The 2023 edition of the Leagues Cup was the 3rd edition of the tournament, and it is an international club soccer competition involving clubs in Major League Soccer (United States of America) and clubs in Liga MX (Mexico).
The competition went down from July 21, 2023, to August 19, 2023, and 77 matches were played in total.
47 teams competed in the competition, with Inter Miami coming out victorious at the end of the day.
- When was the Leagues Cup 2023 final played?
Inter Miami defeated Nashville 9-10 on penalties to win the 2023 Leagues Cup on August 20, 2023.
Inter Miami first ever trophy
The Herons won their first-ever trophy since they were founded on January 29, 2018, with the victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Nashville.
Lionel Messi finished the tournament as top-scorer with 10 goals from 7 matches for Inter Miami.
The win for Tata Martino’s side over Nashville guaranteed them passage to the round of 16 of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Clubs that also finished as third-place and second-place respectively also earned spots in the 2024 CONCACAF Champion Cup.
The MLS and the Liga MX took a break at some point during the season, in order for teams to participate in the Leagues Cup.
Several notable clubs competed in the competition, including; LA Galaxy, New York City FC, and Pachuca.
Full list of clubs that competed in the 2023 Leagues Cup:
| No | Teams (Countries) | Pot |
| 1 | Los Angeles FC (USA) | Bye |
| 2 | Philadelphia Union (USA) | Seeded |
| 3 | CF Montréal (USA) | Seeded |
| 4 | Austin FC (USA) | Seeded |
| 5 | New York City FC (USA) | Seeded |
| 6 | New York Red Bulls (USA) | Seeded |
| 7 | FC Dallas (USA) | Seeded |
| 8 | LA Galaxy (USA) | Seeded |
| 9 | Nashville SC (USA) | Seeded |
| 10 | FC Cincinnati (USA) | Seeded |
| 11 | Minnesota United FC (USA) | Seeded |
| 12 | Inter Miami CF (USA) | Seeded |
| 13 | Orlando City SC (USA) | Seeded |
| 14 | Real Salt Lake (USA) | Seeded |
| 15 | Portland Timbers (USA) | Seeded |
| 16 | Columbus Crew (USA) | Seeded |
| 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 18 | Colorado Rapids (USA) | Unseeded |
| 19 | Charlotte FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 20 | New England Revolution (USA) | Unseeded |
| 21 | Seattle Sounders FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 22 | Sporting Kansas City (USA) | Unseeded |
| 23 | Atlanta United FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 24 | Chicago Fire FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 25 | Houston Dynamo FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 26 | San Jose Earthquakes (USA) | Unseeded |
| 27 | Toronto FC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 28 | D.C. United (USA) | Unseeded |
| 29 | St. Louis City SC (USA) | Unseeded |
| 30 | Pachuca (Mexico) | Bye |
| 31 | América (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 32 | UANL (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 33 | Monterrey (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 34 | Santos Laguna (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 35 | Cruz Azul (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 36 | Puebla (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 37 | Guadalajara (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 38 | Toluca (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 39 | León (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 40 | Necaxa (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 41 | Atlético San Luis (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 42 | Atlas (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 43 | Mazatlán (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 44 | UNAM (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 45 | Tijuana (Mexico) | Seeded |
| 46 | Juárez (Mexico) | Unseeded |
| 47 | Querétaro (Mexico) | Unseeded |
How were teams ranked for the tournament?
Bye: Both teams automatically progressed to the knockout stage due to their exploits the previous season in their respective leagues.
Seeded: They were assigned to a group based on their league finish the previous season.
Unseeded: They were all drawn into a group.
- Goals scored throughout the tournament:
251 goals were scored.
- If the encounter ends in a draw at the end of regulation time, how is the winner determined?
A penalty shoot-out would ensue if both teams are tied at the end of regulation time.
- How was the marketing for the tournament?
The marketing for the 2023 Leagues Cup was heaped on the arrival and impact of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami FC.
This led to increased viewership and subscriptions for the tournament, and it has been said that on July 22, 2023, “Messi’s debut”, subscriptions to MLS Season Pass skyrocketed by 110,000 in the United States.
- Where was the final played?
The final of the tournament involving Inter Miami and Nashville SC was played at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, and 30, 109 supporters were in attendance.
- Center referee for the 2023 Leagues Cup final?
Moroccan-born American soccer referee Ismail Elfath officiated the 2023 Leagues Cup final.
