ClapThe Leagues Cup is something that a lot of casual fans may not be aware of. If you’re interested in the world of North American football, though, you should probably get yourself up to speed on proceedings, because it’s coming: and it’s going to be a really interesting competition.
The single elimination tournament is set to take place over the course of the next few months, pitting MLS sides up against Liga MX sides (United States vs. Mexico) in a friendly battle that will continue to grow the relationship and rivalry of the two sporting nations.
Here we go again
The elimination showdowns will begin with Chicago Fire vs. Cruz Azul, LA Galaxy vs. Club Tijuana, Houston Dynamo vs. Club America and Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL, all of which should be absolute barnburners.
Now, as reported by ESPN and MLS Soccer, a destination has been confirmed for the final in September: and that destination is none other than Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas is an exciting market that has become a destination for professional teams and marquee sports events, and we’re proud to bring the inaugural Leagues Cup final to the city,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber. “An intense rivalry is developing between Major League Soccer and Liga MX clubs, and Leagues Cup will provide thrilling competition while further elevating the profile of the game in North America. We have no doubt that the support for the historic, first-ever Leagues Cup final from the passionate soccer fans of Las Vegas and surrounding region will be tremendous, and the atmosphere at Sam Boyd Stadium will be electric.”
The home of fighting will turn into the home of football aka soccer on that day, as the growth of the sport continues. Every single corner of the planet has a stronghold on the world of football, but when it comes to North America, there are two top dogs: America and Mexico.
Who are the favourites?
It’s quite clear to see that the Americans are going to be working incredibly hard in order to take some steps towards improving their overall fortunes over the course of the next few months, but we’re not so sure this tournament is going to position them in the best light. We honestly believe that there is a real chance of Liga MX going on a clean sweep through the quarter-finals, and if that happens, the ‘friendly’ atmosphere could turn into a hostile one.
There’s no way of getting around the fact that the Americans are behind on the times right now, and after the success of the USWNT, they’ll be desperate to make a big impact.
The Gold Cup already kind of showed us where both nations are at at this point in time, but when it comes to club football, it could be an entirely different ball game. All we can do for now is sit back and enjoy the show, but one thing is for sure: things could get interesting if the teams involved treat this more seriously than the fans are right now.
