Wherever you stand on the significance of Leagues Cup, there's a lot of prize money and a Concacaf Champions Cup spot within arm's reach of the four MLS clubs that made it out of Phase One.
With all the quarterfinal matchups set for Wednesday, here's how I'm sizing up the bracket as Seattle look to keep their tournament run rolling.
Inter Miami CF vs. Tigres UANL
This is the matchup that's getting the most attention nationally, given the star power on each side, and the presence of Lionel Messi and the Barca Boys on Inter Miami. Tigres are one of Mexico's most high-profile clubs, and they've looked the part of a contender in this tournament, although they did lose to LAFC to close out Phase One. Unfortunately for the rest of the continent, they seem to have found their successor to André-Pierre Gignac, the French forward who spent years terrorizing MLS opponents in Concacaf Champions Cup. Argentine forward Ángel Correa looks fully poised to take that mantle, scoring a tournament-leading four goals, and generally showcasing what appears to be superstar potential.
Toluca FC vs. Orlando City
Orlando City sneakily have some of the most attacking firepower in MLS, with their 53 goals tied with Inter Miami for the top mark in the league. Martín Ojeda is a legitimate MVP candidate, and he's been in top form in Leagues Cup with 3g/3a in Phase One. Toluca's league season is only five games in, but they're also tied with Tigres for the most goals in Liga MX with 13. This is strength-on-strength, with fun players to watch on both sides. If you're looking for another game to watch other than Seattle that could be the most fun from a neutral perspective, this might be my pick, even over Miami-Tigres.
Seattle Sounders vs. Club Puebla
Seattle are being talked about by the national pundits as pretty comfortable favorites in this one, as they host a Puebla side that's reeling in league play and coming off two especially bad losses. That doesn't really mean anything in tournament soccer, though, and Puebla are pretty much the definition of a side that's coming into this match with nothing to lose. This will almost certainly be their best chance at a trophy this year. The onus is on the Rave Green to take care of business on their home field and recapture the momentum they had before the weekend's setback in Minnesota.
LA Galaxy vs. CF Pachuca
The Galaxy have one way to salvage dignity in their 2025 season, and that's with a Leagues Cup run as they run out the clock on what's become a debacle of a league campaign. The big thing about this matchup is that LA's 2024 MLS Cup title has given them hosting rights for the duration of the tournament, so any theoretical matchup with Seattle later on would require another trip to Carson, should both sides advance. Pachuca are currently atop the Liga MX table, so it would be a pretty big upset if Greg Vanney's group is actually able to keep this going.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Wednesday, Aug. 20 vs. Club Puebla | 8:45 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
- Loony result: Sounders fall on road to Minnesota
- Postgame pontifications: Losing by losing your identity
- Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff: Can Sounders bounce back in Leagues Cup return?
- Seattle Sounders at Minnesota United: community player ratings form
- Minnesota United vs. Sounders: Highlights, stats and quotes
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Reign
Next match: Sunday, Aug. 24 vs. Houston Dash | 4 pm PT | Paramount+
Defiance
Next match: Sunday, Aug. 24 at Portland Timbers 2 | 8 pm PT| MLS Season Pass
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- Evander makes magic, Columbus Crew's concern & more from Matchday 29 (MLSsoccer)
- MLS Winners and Losers: Thomas Muller’s promising Whitecaps debut, Evander’s return & more (Backheeled)
- Skye Stout, 16, scores on Kilmarnock debut days after suffering online abuse (LBC News)
- 'Too hot to play' - Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride ends 0-0 after heat delay (USA Today)
- Michelle Alozie scores in stoppage time to lift Houston Dash past Gotham FC (Houston Chronicle)
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemns 'unacceptable' racism after incidents at German Cup games (ABC News)
- FIFA consider holding Club World Cup every two years from 2029 – and could expand it (Guardian)
- Audi Field breaks into 'Free D.C.' chant during Spirit-Louisville (USA Today)
- Armchair Analyst: Power rankings after Matchday 29 (Tactics Free Zone)
- MLS Power Rankings: Messi's return helps Miami surge up (ESPN)
- Young Players: Who stepped up in Matchday 29? (MLSsoccer)
- Timbers face toughest remaining schedule in the MLS Western Conference playoff race (KATU)
- Why MLS looms large as Sacramento Republic FC breaks ground on downtown stadium (Sacramento Bee)
- USWNT Spotlight: Olivia Moultrie Ties NWSL Record for Most Goals Scored as Teenager (US Soccer)
