Liga MX Still Accepting MLS Scraps: Some Leagues Cup Matches to be Played in Mexico

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·6 marzo 2026

Liga MX Still Accepting MLS Scraps: Some Leagues Cup Matches to be Played in Mexico

Three editions of the Leagues Cup have been played since the tournament became an official competition in 2023. Every match has been played in a U.S. or Canadian venue. All three have been won by MLS teams.

From the start, the tournament sparked plenty of debate, especially from the Liga MX side. Players and coaches have repeatedly pointed out the lack of competitive balance. Mexican teams have to pause their domestic league season, travel to the United States, and then play matches all over the country, often with long trips and little time to properly train between fixtures. Does this tournament actually benefit Mexican teams?

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So for a while now, players and managers have been asking for something simple: bring some of the games to Mexico. Make the tournament feel a little more balanced.

After months of negotiations, Liga MX clubs finally got what they wanted — at least partially. For the first time in the tournament’s history, some Leagues Cup matches will be played in Mexico.

Source: X

But there’s a catch. Only 7%, or four of the tournament’s 54 matches will take place on Mexican soil.

Last year, Antonio “Turco” Mohamed, head coach of current Liga MX champion Toluca, was one of the figures who openly questioned the competitive balance of the tournament.

“We were better positioned and managed to bring them to what you could call neutral ground, but still in their country. That was the only thing we could do. I’m sure the Mexican executives will talk about this privately, not publicly, because that’s how it should be handled so the tournament can become more balanced. But if I say anything now it will sound like I’m complaining, and I’m not complaining. Orlando reached the semifinals on their own merits,” Mohamed said after his team was eliminated.

Former Monterrey head coach Domenec Torrent, who was dismissed from the club last week, also didn’t hold back while Rayados played in the 2025 edition. He described the competition as a “trap tournament”, saying it’s one that “gives you very little and takes a lot,” mainly because of the travel and the lack of proper training conditions.

Mixed Reaction to the News

For some people, having four games in Mexico is at least a step in the right direction. The idea is that maybe, little by little, more matches will eventually be played south of the border.

For others, though, it feels more like a symbolic gesture than a real change.

“LEAGUES CUP: 4 matches out of 54 will be played in Mexico — the advantage still clearly favors the United States. Four teams move on to the next round and three Mexican clubs will have home games. That means 15 teams start the tournament already at a disadvantage.What an incredibly uneven tournament.”Adrián Esparza, TUDN Journalist

Fans were even more direct on social media.

“4 matches out of 54 in Mexico… LOL. The worst part is that Mikel Arriola [president of the Mexican Soccer Federation] will probably present it as an achievement,” one user wrote on X.

Another one summed it up in just three words: “Long live the crumbs.”

Still, not everyone sees it as a negative. Some journalists have welcomed the move, even if they admit it could have been done better.

“I celebrate the fact that the Leagues Cup will hold some matches in Mexico, but if they were going to do it, why not start with an América vs. Inter Miami game at Estadio Banorte? Seeing Messi here, in a competitive match, before he retires…”David Faitelson, TUDN Journalist

A Good Decision, But Still Not Parity

The 2026 Leagues Cup will still make history, technically. For the first time ever, matches will be played in Mexico.

The official schedule confirms that four games will take place across Toluca, Mexico City and Monterrey. Three Liga MX clubs will serve as hosts: Toluca (who as current LigaMX champion get two games), Club América and Tigres.

Confirmed matches in Mexico:

Toluca vs Seattle Sounders — August 5 (Estadio Nemesio Diez)
América vs San Diego FC — date TBD (Estadio Banorte-Azteca, Mexico City)
Tigres vs Vancouver Whitecaps — August 11 (Estadio Universitario)
Toluca vs FC Dallas — August 12 (Estadio Nemesio Diez)

But even with that small change, the Leagues Cup continues to expose the same problems it has had from the beginning.

Year after year, the format still favors MLS teams. And at times, it feels like Liga MX executives are far more interested in the business side of the tournament than in protecting the competitive interests of their own clubs.