Tigres UANL, Necaxa steal the show as Leagues Cup closes group stage

MIAMI – The group stage has concluded in the 2024 Leagues Cup as MLS and Liga MX clubs fight for this year’s trophy and the three spots at stake for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The field of 47 teams is down to the 32 as the knockout stage looms with 21 MLS teams and 11 Liga MX clubs still in contention.

As outlined in the tournament regulations, the Round 32 will include the additions of MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC and Liga MX champions Club América.

As the knockout matches begin, here’s a recap of the group stage:

FC Cincinnati, Tigres UANL finish perfect in the East

Tigres UANL and Inter Miami CF started the final round of group stage matches on Saturday with an encounter for first place in East 3 in front of 46,080 spectators at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.

Juan Brunetta scored one of the best goals of the tournament to open the scoring in the 18’,  before Leonardo Camapana struck a confident penalty against Nahuel Guzman in the 74’. Juan Pablo Vigon struck the match-winning goal in the 84' for the 2-1 win.

Atlanta United FC and Santos Laguna played to a scoreless draw to start Sunday’s action. Santos won the penalty shootout, 5-3, to take second place in East 7 behind D.C. United.

Atletico de San Luis exited the tournament with a 1-1 draw against East 2 winner Orlando City SC. CF Montréal advanced to the next round as second in the group as a result.

Toronto FC won East 6 with a 2-1 victory over 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners CF Pachuca with a match-winning goal from homegrown Kobe Franklin, who helped Canada to a Round of 16 appearance at the 2022 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship.

Cruz Azul staved off elimination by securing the second place spot in East 4 with a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at the Philadelphia Union. Charlotte FC exits the tournament as a result.

On Monday, FC Cincinnati took a 4-2 win over New York City FC. The Ohio club came back from a two-goal deficit to claim the top spot in East 1.

New England Revolution and Nashville SC concluded the group stage on Tuesday with a 2-2 draw. The Revs won 5-4 on penalties to eliminate its MLS counterpart and send Mazatlan FC to the knockout stage.

Necaxa, Houston make group-winning comebacks in the West

CF Monterrey and Pumas UNAM met to decide who would advance out of West 1 as the second place in the group, after both teams fell to Austin FC earlier in the tournament. Jesus “Tecatito” Corona struck for Rayados in the 53' before Rogelio Funes Mori tied against his former team in the 80’ before Pumas would go on to advance 5-3 on penalties.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC took a 3-1 victory over Club Tijuana to take the top spot in West 7, eliminating the Liga MX side in the process. LAFC advanced as second in the group as a result.

FC Juárez finished as the winner in West 3 following a 4-1 win on penalties over St. Louis City SC, following a 1-1 draw in regulation on Sunday at CITYPARK in St. Louis, Missouri.

Club Necaxa won 3-1 against Seattle Sounders FC on a 90’+3 goal by Kevin Rosero, to win West 6 at the last minute. Minnesota United FC was eliminated as a result.

LA Galaxy and Chivas of Guadalajara played to a 2-2 tie, sending the match to penalties to the second place team for West 2. The Galaxy’s 5-4 win on PKs eliminated the Liga MX side, with San Jose Earthquakes advancing on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Houston Dynamo FC needed a big win on Monday to advance out of West 8, and answered the call with three first half goals in a 3-nil win over Real Salt Lake. The latter exited the tournament as a result with Atlas FC moving on as the second place in the group.

Leon and Colorado Rapids met to decide the second berth from the West 5 group. The Liga MX side looked on its way to the knockout stage before a 90’+7 goal from Rafael Navarro forced a 1-1 draw and penalties. Zach Steffen, who had seven saves in regular time, had two saves in the shootout as the MLS side won 4-3, to move on in the tournament.

Deportivo Toluca defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-1 for the top spot in West 4. Both teams traded goals before Maximiliano Araujo scored the match-winner in the 66’.

Leagues Cup 2024 Round of 32 Schedule

Wednesday, August 7

• 10:30 p.m. ET: LAFC vs Austin FC - BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• 10:30 p.m. ET: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Pumas UNAM - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada

Thursday, August 8

• 7:30 p.m. ET: Inter Miami CF vs Toronto FC - Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• 09:00 p.m. ET: Tigres vs Club Pachuca - Q2 Stadium, Austin, TX
• 10:30 p.m. ET: Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy - Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
• 11:00 p.m. ET: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Club Necaxa - PayPal Park, Santa Clara, CA

Friday, August 9

• 7:30 p.m. ET: Orlando City SC vs Cruz Azul - Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
• 7:30 p.m. ET: FC Cincinnati vs Santos Laguna - TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
• 07:30 p.m. ET: NE Revolution vs New York City FC - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
• 07:30 p.m. ET: D.C. United vs. Mazatlán - Audi Field, Washington, DC
• 7:30 p.m. ET: Columbus Crew vs Sporting KC - Lower.com Field, Columbus, OH
• 7:30 p.m. ET: Philadelphia Union vs CF Montreal - Subaru Park, Chester, PA
• 8:30 p.m. ET: Toluca vs Houston Dynamo - Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
• 8:30 p.m. ET: St. Louis City SC vs Portland Timbers - CITYPARK, St. Louis, MO
• 9:30 p.m. ET: FC Juarez vs Colorado Rapids - DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO
• 10:00 p.m. ET: Club America vs Atlas - Snapdragon Stadium – San Diego, CA