Who has what it takes to compete?

The Leagues Cup is a competition involving the entire North American continent, MLS vs Liga MX. This first round was the group stage to set up the Leagues Cup bracket. Each team had to compete multiple times with various teams to determine who had what it took to take the stage.

The knockout round hasn’t even begun yet, and already there’s been a lot going on. Messi made his debut for Inter Miami. During the Columbus match against St. Louis on July 23rd, the game had a nearly four-hour delay due to severe weather. One head coach received a yellow card. On July 21st, Leon triumphed over Vancouver after an astounding 19 penalty kick face-off, grabbing one more than the Whitecaps.

It’s been such an intense ride so far that nearly 30% of the games had red cards.  There have been fourteen red cards in total. That’s fourteen players being ejected throughout the group stage. In the match between Philadelphia and Tijuana on July 22nd, Tijuana received two red cards that match, leaving them with eight players on the field, not including the goalkeeper, for nearly the entire second half of the match. The first red card was given in minute 19; the second in minute 56. It’s almost certain that’s what cost them the game, 3-1, and their shot at the Leagues Cup.

After a grueling 45 matches, the following teams will go head-to-head in the knockout stage, the round of 32, to see who has what it takes to move on to the quarterfinals. Each team will play only once.

West

LAFC vs. Juárez FC

León vs. Real Salt Lake

Tigres vs. Vancouver

Portland vs. Monterrey

Central

Columbus vs. Minnesota

Toluca vs. Kansas City

Chicago vs. Club América

Cincinnati vs. Nashville

East

Philadelphia vs. DC United

Red Bull NY vs. New York FC

Pumas vs. Querétaro

Atlas vs. New England

South

Mazatlan vs. FC Dallas

Inter Miami vs. Orlando

Charlotte vs. Cruz Azul

Pachuca vs. Houston