In this edition of the Hudson River Blue Roundtable, Andrew Leigh, Matthew Mangam, Mark Radigan, and Abe Shire preview 2025 Leagues Cup, which returns this week when Phase One opens on Tuesday, July 29.
New York City FC's three Phase One games will all be played at "home" on July 29, August 1, and August 5. All games will be televised on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
• NYCFC vs Club Puebla at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Tue, July 29 at 8:00 pm ET
• NYCFC vs Club León at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Fri, August 1 at 6:00 pm ET
(Note: Double-header match will be followed by Montreal vs Deportivo Toluca)
• NYCFC vs Deportivo Toluca at Yankee Stadium on Tue, August 5 at 7:30 pm ET
A new Leagues Cup format
Hudson River Blue: This is the third edition of Leagues Cup, a tournament that’s had its moments without ever being one of the highlights of the year. What’s your gut check coming into 2025?
Andrew Leigh: Hopeful that MLS and Liga MX have finally found a format that they’re willing to stick with, and curious to see if and how the results look a lot different now that we’re getting almost exclusively MLS vs Liga MX matches.
Matthew Mangam: I still feel like there’s not much hype for the tournament, but maybe the new format will make it more exciting.
Abe Shire: Hot-take season is here: A team nobody expects to win will win. Look at the UEFA Champions League group stage for reference, which is a similarly brutal format full of surprises.
Mark Radigan: Excited. There’s nothing more “American Soccer core” than the Leagues Cup. The new format emphasizes the MLS vs Liga MX matchups, and there could be some spicy fixtures.
HRB: Let’s talk about the format, which is different this year, with just 18 teams from MLS participating against the 18 teams from Liga MX.
Phase One is essentially a group stage, but only the top four teams from each league advance — you could conceivably win all three Phase One matches but finish in 5th Place on goal differential and be knocked out. That’s a long way to ask: What do you think of the new-look Leagues Cup format?
MM: It’ll be really hard to reach the knockout stage. If you don’t win all three games, you're more than likely not going to advance. I feel like making it just the top four teams is too harsh.
MR: Right, I'm not sure how much I love the top four teams advancing from each league — it doesn’t seem like a fair group stage outcome. That said, it ensures that each game carries immense weight for all teams. Depending on how much the MLS and Liga MX contenders care about the competition, this could open the door for some intense fixtures early on.
AL: It’s now much tougher to reach the knockout rounds, but I accept that if it means no longer having to watch match-ups like NYCFC vs Toronto FC in the old version of the “group stage.”
AS: It still feels like MLS and Liga MX are treating Leagues Cup as an experiment. It’s a different vibe than the past two years, so if you’re expecting the same product, you’re in for a letdown.
Andrew Leigh
Leagues Cup must-watch matches
HRB: New York City faces Club Puebla on Tuesday, July 29, Club Léon on Friday, August 1, and Deportivo Toluca on Tuesday, August 5. Are you looking forward to any of these games in particular?
AS: Puebla, for two reasons. First, it’s NYCFC’s opener, and it’ll set the tone for the next two games. Second, Puebla started their season poorly, losing to two mid-table teams and showing shades of last season’s squad. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go all-in on Leagues Cup and put up a real fight against NYCFC.
AL: Big test to face Toluca, who just won the Clausura in 2024-2025 and are off to a fast start now, early in the new season.
MM: Basic answer, but I’ll say Club Léon because it’ll be cool to see James Rodríguez against NYCFC.
MR: I’m going with Matthew on this one. James is an icon, so seeing him face off against the NYCFC defense will be really cool to watch, even if he is 34.
HRB: NYCFC’s Friday game at Sports Illustrated Stadium is actually a double-header, with New York City playing Club Léon at 6 pm ET and then CF Montréal playing Deportivo Toluca immediately after. Who do you think will show up that night? Do you think it will impact the NYCFC game?
