3 dark horse teams in Leagues Cup 2024 | OneFootball

With Leagues Cup 2024 just days away, it's time to take a look at a few dark horse teams for the upcoming tournament between Major League Soccer and Liga MX teams.

There definitely be hype surrounding tournament favorites like LAFC, LA Galaxy, Inter Miami, FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew from MLS, while the likes of Tigres, CF Monterrey, Club America, Cruz Azul and Pumas will be the favorites from Liga MX. However, there are still a few teams outside of the favorites that are more than capable of making some noise in the competition.

Here are three dark horse teams to watch out for at Leagues Cup 2024.

1. Seattle Sounders - MLS

Jordan Morris leads the line for Seattle / Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

It might be kind of surprising seeing a club like Seattle Sounders included as a dark horse and not a favorite, but that's because of the Western Conference team's poor start to the 2024 MLS season. However, the Sounders have turned it around and will look to carry their momentum into Leagues Cup with Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnak and Pedro De la Vega leading the charge.

2. Toluca - Liga MX

Toluca can count on Alexis Vega / Simon Barber/GettyImages

Liga MX outfit Toluca are enjoying a solid star to the 2024 Apertura campaign and they'll hope to continue that same theme in Leagues Cup. With the likes of Alexis Vega, Maximilian Araujo and new signing Paulinho, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Toluca go on a big run at the tournament.

3. Portland Timbers - MLS

Jonathan Rodriguez has been in exceptional form for Portland / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Portland Timbers just might have one of the most underrated attacks in all of MLS with their attacking quartet of Jonathan Rodriguez, Evander, Santiago Moreno and Felipe Mora. It's been a bit of an up-and-down league campaign under new boss Phil Neville, but the Timbers could quickly change gears in a tournament setting.