Leagues Cup Semifinals Showdown: Who Will Battle for the Championship Crown?
The 2025 Leagues Cup has been narrowed down to four remaining teams—all representing Major League Soccer following the elimination of every Liga MX club during Phase One and the quarterfinal rounds.
Although the Leagues Cup might not generate as much excitement for Mexican clubs since all matches are held in the United States and the tournament occurs during the early portion of the Apertura season, significant stakes remain in play.
Beyond the prestige of claiming a championship trophy, the two clubs reaching the final will secure spots in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, while the winner of the third-place match will also earn tournament qualification.
This round features a Florida rivalry matchup and a traditional west coast MLS showdown, but what outcomes can we expect?
Sports Illustrated analyzes and forecasts Wednesday's encounters between defending 2023 Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami and Orlando City SC, plus Seattle Sounders FC versus the LA Galaxy.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City SC
Both Inter Miami and Orlando City SC are targeting the Leagues Cup championship, as demonstrated by significant squad rotations during their Matchday 30 MLS regular season contests. However, this Florida rivalry clash arrives at a crucial moment for both clubs in a campaign where they aspire to capture multiple titles.
Presently, Miami holds third place in the Eastern Conference based on points-per-game, while Orlando trails not far behind in sixth position. Both represent legitimate candidates for the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, though Leagues Cup commands attention this week.
Despite holding a marginal table advantage, Orlando enters the matchup with confidence after overwhelming Inter Miami in both regular season meetings this year, securing 3–0 and 4–1 victories, with the latest coming on Aug. 10.
Miami might need to navigate the match without Lionel Messi as he manages an ongoing injury, though they should welcome back Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Rodrigo De Paul to the starting eleven after resting during a 1–1 stalemate with D.C. United.
Despite possessing that veteran experience and skill, Orlando will rely on their attacking triumvirate of Marco Pašalić, Martín Ojeda and Luis Muriel. This trio has contributed 34 of Orlando's 54 regular season tallies.
Ojeda, who tops Orlando's MLS goal-scoring charts with 14 strikes, also remains in contention for the Leagues Cup Golden Boot, currently tied for the tournament lead with three goals.
Neither team will find this an effortless challenge, but considering Miami's struggles against Orlando, the Lions should emerge victorious and eliminate any possibility of a second Leagues Cup crown for Messi and Miami.
Prediction: Orlando City SC 3–1 Inter Miami
LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
Both the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders made squad changes this weekend, yet managed to secure victories in their fixtures, unlike their Florida-based Leagues Cup semifinal counterparts.
The Sounders approach this clash as clear favorites, occupying fourth place in the Western Conference following a 5–2 triumph over Sporting Kansas City with mostly backup players on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, the Galaxy languish at the Western Conference bottom with merely 19 points across 27 matches, after claiming a 3–0 victory against the Colorado Rapids.
Despite their contrasting regular season performances, both have demonstrated exceptional form in the Leagues Cup thus far, eliminating Liga MX opponents and positioning themselves one victory away from Champions Cup qualification.
For the Galaxy, however, the importance runs much deeper. Given their difficulties and the probability of missing playoffs after capturing the 2024 MLS Cup, the Leagues Cup presents an opportunity for redemption and continental competition access.
This has proven to be their strength, surprising throughout the tournament with victories over Club Tijuana, Santos Laguna and Pachuca. There have been exceptional contributions in crucial moments from Marco Reus, Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil. The latter leads the tournament with 11 shots on target.
Following their Colorado victory, they arrive with renewed confidence, though they recognize the difficulty ahead, particularly against a Sounders team that demolished them 4–0 earlier this month.
The Sounders, meanwhile, focus on a strong season conclusion, which could begin with capturing the Leagues Cup and earning another Champions Cup opportunity.
Should they prevail, it will likely depend on their star performers, including Pedro de la Vega—who netted a Puskas Award candidate against Cruz Azul in Phase One—along with striker Jesus Ferreira and goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
This represents a battle between two historic Western Conference powerhouses that haven't reached peak form this season, but possess a genuine opportunity to claim silverware before summer's end. Seattle appears slightly superior for LA to overcome.
Prediction: LA Galaxy 2–2 Seattle Sounders (Seattle Sounders advance on penalties)