The Leagues Cup Organizing Committee has released the official schedule for the 2026 tournament, which will run from August 4 to September 6 and, for the first time, include matches in Mexico. The competition will feature 36 clubs: all 18 teams from LIGA MX and 18 qualified Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. Among the participants is Charlotte FC, which plays in MLS’s Eastern Conference and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club began competing as an expansion franchise in 2022.
Charlotte FC is set to host Pumas UNAM, Atlas FC, and CF Pachuca during Phase One of the tournament. The opening phase will see 54 cross-border matches over nine days, including four high-profile fixtures in Mexico at the home venues of Club Toluca, Tigres UANL, and Club América.
The tournament’s opening night on August 4 will feature six matches, five of which are first-time meetings between MLS and LIGA MX clubs. On August 5, Toluca will play against Seattle Sounders at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca—the first Leagues Cup match held in Mexico—while Los Angeles FC faces Chivas de Guadalajara at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Other notable fixtures include Inter Miami FC playing Rayados de Monterrey on August 8 at Nu Stadium in Miami; Cruz Azul versus New York City FC on August 9 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison; Tigres against Vancouver Whitecaps on August 11 at Estadio Universitario; and Toluca hosting FC Dallas on August 12. Phase One concludes with Portland Timbers facing Xolos de Tijuana on August 13.
For this edition, the LIGA MX champion and two other top-ranked clubs will host matches at their home stadiums. Additional highly ranked teams benefit from neutral venue games or reduced travel. Venue assignments for later knockout rounds will be determined according to tournament regulations.
Since its inception in 2023, Leagues Cup has grown as a regional competition between MLS and LIGA MX clubs. Attendance has increased each year; notably, the final in Seattle drew approximately 69,000 fans in 2025.
The stakes extend beyond regional pride: three qualification spots for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup are available to the champion, runner-up, and third-place finisher of Leagues Cup. The winner secures a direct berth into the Round of 16 of that competition.
Fans worldwide can watch all Leagues Cup matches via Apple TV. Select games will also be broadcast by TelevisaUnivision, FOX Sports, TSN, and RDS. Further details about game times and broadcasts are expected soon.
Ticket information is available through LeaguesCup.com as well as participating club websites. Season ticket holders should expect communication from their respective clubs regarding ticket plans.
Phase One matchups were determined by league rankings—MLS based on Supporters’ Shield standings from the previous season and LIGA MX by cumulative performance across two tournaments—and regionally divided into Eastern and Western groups with three tiers each based on ranking position.
After Phase One concludes, eight teams (four from each league) advance to Quarterfinals scheduled for late August. Semifinals follow in early September before culminating with both Final and Third-Place Match on September 6 when qualifiers for the Concacaf Champions Cup are decided.
Leagues Cup remains a key collaboration between MLS and LIGA MX designed to strengthen ties between North American soccer leagues while offering clubs a pathway toward international competitions such as FIFA’s Club World Cup.
For more information about Charlotte Football Club’s participation or background—including its role as an Eastern Conference team established as an expansion franchise—visit its official website.
