New-look Leagues Cup pits Inter Miami against three Liga MX sides in first phase | OneFootball

On Tuesday, the Major League Soccer/Liga MX Leagues Cup announced Phase One matchups for the 2025 competition; Inter Miami will host Mexican teams Atlas FC, Club Necaxa and Pumas UNAM this summer.

For many soccer fans, the Leagues Cup is a meaningless trophy, just another cash grab by Major League Soccer. It “partners” with Liga MX to exploit the massive appeal that league has with Mexican Americans and spread the MLS brand south of the border, further congests an already busy match schedule, and gives MLS a wedge to lever itself out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Inter Miami fans have a more complicated relationship with the Leagues Cup; the Herons, led by goalkeeper Drake Callender and a mix of youngsters and journeymen stayed alive in the first tournament until Lionel Messi arrived from France to bolster the squad. With Messi and former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in Pink & Black, Miami went on to beat Nashville in a dramatic first final, the first major hardware for Inter Miami’s cabinet. Despite its flaws, the Leagues Cup holds a special place in the history of Club International de Futbol Miami.

Inter Miami beat Mexican sides Puebla and Tigres in last year’s group stage and Toronto FC in the Round of 32 before being eliminated by eventual cup winner Columbus Crew.

While all Leagues Cup matches still will be played in the U.S., the organizing committee has revamped the competition’s format to ensure more inter-league matchups. The Inter Miami Communications Department explains the changes here. For Major League Soccer’s report on the complete schedule, go here.

Inter Miami CF Leagues Cup 2025 Phase One Schedule: