Football fans in North America have witnessed the rise of a captivating tournament that transcends borders and unites two football powerhouses, the MLS Major League Soccer, the prominent American football clubs competition, and the Liga MX, the renowned Mexican premier league. The Leagues Cup, introduced in 2019, encompasses 47 MLS and Liga MX teams. It has evolved into a thrilling annual competition showcasing both leagues' best clubs. The competition is organized by MLS and the Mexican Football Federation and sanctioned by CONCACAF, North America's continental regulatory body for football. In this guide, we'll dice into the Leagues Cup's history, format, and significance.
The concept of a joint competition between MLS and Liga MX was initially explored in 2018, aiming to fill the gap left by the absence of Copa Libertadores in the Mexican football calendar. The partnership between the two leagues resulted in the creation of the Campeones Cup, a single match between the MLS Cup winners and the Campeón de Campeones. Following this success, the idea of the Leagues Cup was officially announced on May 29, 2019, featuring eight teams in its inaugural edition.
However, the announcement faced criticism from some quarters, with skeptics dismissing it as a "meaningless friendly" and a mere "cash-grab" for American clubs. Despite initial reservations, the tournament proceeded, and its impact on North American football has grown significantly.
Before the Leagues Cup, MLS and Liga MX clubs had shared the stage in the North American SuperLiga between 2007 and 2010. However, the Leagues Cup brought a new level of collaboration and competition between the two leagues. The tournament's inception aimed to complement the CONCACAF Champions League and provide Mexican clubs with meaningful matches.
Despite initial skepticism, the Leagues Cup has proven its worth, showcasing the talent and competitiveness of North American football. The tournament has become a significant fixture in the football calendar, with fans eagerly anticipating the clash between the best clubs from MLS and Liga MX.
Betting on the Leagues Cup odds is an exciting way to expand your soccer fandom internationally and take part in the excitement of this highly competitive league. Take the time to do your research on the teams and all the available Leagues Cup betting lines options. Many top-class professional domestic soccer leagues operate all around the globe. This may initially seem overwhelming in terms of drilling down and finding the best betting options. That is why BetPhoenix has put together a definitive guide to the top world leagues for soccer betting odds for you.
Placing your Leagues Cup Bets with BetPhoenix.ag can be a lucrative and exciting venture, especially if you dedicate some time to doing your research. This Leagues Cup guide is one of the many helpful resources that BetPhoenix provides to help you take full advantage of the variety of options available and increase your chances of winning.
What is the Leagues Cup?
The Leagues Cup is a joint competition between the American MLS League and the Mexican Liga MX, aiming to fill the gap left by the Copa Libertadores. The Leagues Cup began with a modest start, featuring four teams from each league in a single-elimination knockout tournament in its first two editions. The first edition saw invitees from MLS, while the second edition relied on league results for qualification.
In 2021, the tournament format expanded to include 16 teams, eight from each league, allowing for a broader representation of clubs and increased competitiveness.
The 2022 season took a different turn due to fixture congestion from the FIFA World Cup, leading to the organization of a showcase featuring friendly matches between MLS and Liga MX teams.
The Leagues Cup underwent a significant transformation in 2023, evolving into a regional cup for the North American region of CONCACAF. All clubs from MLS and Liga MX—47 teams in total—now participate, making it a comprehensive competition that covers Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The tournament now boasts a group stage featuring 15 groups of three teams each, with the top 15 teams from each league seeded based on their previous season's standings. The remaining teams are drawn based on their geographic closeness.
The group stage employs a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Notably, the reigning MLS Cup champion and the highest-ranked Liga MX champion from either the previous Apertura or Clausura receive byes to the knockout stage.
How to Bet on the Leagues Cup
BetPhoenix.ag not only offers you the best Leagues Cup Odds, but we also provide you with many helpful tools, like this Leagues Cup odds guide, to introduce you to the numerous moneymaking opportunities available when betting on the Leagues Cup betting lines, helping you improve your chances of winning.
Leagues Cup Point Spread
The Leagues Cup Point Spreads bets, similarly to other major sports like football, baseball, and basketball, are based on a handicapped margin of victory established on a projected game result. If a Leagues Cup betting lines show a point spread of 1.5 for an upcoming game, the favorite team (-1.5) must win by at least two goals for your bet to be a winner, while betting on the underdog (+1.5) can lose by one goal, tie the game or win outright for your bet to be a win. The .5 fraction is used to avoid a push in the wagers.
This is an example of a Leagues Cup Point Spread, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:
- Team - Points Spread Odds
- Inter Miami CF -1.5
- C.F. Monterrey +1.5
In this case, the -1.5 points spread indicates that Inter Miami C.F. is the favorite to win by a margin of two goals against C.F. Monterrey. Conversely, C.F. Monterrey is the underdog and can lose by a margin of less than two goals. These are the likely results of this bet:
- Inter Miami C.F. wins by two or more goals: Inter Miami C.F. bettors win.
- Inter Miami C.F. wins by one goal: C.F. Monterrey bettors win.
