Leagues Cup Preview: Format, Concacaf Champions Cup Qualification, and matches to watch

By Brian Maurer

Major League Soccer is going on a short hiatus to make way for Leagues Cup between the 18 Liga MX clubs and 18 of the top MLS clubs. The competition continues to focus on making sure there are as many Liga MX vs MLS matchups as possible with interleague matchups guaranteed through the Quarterfinals.

This year, Liga MX teams will also be hosting games to ensure more balance in the competition.

Each club plays three group stage games against opponents from the other league (e.g., Charlotte FC vs Pumas, Atlas, and Pachuca). Each game will go to PK shootouts if there is a tie. Clubs will earn three points for a win, two points for a PK shootout win, and one point for a PK shoot out loss.

Advancing to the Knockout Rounds will be extremely difficult, similar to last season, where the top four teams in each league after the group stage advance to the Quarterfinals. Last season, two MLS clubs finished on seven points and did not qualify for the Knockout Rounds.

Same as last year, there are three 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup spots on the line with the Champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher all qualifying for CCC. The Champion earns a bye to the CCC Round of 16.

With 54 games crammed into nine days we wanted to put a list together of matchups to watch at each time slot to help make sure you don't miss any of the top games or clubs:

Round 1

Tuesday, Aug 4 at 8 PM ET - Charlotte FC vs Pumas

Tuesday, Aug 4 at 10 PM ET - Tigres vs Real Salt Lake

Wednesday, Aug 5 at 7:30 PM ET - Monterrey vs Orlando

Wednesday, Aug 5 at 10:30 PM ET - LAFC vs Chivas

Thursday, Aug 6 at 8 PM ET - Cruz Azul vs Philadelphia

Thursday, Aug 6 at 10 PM ET - Club America vs San Diego FC

Round 2

Friday, Aug 7 at 7:30 PM ET - FC Cincinnati vs Pumas

Friday, Aug 7 at 7:30 PM ET - Charlotte FC vs Atlas

Friday, Aug 7 at 10:30 PM ET - Vancouver Whitecaps vs Juarez

Saturday, Aug 8 at 8 PM ET - Inter Miami vs Monterrey

Saturday, Aug 8 at 11:10 PM ET - Toluca vs LAFC

Sunday, Aug 9 at 7:30 PM ET - Cruz Azul vs NYCFC

Sunday, Aug 9 at 10 PM ET - San Diego FC vs Tijuana

Round 3

Tuesday, Aug 11 at 7:30 PM ET - Charlotte FC vs Pachuca

Tuesday, Aug 11 at 8 PM ET - FC Cincinnati vs Atlas

Tuesday, Aug 11 at 10 PM ET - Tigres vs Vancouver Whitecaps

Wednesday, Aug 12 at 8 PM ET - Monterrey vs Nashville SC

Wednesday, Aug 12 at 10:30 PM ET - Seattle Sounders vs Chivas

Thursday, Aug 13 at 8:30 PM ET - Club America vs Austin FC

Thursday, Aug 13 at 10:30 PM ET - Portland Timbers vs Tijuana