2023 Leagues Cup

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2023 Leagues Cup
File:Leagues Cup 2023 logo black.png
Tournament details
Host countries Canada
United States
Dates July 21 – August 19
Teams 47 (from 3 associations)
Venue(s) 29 (in 29 host cities)
Final positions
Champions United States Inter Miami CF (1st title)
Runners-up United States Nashville SC
Third place United States Philadelphia Union
Fourth place Mexico Monterrey
Tournament statistics
Matches played 77
Goals scored 251 (3.26 per match)
Attendance 1,328,669 (17,255 per match)
Top scorer(s) Argentina Lionel Messi
(10 goals)
Best player Argentina Lionel Messi
Best goalkeeper United States Drake Callender
2024 →

The 2023 Leagues Cup was the third edition of the Leagues Cup, an international club soccer tournament between Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX. It was held from July 21 to August 19, 2023, with all 77 matches held in either the United States or Canada. The tournament was organized by MLS and the Mexican Football Federation and sanctioned by CONCACAF, the continental governing body for the sport in North America.[1]

Inter Miami CF won the tournament after defeating Nashville SC on penalties in the final at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee. Miami's Lionel Messi was the top goalscorer and awarded the best player of the Leagues Cup.[2]

For the first time in the history of the competition, all MLS and Liga MX teams (47 total) competed in the tournament, with both leagues taking a pause in their respective seasons to participate.[3] In addition, the Leagues Cup finalists and third-place team earned berths to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with winners Inter Miami automatically advancing to that tournament's round of 16.

Format

File:2023 Leagues Cup - Seattle vs. Monterrey - combined starting lineups.jpg
The starting lineups of Seattle Sounders FC (in green) and Monterrey (in white) prior to their group stage match

The 2023 Leagues Cup was the first edition where all MLS and Liga MX teams participated. The MLS Cup 2022 winners (Los Angeles FC) and the 2022 Clausura or 2022 Apertura champions with the highest aggregate points accumulated across 2022 (Pachuca) qualified automatically for the round of 32. The remaining 45 teams were placed into 15 groups of three.[4][5]

For the group stage, teams played one match against each team in their group. Regulation wins were worth three points and regulation losses are zero points. Matches tied after 90 minutes advanced to a penalty shoot-out, where the winner earned two points and the loser earned one. All matches were held in either the United States or Canada, with the MLS teams playing at home and intra-Liga MX matches played at MLS venues depending on their region.[1][4][5] Matches disrupted by inclement weather, including thunderstorms, were delayed or postponed to another date to resume at the time of the stoppage.[6]

The top two teams in each group advanced to the round of 32, joining the MLS Cup winners and highest-ranked Liga MX champion. This phase of the tournament was a five-round single-leg knockout format with a third place match. As was the case during the group stage, knockout stage matches tied after 90 minutes were decided by a penalty shoot-out.[7]:14 The two finalists and third place team earned berths for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winners automatically advancing to the Champions Cup round of 16.[1]

Teams and draw

The competition featured all 47 clubs from the two leagues: 29 from MLS and 18 from Liga MX.[8] Teams were ranked by league using the 2022 Supporters' Shield standings for MLS and the 2022 aggregate table for Liga MX. The champions of each league received a bye to the knockout stage as the highest seed. The top 15 remaining teams from each league were placed into groups based on ranking and in reverse order (for example, the 2nd-ranked MLS club was drawn against the 16th-ranked Liga MX club). The remaining teams (13 MLS and 2 Liga MX) were drawn into groups and divided into geographical regions. The first two teams of every group were seeded. The third team was the nearest geographically located unseeded team to the other two teams.[4]

  Teams receiving bye to knockout stage.
  Teams assigned to a group based on league ranking.
  Teams drawn into a group.
  1. ^ St. Louis City SC joined Major League Soccer in 2023 and therefore had no 2022 season ranking.

