The 2024 Leagues Cup group-stage opener between San Jose Earthquakes and Deportivo Guadalajara has heralded a new milestone in North American club football.
50,675 fans – the highest number of attendants in North American club football – turned up to watch the match at the Levi Stadium.
The new record attendance marks a sharp rise from last year’s numbers during the match between Atlanta United of MLS and Cruz Azul of Liga MX. According to a report from San Jose Earthquakes’ website, 41,108 fans turned up for the match between Atlanta United and Cruz Azul in 2023. It was the highest number of attendants in a club football match in North America ever recorded then.
However, the record has now been assailed with the over 50k fans who thronged into the Levi Stadium to watch the San Jose Earthquakes Vs Deportivo Guadalajara match on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
Soaring interest in Leagues Cup in North America
The Leagues Cup began in 2023 as a novelty North American club football competition, featuring teams from Major League Soccer in the USA and the Liga MX in Mexico.
With just over a year of its establishment, the tournament has marked a new chapter in North American club football, bringing Mexican and American football fans together. The recent rise in the number of fans attending the match shows the widespread acceptance and popularity of the new competition in the two countries.
MLS side Inter Miami are the defending champions after they edged out Nashville SC via penalties to clinch the competition’s maiden silverware in 2023.
The tournament features 47 clubs from the MLS and Liga MX, all competing for the trophy. It runs from July 26 to August 25 with both the MLS and Liga MX paused until the duration of the tournament.
All teams are divided into 15 groups, comprising of three teams each. Unlike major football competitions, Leagues Cup matches must produce a winner. If it ends in a draw, the game is decided on penalties.
Teams who win on regulation time are awarded the normal three points while teams who win via penalties are awarded two points with the losing teams having no points.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the knockouts of the competition and progress from round 32 to the final. Also, there is a playoff to decide the third-place winner.
San Jose Earthquakes Vs Deportivo match recap
The San Jose Earthquakes Vs Deportivo match which recorded the highest number of attendants was won by San Jose via penalties.
Jeremy Ebobisse opened the scoring for San Jose Earthquakes in the sixth minute nodding home a header from Cristian Espinosa’s cross. In the second half, Rebano Sagrado equalised. It ended 1-1 after 90 minutes with the game dragged into penalties.
San Jose ran out winners with a 4-3 victory in the shootouts after their goalkeeper Alvarado saved two spot-kicks to deny Deportivo Guadalajara victory.
Other 2024 Leagues Cup match results
In other group stage games played so far, Los Angeles FC defeated Club Tijuana 3-0; Inter Miami eased past Puebla 2-0; Houston Dynamo suffered a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Atlas. Other results include;
Philadelphia 1-0 Charlotte
New England 1-0 Mazatland
New York Red Bulls 0-0 Toronto (4-5) penalties
St Louis 2-1 FC Dallas
New York City 0-0 Queretaro (4-3 penalties)
Sporting KC 2-1 Chicago
Leon 1-2 Portland
Check more results and fixtures on the Leaguescup official website