MR: I expect the Liga MX fans to fill Sports Illustrated Stadium, like we saw with Tigres fans last summer. The Club Léon/Colombia fusion will be big during the first game, with Toluca fans following suit for the night game. As for Montréal… over/under 150 fans?
AL: It will be a night for fans of the Liga MX clubs, and for fans of the Colombia national team and James Rodríguez. You will probably be able to count the number of Montréal fans on two hands.
MM: Like Andrew said, except tons of Liga MX fans and barely any Montréal fans. I think the NYCFC game will be louder — the Club Léon fans will show out and create an interesting atmosphere. Let’s see how many NYCFC fans travel from New York as well.
AS: Liga MX fans always show out for Leagues Cup. In true New Jersey fashion, NYCFC fans will get stuck on the PATH, and it will feel like an away game.
HRB: What other games across the tournament grab you?
AL: Two powerhouses of North America clash in Houston, Club América vs the mighty Loons of Minnesota United. A Club América home game vibe but with the potential for Minnesota to play spoiler because of their highly effective form of ChaosBall.
AS: Seattle vs Cruz Azul should be a fun one. Both teams bring serious attacking firepower, and Seattle will be out for revenge after Cruz Azul eliminated them in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In other words, expect goals.
MR: Pachuca v San Diego FC: San Diego is first in the West and has scored the most goals in the MLS with 48, while Pachuca is off to a flying start in Liga MX, currently sitting second behind Toluca. The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners vs the New Kids on the MLS Block? Bring it on.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Hudson River Blue Staff
How will NYCFC approach Leagues Cup?
HRB: What kind of Starting XI do you think Pascal Janesn will use in Leagues Cup? Is he in it to win it, and will play a near-First Team? Or will it be a hybrid of First Team and NYCFC II players, like in the US Open Cup loss to Pittsburgh Riverhounds?
AS: It’ll be a bit of both. Rotation against Puebla and Leon, full strength against Toluca. I think Jansen’s going to adjust based on the quality of the opponent.
AL: Last season there was some rotation, but it was a mix of starters and reserves, and I’d expect that again. This also feels like an ideal time to get Nico Fernández Mercau’s feet wet.
MR: We’ll see some rotated yet strong lineups. This will be a good stretch for Nico to get acclimated with the squad and get significant minutes. It could also be a good testing ground for some younger players to get more substantial minutes, particularly in attack.
MM: I think it’ll be mostly starters, but we’ll see some rotation, with guys like Strahinja Tanasijević getting minutes. I also think Nico Fernández will get minutes in Leagues Cup.
John Baney
HRB: What player on the edges of the First Team do you hope sees minutes?
AL: Máximo Carrizo, if there is a time to give Maxi Moralez a break, it might be Leagues Cup, or at least one of these match-ups.
MM: Is it crazy to say Sebastiano Musu?
AS: Seconded. I’d love to see Musu get more opportunities.
MR: Seymour Reid. He’s young and has bags of potential, but we’ve only seen short cameos at the end of matches. Would love to see him get 30-45 minutes vs strong Liga MX competition.
HRB: Prediction time. How do you think NYCFC will do in these games? Will the club make it to the Top 4 and advance?
AL: One win, one draw that becomes a win in penalties, one loss, in that order, I think. Beat Puebla, get a draw that feels like and becomes a win in the shootout to slightly spoil James Night, and then lose against Toluca in the Bronx. Not enough to advance.
AS: NYCFC cruise through the first two games but fall to Toluca on a controversial VAR call. I hate to say it, but they get eliminated in heartbreaking fashion.
MM: Not sure the exact results, but they won’t advance — it’s too difficult. NYCFC will definitely beat Puebla, but they’ll lose one game and win the other in penalties after drawing in regulation.
MR: A clean sheet vs Puebla, a hard-fought win over James Rodriguez and Club Léon, but a difficult loss on penalties after a draw vs Mexico’s top side in Toluca, which would more than likely send the Pigeons crashing out of the tournament.
