Leagues Cup is on a Mission
The Continental Tournament Can Be the Tip of the Spear for Soccer in North America
Whether you like sports, hate sports, or are indifferent there are two things proving to be true in North America: 1) We’re getting in-season tournaments everwhere and 2) Soccer is no different.
And while I’m sure I will get around to discussing the in-season tournaments for the WNBA and NBA at some point in the future, I would argue the highest profile tournament on the continent is the Leagues Cup: The tournament that pits Major League Soccer teams from the US against Liga MX teams from Mexico. And while like other tournaments of its ilk, it’s advent has brought its fair share of derision, it may end up pushing North American soccer to another level.
Okay so here’s the TLDR: In the middle of the MLS season and three weeks into the Liga MX Apertura season, all soccer play at the pro level stops. Every team from MLS (which includes some Canadian franchises) are pitted in a “World Cup” style tournament against teams from Mexico. What happens next is a fast-paced flurry of games that last over three weeks, culminating with one team winning the tournament. As an incentive for advancing the tournament, the top three finishers qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup (which is yet another tournament that includes Central America and Caribbean teams).
Confused yet? Because I haven’t scratched the surface.
But the mere existence of Leagues Cup has brought out all the hot takes. Its awkward placement in the MLS schedule was cause for concern but to be honest with you, the game needs a tournament like this. Why? Well, on the MLS side the season is a long one. And while more Americans are watching soccer than ever before, its audience is still dwarfed by both Major League Baseball (the major summer sport) and the beginning of most European soccer leagues like Premier League. Leagues Cup may be a gimmick on the surface, but it can draw eyeballs.
On the Mexican side, it kind of amounts to a promotional tour for the Liga MX clubs. All the sites for the Cup are stateside and so, for the Mexican diaspora, it becomes a way to get a slice of home. For others, it’s a unique opportunity to see these teams up close. The club I support, The LA Galaxy are out of the 2024 tournament as I type this, having been bounced out about a week ago. But because the Galaxy’s home ground, Dignity Health Sports Park was a pre-approved site, I’ve been front row to see a pair of matches from Mexican powerhouse, Club América.
I mean dang, is this team support to be the official club of TWO whole continents?
This whole thing comes with the kind of fanfare, pomp and circumstance that other tournaments like the World Cup strive for. Obviously you can’t compare, but you get quirky staples like it’s own theme song:
And it’s own commercial showing you how serious this tournament is..
Which to be fair might be, but it’s still too new to really have this hit home. It’s like going to a neighborhood bar that has an “Est. 2024” sign hanging out front. It’ll make sense in like fifteen years, trust us.
Attending the quarterfinal matchup between the aforementioned Club America against Colorado Rapids, there are a few things that quickly come to mind. Mexican teams are at a travel disadvantage, while American clubs are at a supporter disadvantage. This matchup in Southern California is a literal and figurative home game for Las Águilas, with only a handful of Rapids supporters making the trip.
It makes you wonder whether the tournament should feature home and away fixtures, or be held in multiple venues in a single city. If more people are attending the games, we can kind of cultivate an atmosphere that could help elevate the game. Don’t believe me? Remember in 2023 when baseball had its version of the World Cup called the “World Baseball Classic?” It was only held in four cities (Tokyo, Taipei, Phoenix, and Miami) and the people who venture to each hub got some of this (Source: NYPost):
Imagine going on a three week soccer vacation in a town like Miami (Beaches), Denver (mountains), Mexico City (architecture!), or New York (um.. pizza..?). It would be a hot ticket and I can totally see some hardcore fans just posting up in a town for close to a month for a tournament. I actually had a buddy of mine spent almost two fortnights in Germany for this year’s Euros. We can do it here in North America too!