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.[9]

Schedule for 2023 Leagues Cup
Phase Round Date
Group stage Matchday 1 July 21–23, 2023
Matchday 2 July 25–27, 2023
Matchday 3 July 29–31, 2023
Knockout stage Round of 32 August 2–4, 2023
Round of 16 August 6–8, 2023
Quarter-finals August 11–12, 2023
Semi-finals August 15, 2023
Third place play-off August 19, 2023
Final

Group stage

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Main article: 2023 Leagues Cup group stage

The group stage was played from July 21 to 31.[10] Competing teams were divided into fifteen groups of three teams. Teams in each group played one another in a single round-robin, where the top two teams advanced to the knockout stage.

West

West 1 West 2 West 3
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup

Central

Central 1 Central 2
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Central 3 Central 4
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup

South

South 1 South 2
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
South 3 South 4
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup

East

East 1 East 2
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
East 3 East 4
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup
Pos Team Pld Pts
Source: Leagues Cup

Knockout stage

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Main article: 2023 Leagues Cup knockout stage

In the knockout stage, if the scores were equal at the end of regulation time, a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winners.[7]:15

The host team was determined by several criteria, including group winner for round of 32 and the 2022 regular season standings for matches between two MLS clubs, where the team with the higher number of points hosted starting in round of 16. For MLS v. Liga MX matches, the MLS club hosted. Matches between two Liga MX teams were hosted at a neutral venue appointed by the Organizing Committee from a predetermined list.[11]

Bracket

 
 Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
                                    
 
 August 2 – Los Angeles
 
 
 United States Los Angeles FC 7
 
 August 8 – Los Angeles
 
 Mexico Juárez 1
 
 United States Los Angeles FC 4
 
 August 4 – Sandy
 
 United States Real Salt Lake 0
 
 Mexico León 1
 
 August 11 – Pasadena
 
 United States Real Salt Lake 3
 
 United States Los Angeles FC 2
 
 August 4 – Vancouver
 
 Mexico Monterrey 3
 
 Mexico UANL 1 (5)
 
 August 8 – Houston
 
 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (3)
 
 Mexico UANL 0
 
 August 4 – Portland
 
 Mexico Monterrey 1
 
 Mexico Monterrey 1
 
 August 15 – Nashville
 
 United States Portland Timbers 0
 
 Mexico Monterrey 0
 
 August 4 – Columbus
 
 United States Nashville SC 2
 
 United States Columbus Crew 3 (3)
 
 August 8 – Saint Paul
 
 United States Minnesota United FC (p) 3 (4)
 
 United States Minnesota United FC (p) 2 (4)
 
 August 4 – Kansas City
 
 Mexico Toluca 2 (2)
 
 Mexico Toluca 4
 
 August 11 – Nashville
 
 United States Sporting Kansas City 1
 
 United States Minnesota United FC 0
 
 August 4 – Bridgeview
 
 United States Nashville SC 5
 
 United States Chicago Fire FC 0
 
 August 8 – Nashville
 
 Mexico América 1
 
 Mexico América 2 (5)
 
 August 4 – Cincinnati
 
 United States Nashville SC (p) 2 (6)
 
 United States FC Cincinnati 1 (4)
 
 August 19 – Nashville
 
 United States Nashville SC (p) 1 (5)
 
 United States Nashville SC 1 (9)
 
 August 3 – Chester
 
 United States Inter Miami CF (p) 1 (10)
 
 United States Philadelphia Union (p) 0 (5)
 
 August 8 – Chester
 
 United States D.C. United 0 (4)
 
 United States Philadelphia Union (p) 1 (4)
 
 August 3 – Harrison
 
 United States New York Red Bulls 1 (3)
 
 United States New York Red Bulls 1
 
 August 11 – Chester
 
 United States New York City FC 0
 
 United States Philadelphia Union 2
 
 August 3 – Washington, D.C.
 
