Leagues Cup Showcase expands to feature three more friendlies between Liga MX & MLS
Liga MX and Major League Soccer are back at it again.
The two leagues announced the addition of three matches to this year’s Leagues Cup Showcase, seeing FC Cincinnati confront Chivas de Guadalajara, Nashville SC play Club America and Real Salt Lake host Atlas FC.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.
The three games stand as part of the previously announced marquee doubleheader in Los Angeles, featuring LA Galaxy vs. Chivas and LAFC against Club America on August 3.
The Leagues Cup Showcase intends to serve as a preview to the upcoming, month-long tournament between Major League Soccer and Liga MX that kicks off in the summer of 2023.
All five exhibition games will be broadcast on Univision and ESPN in the United States, and TUDN in Mexico.
FC Cincinnati vs. Chivas de Guadalajara
September 21 - TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
FC Cincinnati is set to host their first-ever international game since debuting in Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2019. They are set to host at TQL Stadium, a venue with a capacity to seat 26,000 fans.
“We are thrilled to host Chivas of Guadalajara at TQL Stadium,” FC Cincinnati co-CEO Jeff Berding said in a release.
“Cincinnati has hosted a number of incredible international soccer events, including FC Cincinnati’s match against Crystal Palace, which at the time was the largest soccer crowd in Ohio history, a US national team World Cup qualifier versus Mexico, and other US Men’s and Women’s friendlies. It’s an honor to continue that history with an exciting Leagues Cup Showcase match for our fans this September.”
Chivas will head into the game after playing LA Galaxy on August 3. They concluded the 2021/2022 Clausura in sixth, reaching the playoffs before losing quarterfinals against reigning champions Atlas FC.
FC Cincinnati season ticket holders will have priority access to purchase tickets through an exclusive presale.
Nashville SC vs. Club America
September 21 - GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN
Nashville SC will also be hosting their first-ever international match. They receive Club America at the new, 30,000 seat GEODIS Park.
“We could not be more excited about hosting our first international match at GEODIS Park,” Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre said in a release.
“Nashville has been buzzing with excitement for soccer since we started in MLS in 2020 and even more so since we opened the doors to our new home. Facing off here against Mexico’s most decorated club side is an awesome next step on our soccer journey.”
The Liga MX giants will finish their tour around the United States with the match against Nashville, after playing against LAFC in California, participating in the International Club Soccer Champions tournament vs. Chelsea and tackling Manchester City in the Copa de Lone Star in Texas.
Real Salt Lake vs. Atlas FC
September 22 - Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT
Real Salt Lake is no stranger to the international stage, having experienced multiple meetings against Liga MX opponents. The team faced Tigres in the 2019 Leagues Cup and Monterrey at the 2011 Concacaf Champions League final.
Now, they host back-to-back league winners and Campeon de Campeones champions Atlas FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on September 22.
“Real Salt Lake is proud of our vast history of competing against international opponents, whether that be in Concacaf Champions League, international friendlies or the 2019 Leagues Cup,” RSL president John Kimball said in a release.
“Welcoming Atlas FC in September to Utah for the 42nd RSL game against 30 different international opponents from 16 various countries will no doubt serve as a fantastic reward for our incredible supporters, who have long proven to value international pathways to prestigious regional hardware. We cannot wait to host this year’s Leagues Cup Showcase, and look forward to providing Atlas a sense of the best Utah has to offer.”