DALLAS — The fourth edition of the Leagues Cup, a mid-season tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs, starts on July 27.
The third-ever Leagues Cup in the summer of 2023 served as a coming-out party for Lionel Messi for his MLS team Inter Miami. Messi mania took full effect throughout the tournament, as he led the Herons to the title with numerous highlight moments along the way.
Messi's initiation into the MLS competition fueled the tournament and its popularity. Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against FC Dallas in Frisco was the first club match Messi played outside of Florida and it brought $3 million in economic impact to the city.
This time around, however, there is a push to boycott the tournament that MLS Commissioner Don Garber touts doubled the subscriber count to MLS Season Pass.
What's the boycott for?
The boycott movement by MLS supporters groups is to stand up in solidarity for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the oldest annual U.S. soccer competition.
In March, MLS announced that it would allow clubs to have their MLS Next Pro teams compete if they wish. Only eight of the 26 possible MLS first teams for the tournament competed: Atlanta United FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC (the defending U.S. Open Cup Champion), LAFC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber had previously called the Open Cup "a very poor reflection on what it is that we're trying to do with soccer at the highest level" and voiced dissatisfaction with the crowded schedule of the MLS first teams in an interview with ESPN, but most of that was in the league's own doing with the commencement of the Leagues Cup, which started in 2019.
Part of the beauty of the U.S. Open Cup is the potential for "David vs. Goliath-esque" matchups – which is prevalent in this year's semifinals: USL club Indy Eleven is set to face MLS' Sporting Kansas City. The Seattle Sounders and LAFC make up the other U.S. Open Cup semifinal.
But, in what lots of long-time soccer fans criticize as a "money grab" at the expense of tradition and history, supporters groups for MLS clubs across the league have voiced their intentions to boycott the tournament.
Here is a list of those:
- Dallas Beer Guardians (FC Dallas)
- Los Verdes (Austin FC)
- Austin Anthem (Austin FC)
- Red Line SG (Chicago Fire)
- Red Loons (Minnesota United FC)
- Sons of Ben (Philadelphia Union)
- Iron Law Firm (Orlando City SC)
- Bucket Hat Brigade (Minnesota)
- Greater Columbus Golden Boys And Girls a.k.a GCGBAG (Columbus Crew)
- The Nordecke (Columbus Crew)
- East Coast Dark Clouds (Minnesota United FC)
The Leagues Cup concludes with its title match on Aug. 25, and MLS regular season play will resume the day before on Aug. 24. The U.S. Open Cup semifinal matches are scheduled for Aug. 27.
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