 Mexico Querétaro 1
 
 Mexico UNAM 0
 
 August 7 – Foxborough
 
 Mexico Querétaro 1
 
 Mexico Querétaro (p) 1 (4)
 
 August 3 – Foxborough
 
 United States New England Revolution 1 (3)
 
 Mexico Atlas 2 (7)
 
 August 15 – Chester
 
 United States New England Revolution (p) 2 (8)
 
 United States Philadelphia Union 1
 
 August 2 – Frisco
 
 United States Inter Miami CF 4 Third place play-off
 
 Mexico Mazatlán 1
 
 August 6 – Frisco August 19 – Chester
 
 United States FC Dallas 2
 
 United States FC Dallas 4 (3) United States Philadelphia Union 3
 
 August 2 – Fort Lauderdale
 
 United States Inter Miami CF (p) 4 (5) Mexico Monterrey 0
 
 United States Inter Miami CF 3
 
 August 11 – Fort Lauderdale
 
 United States Orlando City SC 1
 
 United States Inter Miami CF 4
 
 August 2 – Houston
 
 United States Charlotte FC 0
 
 Mexico Pachuca 0 (3)
 
 August 7 – Houston
 
 United States Houston Dynamo FC (p) 0 (5)
 
 United States Houston Dynamo FC 1
 
 August 3 – Frisco
 
 United States Charlotte FC 2
 
 United States Charlotte FC (p) 0 (4)
 
 
 Mexico Cruz Azul 0 (3)
 

Round of 32

The matches were played from August 2–4, 2023.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Inter Miami CF United States 3–1 United States Orlando City SC
Mazatlán Mexico 1–2 United States FC Dallas
Pachuca Mexico 0–0 (3–5 p) United States Houston Dynamo FC
Los Angeles FC United States 7–1 Mexico Juárez
Atlas Mexico 2–2 (7–8 p) United States New England Revolution
Philadelphia Union United States 0–0 (5–4 p) United States D.C. United
UNAM Mexico 0–1 Mexico Querétaro
New York Red Bulls United States 1–0 United States New York City FC
Charlotte FC United States 0–0 (4–3 p) Mexico Cruz Azul
León Mexico 1–3 United States Real Salt Lake
Columbus Crew United States 3–3 (3–4 p) United States Minnesota United FC
FC Cincinnati United States 1–1 (4–5 p) United States Nashville SC
Chicago Fire FC United States 0–1 Mexico América
Toluca Mexico 4–1 United States Sporting Kansas City
Monterrey Mexico 1–0 United States Portland Timbers
UANL Mexico 1–1 (5–3 p) Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC


Round of 16

The matches were played from August 6 to 8, 2023.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
FC Dallas United States 4–4 (3–5 p) United States Inter Miami CF
Querétaro Mexico 1–1 (4–3 p) United States New England Revolution
Charlotte FC United States 2–1 United States Houston Dynamo FC
América Mexico 2–2 (5–6 p) United States Nashville SC
Philadelphia Union United States 1–1 (4–3 p) United States New York Red Bulls
Toluca Mexico 2–2 (2–4 p) United States Minnesota United FC
UANL Mexico 0–1 Mexico Monterrey
Los Angeles FC United States 4–0 United States Real Salt Lake

Quarter-finals

The matches were played on August 11, 2023.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Inter Miami CF United States 4–0 United States Charlotte FC
Nashville SC United States 5–0 United States Minnesota United FC
Philadelphia Union United States 2–1 Mexico Querétaro
Los Angeles FC United States 2–3 Mexico Monterrey

Semi-finals

The matches were played on August 15, 2023.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Philadelphia Union United States 1–4 United States Inter Miami CF
Monterrey Mexico 0–2 United States Nashville SC

Third place play-off

The winner of the third place match qualified for the first round of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

August 19, 2023 (2023-08-19)
18:00
Philadelphia Union United States 3–0 Mexico Monterrey
https://www.leaguescup.com/competitions/leagues-cup/2023/matches/phivsmty-08-19-2023/
Subaru Park, Chester
Attendance: 17,731
Referee: Juan Calderón

Final

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Main article: 2023 Leagues Cup final

Both clubs qualified for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, with the winners qualifying directly to the round of 16.

