The Seattle Sounders will get a chance to defend their Leagues Cup title in 2026 after the 36-team field was announced on Tuesday, featuring the 18 MLS playoff teams and all 18 Liga MX teams. The tournament, which will use the same format as last year with inter-league matches through the quarterfinals, will take place from Aug. 4-Sept. 6.
Similar to last year, Phase One will feature each team playing three games against inter-league opponents and will be held during what is otherwise a bye week in the MLS regular season. The quarterfinals will feature the top four teams from each league and pit teams against their opposite seed in a midweek game. The winners will then face off in the semifinals, again midweek, before the final which will be played on a Sunday. The two finalists and the third-place team will each earn berths into the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the winner once again getting a bye into the Round of 16.
The Sounders will enter the draw as the 15th-ranked team in the 36-team field, which is determined purely by the Supporters' Shield standings and the combined Apertura and Clausura Liga MX tables. Assuming the draw process is similar to last year, the two leagues will be split into two regions and placed into three tiers. The Sounders would then play one Liga MX team from each tier in Phase One.
