They announced the format yesterday. (This is the MLS vs Liga MX tourney that will run for a month next summer. The top 3 teams will get a CCL spot.) https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/leagues-cup-2023-dates-and-structure-announced Basically, it's going to be a group stage followed by a knockout stage. The group stage will be 15 groups with 3 teams each. One MLS team will serve as a group's host, one Mexican team will be placed in the group based on standings, and then the remaining 13 MLS teams (and 2 Mexiteams) will be randomly geographically assigned to the 15 groups. The 15 groups will be hosted by teams 2-16 in the Supporters Shield standings. (MLS Cup champ gets a bye to the knockouts.) I'm mentioning this now because I just noticed that the Crew are guaranteed to finish in the top 16. We're currently 13th, and since Minnesota plays Vancouver this weekend (14 vs 17), I don't think there's any way we can drop out of the top 16. (Someone feel free to verify and doublecheck my math.) So we're going to host 2 additional home games next summer (at least), one each against an MLS and Liga MX opponent. Plus we'll also host a neutral site game between those 2 teams.
That’s been an issue for 26 years now. CBA still has like 6 years to go or something. Shit really won’t change until after the 2026 world cup.
What's the exchange rate right now between the U.S. and Mexico? I'm trying to figure how to calculate what minutes we'll be blowing leads in down there.
Posted this in the offseason thread as well - Next summer, The Crew will host 2 League's Cup games at LDC based on their top 16 finish in the Supp Shield standings. That means, based on LigaMX standings, they will host either Pachuca or Club America. That would be some fun Small consolation for the Crew, but they will be seeded in the 2023 #LeaguesCup and host games in Columbus.Below are your seeded teams. Top 16 in Shield standings, 15 will host group stage and one will win MLS Cup and go straight to Knockouts 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/7YxyTXGoR8— Andrew Wiebe (@andrew_wiebe) October 10, 2022
As in no fans allowed in the stadium? Would be bold, but it would guarantee Crew fans aren’t outnumbered in their own stadium.
I hope they never merge, but I see a lot of stuff like this in the future (MLS v Liga MX all star game, Campeones Cup, Leagues Cup, etc).
I seem to recall that FIFA says NO to such a merger/league. But then again FIFA is all about the $$$. I think it would be unwise—mid- to smaller-market teams’ fans aren’t going to be won over by regularly getting whacked by Mexican clubs. The real question is: what do the investor/operators want?
Which ones, the Mexicans or Americans? I think we all know what the Americans want - dinero - but the question is will merging with LigaMX bring more of it? As for the Mexican owners - I can't even take a scientific wild ass guess at that.
They want even more money. All of Mexico’s game are played in the US unless they are WCQs. All League Cup games are played in the US. Campeones Cup is played in the US. Gold Cup is played in the US. The infrastructure exists in Mexico to hold tournaments and play games, but there is one main reason why they don’t: $$$$$
I thought the early reports of the cup mentioned that MX owners were thinking that working with MLS will somehow give them more financial stability and maybe improve their financial reputations with creditors.