December 17 – The League Cup will undergo a radical change in 2025 according to Liga MX president Mikel Arreola, who spoke to reporters on Sunday after taking the reins as acting league commissioner following the shock ousting of Juan Carlos Rodriguez.
The previous two tournaments were played during a self-imposed month-long mid-season break for both MLS and Liga MX teams.
Areola said the tournament would remain a summer event, however, matches would now be played during the week, mirroring major European competitions where midweek matches attract a prime-time crowd.
There will also be a major change in the format and number of participants, with MLS reducing the number of its teams in the competition to 18, the same number as Liga MX clubs.
With all games played in the United States, the burden of travel had previously fallen to Mexican teams who were overshadowed by MLS teams, in contrast to the continued failure of MLS clubs to overcome Mexican dominance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
“We have just approved the new format for the League Cup,” Areola said. “We won't be camping there anymore.”
In 2023 and 2024, all matches were played exclusively in the United States or Canada, forcing some Mexican teams to hold training camps in various centers throughout the United States.
“We will play in the middle of the week so that the Mexican teams do not suffer, and the Mexican League matches will be held on weekends,” Areola added.
Earlier this month, MLS commissioner Don Garber said in the league's annual address: “We need more MLS versus Liga MX matches. That was really the goal of the League Cup to begin with. We're looking at To adjustments that will make it more focused on what we're trying to achieve, which is this great rivalry between our two leagues.
In the first edition in 2023, Inter Miami dominated the competition with Lionel Messi at his best. In 2024, Columbus Crew beat Los Angeles in the final.
The squeeze for a League Cup in the 2025 calendar will be tough with the CONCACAF Gold Cup and an expanded FIFA Club World Cup being held next summer in the United States.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at power.l1734421542labto1734421542ofdlr1734421542late1734421542sni@o1734421542old1734421542
2024-12-17 03:26:08
