RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC begins defense of its Leagues Cup title this week as the annual Concacaf-sanctioned competition between Major League Soccer and Liga MX returns for its fourth edition. Running from August 4 – September 6, Leagues Cup 2026 features 36 clubs – 18 from MLS and all 18 LIGA MX sides – competing for the continental title and three berths into the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. Seattle opens tournament play on Wednesday, August 5 with a road match against reigning Liga MX champion Toluca FC (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, Univision, El Rey 1360 AM) before returning home to host Querétaro on Sunday, August 9 (12:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, El Rey 1360 AM) and Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday, August 12 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, El Rey 1360 AM) on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field.
TICKETING INFORMATION
The August 9 match vs. Querétaro is included in Sounders FC 2026 Season Ticket Memberships, with single-match tickets for both Leagues Cup home fixtures available via the links below.
Full Sounders FC ticketing information, including Season Memberships, Single-Match options, Flex Plans and Group Tickets can be found at SoundersFC.com/Tickets.
MEDIA RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
The deadline to apply for media accreditation for Leagues Cup 2026 has passed. Credentialed media outlets still wishing to cover Leagues Cup 2026 matches at Lumen Field should reach out to Leagues Cup staff at [leaguescupmedia@gmail.com].
Throughout the tournament, Leagues Cup is hosting official matchday-1 press conferences for each team featuring Head Coach and one TBD player. A recording of Sounders FC’s first matchday-1 press conference can be found here, with the other MD-1 press conferences occurring on Saturday, August 8 (time TBD) and Tuesday, August 11 (time TBD) in Seattle. Specific details for Sounders FC’s matchday-1 press conferences will be communicated separately.
Full media resources for Leagues Cup 2026 – including game notes, press releases, as well as photo, video and graphic assets – can be found at LeaguesCup.com/Media-Resources.
SOUNDERS FC DEFENDS ITS HISTORIC 2025 TITLE
The Rave Green enter this year's competition as defending Leagues Cup champions, following a historic 2025 campaign in which the club went unbeaten in six matches and outscored opponents 16-2. Seattle defeated four LIGA MX opponents, highlighted by a stunning 7-0 victory over reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winner Cruz Azul, before knocking off defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy in the Semifinals. Sounders FC then lifted the trophy with a 3-0 victory over Lionel Messi and a star-studded Inter Miami CF side in front of 69,314 fans at Lumen Field.
Pedro de la Vega earned the Best Player Award, scoring three goals, including a spectacular strike against Cruz Azul was later named a finalist for the 2025 FIFA Puskás Award. Andrew Thomas took home the Best Goalkeeper Award after allowing just two goals in six games, recording four shutouts. Osaze De Rosario’s four goals were tied for second among all players in the competition, while Alex Roldan’s four assists were tied for first.
The championship marked Sounders FC's ninth major trophy since joining MLS in 2009, making Seattle the first club to win all five major North American soccer trophies: MLS Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
- Leagues Cup 2026 follows the competition format introduced in 2025, continuing a structure that emphasizes consistent interleague play.
- Phase One features 54 matches, all contested between MLS and LIGA MX clubs.
- The Leagues Cup Ranking combines MLS and LIGA MX league performance into a unified table used to help shape Phase One matchups. MLS clubs are ranked based on the final MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, while LIGA MX clubs are ranked based on cumulative performance across the Apertura and Clausura 2025 tournaments.
- Results from Phase One determine separate Leagues Cup standings for MLS and LIGA MX, with the top four clubs from each league advancing to the Knockout Rounds.
- Interleague matchups are guaranteed through the Quarterfinals, ensuring MLS vs. LIGA MX competition at every stage leading into the Semifinals.
- The tournament concludes with the Semifinals, Third Place Match, and Leagues Cup Final.
Sounders FC enters the tournament in ninth place in the Western Conference with 24 points (7-7-3). In addition to capturing the Leagues Cup 2025 title, Seattle finished second in the 2021 tournament, falling 3-2 to Club Léon in the Final at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
ABOUT LEAGUES CUP
Leagues Cup is an annual, Concacaf-sanctioned competition between Major League Soccer and LIGA MX that features top clubs from both leagues competing in a fully interleague format. Launched in 2023, the tournament represents a landmark collaboration between the two leagues and serves as a cornerstone of their long-term partnership.
The top three finishers in Leagues Cup qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the champion earning the opportunity to represent the region in FIFA International club competitions. Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can watch Leagues Cup on Apple TV, with select matches also available via broadcast and cable television partners.
