Major soccer tournaments took over the sport this summer. The UEFA European Championship and Copa America dominated headlines in June and July, and then the men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments earned top billing in August.
One tournament remains before athletes return to regular-season league play: the 2024 Leagues Cup.
The Leagues Cup is an annual competition among clubs of Major League Soccer and Liga MX, the premier Mexican professional league. A whopping 45 teams entered the tournament, but just one will win the title and North American bragging rights.
In 2023, Lionel Messi made his Inter Miami debut in the Leagues Cup, leading his team to the title. In 2024, the 45-team field of teams from Canada, the United States and Mexico has been whittled to 16.
Here’s what you need to know about the Round of 16:
Mexico’s most fearsome teams fell early. Liga MX powers Monterrey, the home of USMNT international Brandon Vazquez and a regular destroyer of MLS clubs, and Pachuca, the rural, high-altitude club that won the CONCACAF Champions League a few months ago, have been eliminated.
Monterrey went home in the group stage after failing to beat both Pumas and Austin FC. Pachuca, meanwhile, went home in the Round of 32 after losing to its Mexican rival, Tigres.
Monterrey and Pachuca were among the favorites to win the Leagues Cup trophy. With both gone, it’s anyone’s tournament.
MLS’ two biggest clubs are still in it: In 2023, the Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup because of fluid play under coach Wilfried Nancy. Last season, Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup because of its Messi-driven star power.
The two teams remain strong and are top contenders for both trophies in 2024. Columbus and Miami could’ve been an American’s dream matchup in the final, but they will face off Tuesday in the Round of 16 instead.
This game features interesting storylines: old MLS versus new MLS, team unity versus individual brilliance, Nancy versus Inter Miami coach Tata Martino and Columbus striker Cucho Hernandez versus Luis Suarez.
Who’s ready for the @ColumbusCrew Round of 16 showdown against @InterMiamiCF? pic.twitter.com/UtHkugDL72
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 10, 2024
MLS’ lowest-ranked teams have performed better than expected: For all its talk about parity and competitiveness, MLS always has a few terrible teams tossed into its mix — Cincinnati in 2021, D. C. in 2022 and Toronto in 2023.
This season, the San Jose Earthquakes, Philadelphia Union and St. Louis City have struggled in MLS play, but incredibly, they have overperformed at the Leagues Cup and remain in contention for the trophy. That’s what happens in knockout tournaments: When it all comes down to one game, the little guys can pull off big upsets.
The Leagues Cup Round of 16 takes place on Monday and Tuesday. The final is Aug. 25.
Source : YardBarker