20 MLS teams and 12 Liga MX clubs will play in the round of 32, including Inter Miami, LAFC, América and Cruz Azul.
Roddy ConsRoddyConsUpdate: Aug 2nd, 2023 08:36 EDT
Anne-Marie SorvinUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The knockout stages of the Leagues Cup get underway on Wednesday, with Inter Miami and Lionel Messi (you knew he’d signed for them right?) taking on Orlando City in a Florida ‘derby’, and 2022 MLS Cup winners LAFC making their first appearance in the competition against Juárez.
20 MLS sides and 12 Liga MX clubs will face off to be crowned champions of the Concacaf region’s “newest” competition, with 31 ties remaining – which will all take place in the United States or Canada – until the winner is discovered on 19 August.
Leagues Cup group stage tiebreakers
If you were paying close attention during the group stages, then you’ll have noticed that matches that were tied at the end of 90 minutes were effectively “decided” by a penalty shootout, with the team winning from the spot earning a bonus point to add to the one gained for drawing the match, as is usually the case. If you’ve got an hour or so to kill, why not go back and watch León’s incredible 16-15 shootout victory over Vancouver Whitecaps?
Let's test the waters of a #LeaguesCup bracket and see how this goes. pic.twitter.com/qrLubv0Oh3
— Orri Benatar (@obenatar512) August 1, 2023
While it’s not exactly commonplace to have such tiebreakers in group stage soccer, it is, of course, necessary in knockout games. A number of those 31 matches will inevitably end all square after 90 minutes and we need to find a way to decide who goes on and who goes home.
