SEATTLE, WA – The Seattle Sounders announced today that they will be one of four MLS clubs that will be competing in the 2021 Leagues Cup. The annual single-elimination tournament will also have four clubs from Mexico’s top league, LIGA MX. The Leagues Cup was not played last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the official return.
The other teams joining the Seattle Sounders from MLS will be Sporting Kansas City, Orlando City SC and New York City FC. Teams representing LIGA MX will be announced at the conclusion of the 2021 Clausura tournament. The MLS clubs, which will host the quarterfinal matches, are the top two teams from each conference based on the 2020 regular season standings that are not scheduled to participate in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
This will be the first time that the Sounders will participate in this tournament, with the U.S. Open Cup and Concacaf Champions League being the main tournaments that the team competes in outside of the regular season. Seattle is 4-8-2 all-time against LIGA MX sides, with each matchup coming in Champions League play.
The tournament, to be played in its entirety in the U.S., is scheduled to begin the week of August 9 with quarterfinal matches. The semifinals are slated for the week of September 13, and the Leagues Cup Final, to be played in a neutral venue, is scheduled for the week of September 20.
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Russell is the Content Director for the Eli Network. He studied broadcast journalism at Eastern Oregon and North Dakota State University. Mostly covers soccer and basketball in the Seattle area and is the current play-by-play voice for Seattle Redhawks basketball. You can follow him @brussbrwn.
