads from their respective leagues, and this encounter will draw considerable attention. However, Miami's objective, combined with the probability of Messi being refreshed following a minor injury layoff, positions the Herons as favorites to prevail.
Prediction: Inter Miami 3–2 Tigres UANL
Toluca FC vs Orlando City SC
Toluca CF enters as strong favorites against Orlando City SC in their quarterfinal encounter, arriving as Liga MX's top seed from the Phase One standings.
Leading up to this matchup, Toluca also occupies a position near the summit in the Apertura despite the campaign being in its infancy. They've demonstrated their caliber against MLS competition, securing victories over Columbus Crew SC, CF Montreal and New York City FC during Phase One, while Paulinho tops the Leagues Cup scoring charts with four goals.
They now face an Orlando squad that, despite solid form, will likely prioritize securing a strong MLS Cup Playoff position. Nevertheless, the Lions possess quality elements, with Martín Ojeda, Luis Muriel and Marco Pašalić returning to peak performance.
While any fixture at this tournament stage will be competitive, expect Toluca to progress to the semifinals.
Prediction: Toluca 2–0 Orlando City SC
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Club Puebla
Seattle Sounders FC aim to extend their excellent run into the Leagues Cup elimination phase and will be strongly favored to advance past a Puebla team that has encountered difficulties in the Apertura thus far.
Since the FIFA Club World Cup, circumstances have been positive for the Sounders. They're excelling in MLS, and they captured all three Leagues Cup fixtures, including a record-breaking 7–0 triumph against Concacaf Champions Cup holders, Cruz Azul.
With Pedro de la Vega in outstanding form and supported by exceptional performances from Jesus Ferreira and Cristian Roldan, the Sounders should comfortably handle Puebla. However, there will be resistance from Emiliano Gómez and Los Camoteros, who won't surrender the opportunity the Leagues Cup presents during a challenging league campaign.
Prediction: Seattle Sounders 4–1 Puebla
LA Galaxy vs. Pachuca
The LA Galaxy have obtained precisely what they required from the Leagues Cup: A new beginning.
Currently positioned at the foot of the MLS Western Conference and continuing to search for positive results after securing just one victory in their opening 20 matches, the Galaxy rediscovered their form in the Leagues Cup and qualified as the third-best among the 18 MLS participants.
It required a final-day decision for the Galaxy as well, and head coach Greg Vanney's squad didn't falter under pressure, delivering a commanding 4–0 victory over Santos Laguna not only to qualify, but to leapfrog Orlando City SC in the MLS Leagues Cup standings.
Already, Matheus Nascimento has exceeded his two MLS goals with three in the Leagues Cup, and the final encounter against Santos Laguna highlighted the exceptional moments that Mauricio Cuevas can deliver.
The challenge will be significant against Pachuca, given they're a team just months removed from the FIFA Club World Cup and recently defeated Houston Dynamo and San Diego FC in Phase One, but the Galaxy will remain competitive.
Prediction: LA Galaxy 2–2 Pachuca (Pachuca Advances via Penalty Shootout)