Liga MX & MLS come together for two Leagues Cup showcase matches
Liga MX and Major League Soccer are going head to head as Chivas de Guadalajara confronts LA Galaxy and LAFC takes on Club America at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The two exhibition matches serve to promote the Leagues Cup, an annual month-long tournament featuring all 47 teams from MLS and Liga MX coming in 2023. Though the competition is separate from the Concacaf Champions League, the winner of the tournament earns automatic qualification to the CCL round of 16.
The Leagues Cup, like the Campeones Cup, stands part of a larger partnership between the two most competitive leagues in North America. In coming together, Liga MX and MLS are working to strengthen the sport in both regions and bring positive change to each community.
The two exhibition games have already proven the impact the Leagues Cup can come to have, selling out the doubleheader with more than 70,000 tickets distributed.
Despite the friendly nature of the games, each side is gearing up.
LA Galaxy coach Greg Vanney revealed the match against Chivas will serve as a chance to improve their game after falling to ninth on the Western Conference table.
“A lot of the cup competitions, especially in this time of year when we’re starting to get into the second half, are fit into a congested schedule,” he said. “We’re going to use the match as a means to work on some things that we want to work on.
“It’s an important match for the league. It’s a showcase for the fans that are going to be there. But for us it’s an opportunity to work on some things as we continue to prepare for our season.”
Chivas head coach Ricardo Cadena echoed Vanney’s thoughts, adding that competing against Major League Soccer’s recent levels can be a good challenge for his side.
“MLS is for all of us a clear example of improvement,” Cadena said in Spanish. “They are either very close to, or the same as, the level of the clubs in Mexico. They compete in a good way, they have players from abroad and many international players have also come. For me, it is a very attractive and very competitive league.”
“Anytime we can add more emotion to games the better the game will be. And the more it means to fans. Developing these relationships or these rivalries is important,” concluded LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo.
LAFC take on Club America first, competing at the Los Angeles venue on Wednesday night before Chivas and LA Galaxy take the field on Thursday.