- The game is a draw/tie: C.F. Monterrey bettors win.
- C.F. Monterrey wins the game: C.F. Monterrey bettors win.
Leagues Cup Moneyline
Leagues Cup Moneyline is always the most straightforward betting option. Your pick reflects who you expect to be the outright winner of the game. A negative odds value indicates the favorite, while a positive value indicates an underdog. Leagues Cup Moneyline uses a $100 base American odds system, in which larger numbers indicate a stronger favorite or weaker underdog.
The two-way Leagues Cup Moneyline, in which the Leagues Cup betting lines are focused on either one of the two sides winning, removing the impact of a tie or draw, in which case the bet would be a push. There is also a three-way Leagues Cup Moneyline, in which the Leagues Cup betting lines offer odds values for the home team winning, the visitor team winning, or the match ending in a draw or tie.
This is an example of a Two-Way Leagues Cup Moneyline, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:
- Team - Moneyline
- Inter Miami CF -140
- C.F. Monterrey +120
In this case, if you bet to win $100 on Inter Miami CF -140, as favorites, you would need to risk $140, while betting $100 on C.F. Monterrey +120 as an underdog, you would receive $120 if C.F. Monterrey wins the game. If the match ends in a tie, the wager would be a push, which means the bet is voided and refunded.
This is an example of a Three-Way Leagues Cup Moneyline, as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:
- Team - Moneyline
- Inter Miami CF -120
- Draw +200
- C.F. Monterrey +180
In this case, if you bet to win $100 on Inter Miami CF -120 as favorites, you would need to risk $120. Betting $100 on the draw +200, you would receive $200 if the game ends in a tie. And betting $100 on C.F. Monterrey +180 as an underdog, you would receive $180 if C.F. Monterrey wins the game.
At Betphoenix, our Leagues Cup odds will give you the best available Moneyline prices and the tightest point spread odds offered by any sportsbook.
Leagues Cup Over/Under Totals
The Leagues Cup Totals bet is based on a projected final score that includes both teams, independently on which side wins. Leagues Cup Totals are represented in an Over/Under set, where you can pick if you expect this result to be over or under this estimated line.
This is an example of a Leagues Cup Over/Under Totals as you would find it listed in BetPhoenix:
- Leagues Cup Totals – Inter Miami C.F. vs. C.F. Monterrey
- Total: 2.5
- Over odds: -140
- Under odds: +120
In this case, the Leagues Cup Over/Under of 2.5 means that if the match ends with a combined score of three or more goals, the Over wins; if the total score is two or less, the Under wins. If you bet to win $100 on the Over -160, you would need to risk $160 and win if the game ends with 3 goals or more. Betting $100 on the Under +180, you would receive $180 if the game ends with 2 goals or less.
Leagues Cup Parlays
Leagues Cup Parlay is a wager type in which two or more Leagues Cup betting lines are combined to form a single wager with a considerably higher payout. However, all selected Leagues Cup betting lines must win for the parlay wager to win. You can combine point spreads, moneylines, over/under totals, and other wagers. You can also combine favorites and underdogs. The more bets you add to your Leagues Cup parlay, the odds multiply accordingly in your favor.
Using the example, a two-line Leagues Cup Parlay could be as follows:
- Inter Miami CF -120
- Inter Miami CF vs. C.F. Monterrey Total: Over 2.5 -140
By combining the Inter Miami C.F. Moneyline -130 and Total Under 2.5 -140 for the Inter Miami C.F. vs. C.F. Monterrey game on a 2-team parlay risking $100, the combined odds would be +214 with a payout for this parlay of $314.28, about 3 times your bet, instead of risking $100 to bet on each separately.
Leagues Cup Prop Bets
Leagues Cup prop bets are one of the most exciting ways to bet on the outcome of the games. The most popular Leagues Cup Prop Bets include many possibilities. Team prop bets include lines to bet on which team will score first, how many shots on goal will be made, how many corner kicks will occur, how many cards will be sanctioned, and a long etcetera. Player props bets include who will score a goal during the game, who will score the first goal of the match, who will score multiple goals, how many shots on goal a player will make, etc.
Take the time to check all available props on Betphoenix.ag, and you'll find many attractive options to increase your betting repertoire.
Which Teams Have Won the Most Leagues Cup Titles?
The Leagues Cup has crowned three different champions in its three editions. Here you'll find the list of the Leagues Cup champions:
- 2023 - Inter Miami C.F. - United States
- 2021 - Club Leon - Mexico
- 2019 - Cruz Azul - Mexico
The Leagues Cup has emerged as a premier competition that celebrates the unity and excellence of North American football. From its humble beginnings to the grand expansion in 2023, the tournament has overcome challenges and skeptics to become a highlight of the football calendar. As the Leagues Cup continues to evolve, fans can expect more thrilling moments, intense rivalries, and a celebration of the rich football culture shared between MLS and Liga MX.
Looking ahead, the Leagues Cup is set to play a crucial role in the qualification process for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, further elevating its significance in North American football.
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