The inaugural Leagues Cup tournament is right around the corner.
With quarterfinals kicking off next week – the weekend after Liga MX Clausura play begins – the competition will soon be a reality. Next Wednesday, four teams each from MLS and Liga MX will battle it out to reach the final in Las Vegas on Sept. 18.
The annual competition between the two top soccer leagues in North America, which was announced at the end of May, begins with eight teams, though may expand in size down the road.
Here's a quick reminder of the bracket:
Inaugural Leagues Cup bracket
Chicago Fire vs. Cruz Azul
Tue. July 23 | 8:30 pm ET | SeatGeek Stadium | ESPN+, UDN
Having just won the SuperCopa MX over Necaxa, Cruz Azul are set to again face Necaxa to kick off their 2019 Apertura campaign. The Chicago Fire will have their hands full with the Mexican powerhouse.
The Fire are trending in the opposite direction, winning just one of their last nine league games and getting eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup during that time. They have another chance at a trophy in Leagues Cup, but will have to see past the likes of Orbelin Pineda and former Orlando City midfielder Yoshi Yotun.
LA Galaxy vs. Club Tijuana
Tue. July 23 | 11 pm ET | Dignity Health Sports Park | ESPN+, UDN
The LA Galaxy will go up against some familiar faces on Wednesday night.
Led by former FC Dallas head coach Oscar Pareja, Club Tijuana are among the inaugural entrants to the Leagues Cup. Before facing the Galaxy, Xolos face Puebla on Friday. The Galaxy have their first El Trafico of the season against LAFC to contend with on Friday before Tuesday's Leagues Cup match.
Houston Dynamo vs. Club America
Wed. July 24 | 8:30 pm ET | BBVA Stadium | ESPN+, UDN
On Wednesday, the Dynamo host the champions of last season's Apertura. They, too, have a familiar face around MLS.
America recently signed former LA Galaxy Designated Player Giovani dos Santos, who had been without a club after the Galaxy parted ways with him at the beginning of the season. They also boast the likes of Guido Rodriguez and Mateus Uribe.
Real Salt Lake vs. Tigres UANL
Wed. July 24 | 10:30 pm ET | Rio Tinto Stadium | ESPN+, UDN
The last quarterfinal comes at Rio Tinto Stadium, as RSL host Liga MX heavyweight Tigres. They won the 2019 Clausura and finished runners-up in the Concacaf Champions League final.
Led by Andre-Pierre Gignac, Eduardo Vargas and others in a star-studded squad, Tigres kicks off their 2019-20 season against Monarcas on Saturday before their trip to Utah for the Leagues Cup.