August 19, 2023 (2023-08-19)
8:00 p.m. CDT
Nashville SC United States 1–1 United States Inter Miami CF
https://www.leaguescup.com/competitions/leagues-cup/2023/matches/nshvsmia-08-19-2023/
  Penalties  
*Mukhtar Penalty scored 9–10 *Penalty scored Messi
Geodis Park
Attendance: 30,109
Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)

Statistics

Top goalscorers

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Note: Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs are not counted towards players' goal counts or to match goal counts.[12]
  Team eliminated for this round.
  Player was inactive for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 R32 R16 QF SF 3rd F Total
1 Argentina Lionel Messi United States Inter Miami CF 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 10
2 South Africa Bongokuhle Hlongwane United States Minnesota United FC 2 2 2 1 7
3 Gabon Denis Bouanga United States Los Angeles FC 3 2 1 6
4 Argentina Germán Berterame Mexico Monterrey 2 3 5
United States Brandon Vázquez United States FC Cincinnati 1 3 1
6 Hungary Dániel Gazdag United States Philadelphia Union 1 3 4
Finland Robert Taylor United States Inter Miami CF 1 2 1
8 Argentina Gustavo Bou United States New England Revolution 1 2 3
Colombia Cucho Hernández United States Columbus Crew 1 2
Venezuela Josef Martínez United States Inter Miami CF 1 1 1
Haiti Fafà Picault United States Nashville SC 1 1 1
Colombia Harold Preciado Mexico Santos Laguna 2 1
England Sam Surridge United States Nashville SC 1 1 1
Albania Giacomo Vrioni United States New England Revolution 3

Marketing and symbols

The official song of the tournament was "Tiki Taka Toco", sung in Spanish by California-based Mexicana group Fuerza Regida. A short instrumental version of the song is used for match broadcasts on MLS Season Pass as well as advertisements and stadium announcements.[13] The marketing for the tournament focused heavily on the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami CF, which was credited with increasing subscriptions and viewership;[14] on the day of Messi's debut for Miami, subscriptions to MLS Season Pass rose by 110,000 in the United States.[15]

Controversies

This edition received accusations of being designed to favor MLS teams. Most notably, the fact that all matches were played at MLS venues in the United States or Canada.[16][17] Some Mexican coaches and players considered the format unfair, since there was no games in Mexico. For example, Nicolás Larcamón, coach of Club León stated: "there is a benefit for the MLS teams, on their field, in their environment, in their climate. I would love to have a second game in León, It would be ideal to play in both stadiums to equilibrate the balance".[18]

The mexican (and LA FC) player Carlos Vela declared: "Obviously, for me, the fairest thing is we should also had games in Mexico, that it shouldn't be all playing in the United States, so that everyone could had a little bit of playing away, at home, and being a little more even" he also added: “Not only does (being local) benefit, the Mexican team has to be away from their home and their families for a long time and it is not fair. I believe that, if you hold a tournament, everyone must have the same possibilities, or the same advantages and disadvantages, in that aspect I think that those from the MLS have a little more advantage, (Although) in the end we know that anything can happen on the field ”.[19]

Noticeably, this was also reflected in a greater travel effort for the Mexican squads since the 18 Liga MX clubs traveled more than twice as many kilometers as all 29 in the MLS. Mexicans added an estimated 69,495 km; while combined Americans and Canadians, only 33,995. The criticism was more severe from the president of Club Monterrey, who, prior to their match against Los Angeles FC, pointed out that the Mexicans had moved more than 9,000 km, while throughout the Leagues Cup the team from the MLS had not left the Los Angeles metropolitan area.[16][20]

“It’ll be our fifth game (traveling), while LA(FC) will be home with their players eating dinner with their families every night, going to the movies, resting,” he stated.[17]

References

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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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