2020 Leagues Cup

2020 Leagues Cup
Tournament details
Dates	July 21 – September 16 (planned)
Teams	16 (from 3 associations)
	← 2019 2021 →

The 2020 Leagues Cup was planned to be the second edition of the Leagues Cup organized by Major League Soccer and Liga MX.^[1] The tournament would have featured 16 teams, an increase from the inaugural edition that had eight teams. Unlike the previous tournament, teams would have qualified based on league performance rather than by invitation.

Major League Soccer and Liga MX announced the cancelation of the tournament on May 19, 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

Qualification

The top four Major League Soccer teams from each conference in the 2019 season who did not qualify for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League would have qualified for the Leagues Cup.

The 2019 Apertura, 2020 Clausura, and 2019–20 Copa MX champions would have qualified for the Leagues Cup, plus the top five teams from the combined 2019–20 Liga MX standings who had not already qualified.

Major League Soccer (8 berths)
Seed	Team	Qualification method
MLS 1	Philadelphia Union	3rd, Eastern Conference
MLS 2	Real Salt Lake	3rd, Western Conference
MLS 3	Minnesota United FC	4th, Western Conference
MLS 4	LA Galaxy	5th, Western Conference
MLS 5	Toronto FC	4th, Eastern Conference
MLS 6	D.C. United	5th, Eastern Conference
MLS 7	Portland Timbers	6th, Western Conference
MLS 8	New York Red Bulls	6th, Eastern Conference

^ Toronto FC is a member of the Canadian Soccer Association; however, their method of qualification for this competition is through the U.S.-sanctioned Major League Soccer.

Mexican Football Federation (8 berths)
Seed	Team	Qualification method
LMX 1 or 2	Monterrey	2019 Apertura champions
LMX 1 or 2	Cruz Azul	2020 Clausura first place
LMX 3	Undetermined^[a]	2019–20 Copa MX champions
LMX 4	León	1st, aggregate table
LMX 5	Santos Laguna	2nd, aggregate table
LMX 6	América	3rd, aggregate table
LMX 7	UANL	4th, aggregate table
LMX 8	Querétaro	5th, aggregate table

^ Monterrey had already qualified for the Leagues Cup prior to its cancellation, as the 2019 Liga MX Apertura champions. They later also won the 2019–20 Copa MX, but it is unclear how the Leagues Cup berth awarded to the Copa MX champions would have been reallocated.

Draw

The 2020 edition of the Leagues Cup was planned to be the first to use a draw and seeding for participating teams. The initial draw would have matched up an MLS team against a Liga MX team in the Round of 16, while a second draw before the quarterfinals would have allowed for reseeding and adjustments to allow for interleague play.^[3]^[4]

Fixtures

Round of 16

July 21/22	Philadelphia Union	v	TBD	Chester, Pennsylvania
				Stadium: Subaru Park

July 21/22	Toronto FC	v	TBD	Toronto, Ontario
				Stadium: BMO Field

July 21/22	D.C. United	v	TBD	Washington, D.C.
				Stadium: Audi Field

July 21/22	New York Red Bulls	v	TBD	Harrison, New Jersey
				Stadium: Red Bull Arena

July 21/22	Real Salt Lake	v	TBD	Sandy, Utah
				Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium

July 21/22	Minnesota United FC	v	TBD	St. Paul, Minnesota
				Stadium: Allianz Field

July 21/22	LA Galaxy	v	TBD	Carson, California
				Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park

July 21/22	Portland Timbers	v	TBD	Portland, Oregon
				Stadium: Providence Park

Quarterfinals and beyond

The schedule for the final rounds of the tournament was originally as follows:

Quarterfinals: August 4–5
Semifinals: August 25–26
Final: September 16

References

^ Sigal, Jonathan (July 18, 2019). "Leagues Cup expands to 16 teams in 2020 with new qualification format". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "2020 Leagues Cup details released: MLS and Liga MX clubs, dates and format unveiled". MLSsoccer.com. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
^ Arnold, Jon (February 20, 2020). "Leagues Cup introducing draw in expanded edition of second tournament". Goal.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

[1] Toronto FC is a member of the Canadian Soccer Association; however, their method of qualification for this competition is through the U.S.-sanctioned Major League Soccer.

[4] Monterrey had already qualified for the Leagues Cup prior to its cancellation, as the 2019 Liga MX Apertura champions. They later also won the 2019–20 Copa MX, but it is unclear how the Leagues Cup berth awarded to the Copa MX champions would have been reallocated.

[2] Sigal, Jonathan (July 18, 2019). "Leagues Cup expands to 16 teams in 2020 with new qualification format". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.

[3] "MLS All-Star Game, Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup canceled for 2020" (Press release). Major League Soccer. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[5] "2020 Leagues Cup details released: MLS and Liga MX clubs, dates and format unveiled". MLSsoccer.com. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

[6] Arnold, Jon (February 20, 2020). "Leagues Cup introducing draw in expanded edition of second tournament". Goal.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

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