New York City FC has revealed its group stage opponents and match schedule for the 2026 Leagues Cup, a tournament that brings together clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico’s LIGA MX. This year marks the fourth edition of the Concacaf-sanctioned competition.
The team will begin its campaign on Thursday, August 6, facing Santos Laguna at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The second group stage match is set for Sunday, August 9 against Cruz Azul at the same venue. New York City FC will close out the group phase on Thursday, August 13 with a match against Club Necaxa.
Details regarding kickoff times and television broadcasts in the United States, Mexico, and Canada are yet to be finalized. However, all matches will be available for streaming on Apple TV.
City Members will receive tickets to all three group stage matches as part of their membership benefits. Further information about ticket flexibility, priority access, and options for future stages—should New York City FC advance—will be provided later.
Leagues Cup 2026 runs from Tuesday, August 4 through Sunday, September 6. The competition features 36 teams: all 18 LIGA MX clubs and 18 MLS qualifiers. For the first time in tournament history, matches will also take place in Mexico. The event consists of two rounds: Phase One and Knockout Rounds. During Phase One, MLS teams play exclusively against LIGA MX opponents across three matches each.
After Phase One concludes, the top four teams from each league progress to the Quarterfinals scheduled between August 25-27. Semifinals are slated for September 1-2. The tournament ends with both the Final and Third-Place Match on September 6; these fixtures will determine which three clubs qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup—the winner earning direct entry into that competition’s Round of 16.
According to organizers: “Leagues Cup is an annual, Concacaf-sanctioned competition between Major League Soccer and LIGA MX that features top clubs from both leagues competing in a fully interleague format. Launched in 2023, the tournament represents a landmark collaboration between the two leagues and serves as a cornerstone of their long-term partnership.”
Additionally: “The top three finishers in Leagues Cup qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the champion earning the opportunity to represent the region in FIFA International club competitions. Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can watch Leagues Cup on Apple TV, with select matches also available via broadcast and cable television partners.”
The full schedule for New York City FC’s Leagues Cup group stage is as follows:
– Thursday, August 6: vs Santos Laguna
– Sunday, August 9: vs Cruz Azul
– Thursday, August 13: vs Club Necaxa
All games will take place at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
