MLS and Mexico's Liga MX launch competition

Published

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Soccer and Mexico's Liga MX are launching an annual competition called the Leagues Cup but are not including MLS champion Atlanta United.

Eight teams will participate in the single-elimination tournament, which starts July 23-24 with quarterfinals.

U.S. teams are all home for the quarterfinals, which feature Chicago Fire-Cruz Azul and LA Galaxy-Club Tijuana on July 23, followed by Houston Dynamo-Club America and Real Salt Lake-Tigres the following day. Tigres is the reigning Clausura champion.

Semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 20, and the final will be at a U.S. venue on Sept. 18.

MLS and the Mexican league launched a SuperLiga competition that began in 2007 and stopped after 2010.

MLS said Wednesday that Mexican teams were picked based on results in recent competitions and MLS teams were invited.