Ready or not, Leagues Cup is here. The now-annual tournament between Major League Soccer and Liga MX is underway, with FC Cincinnati opening play tomorrow (August 1) at TQL Stadium vs. Liga MX’s Querétaro. Here’s what you need to know about Leagues Cup 2024.
Who’s playing?
Forty-seven sides (29 from MLS, 18 from Liga MX) are participating. The group stage features 15 groups of three, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the round of 32, the first knockout stage. Reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew and Club América, the Liga MX squad with the most points across Clausura 2023 and Apertura 2023—that league’s two in-season tournaments—own byes into the round of 32.
When did Leagues Cup start and when does it end?
Group play began on July 26, with the final set for August 25. FC Cincinnati resumes its MLS slate August 24 at Inter Miami, so if either side makes the Leagues Cup final, that match will be postponed.
How were group opponents determined?
A tiered rankings system slotted clubs based on performance over their last 34 regular season matches. Teams were separated into three tiers—except Columbus and Club América—forming 15 groups of three. Competitive and geographical balance were considered in group composition, too.
FC Cincinnati, seeded third, has home matches tomorrow vs. Querétaro (No. 38 seed) and August 5 against New York City FC (No. 31). In MLS play, NYCFC is fifth in the Eastern Conference, 10 points behind second-place FCC, and has just three road league wins all season.
Why is Leagues Cup worth winning?
Both finalists qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, as does the winner of the third-place match. The Concacaf Champions Cup, which FCC participated in earlier this season, features North American, Central American, and Caribbean teams, with the winner advancing to the Club World Cup. If a club is routinely playing in the Champions Cup, you’re constantly in the hunt for trophies.
Any unique rules to remember?
In a victory for the Neanderthal “no ties” crowd, there will be no draws in Leagues Cup. Matches tied after 90 minutes of regulation move on to a penalty shootout. The winner gets two points, the loser nets one. Regulation victories are worth three points.
What happened in the 2023 Leagues Cup?
FC Cincinnati beat Sporting Kansas City in penalty kicks and Chivas 3-1 to win its group but fell in penalties to eventual Leagues Cup runner-up Nashville in the round of 32. Miami, on the strength of 10 goals from Lionel Messi, topped Nashville in an extended penalty shootout (10-9), capping a thrilling tournament run that doubled as a pitch-perfect rollout of Messi’s impact on MLS.
What should we expect of FC Cincinnati?
FCC should win its group, though the Orange and Blue may have to rely on its offense. Miles Robinson and the men’s Olympic team advanced out of group play for the first time since 2000, the same year Luca Orellano was born. The Americans have a quarterfinal match Friday vs. Morocco, which surprisingly topped its group over Argentina.
New center back signing Chidozie Awaziem’s availability is up in the air for tomorrow’s match as he awaits his P-1 work visa. Should FCC win its group, it would move on to face the second-best team out of a group comprised of Atlanta (No. 17 seed), Liga MX’s Santos Laguna (No. 30), and D.C. United (No. 35).
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at @GrantFreking.
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