Off the field, there are obvious advantages to an expanded Leagues Cup.
The competition brings closer together two huge soccer markets that continue to expand. Liga MX matches routinely draw great television numbers in the United States, while both Mexico’s club and national teams attract impressive in-stadium attendances. MLS will handle broadcast rights in the US and Canada, while Liga MX will oversee those discussions in Mexico.
With successes in joining together for the inaugural editions of Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup, as well as this year’s historic All-Star Game presented by Target between the leagues, the trajectory is a positive one.
“The excitement around Leagues Cup is really significant,” Garber said of media partners interested in securing broadcast rights. “With every media partner we’ve spoken to, and even corporate partners, the idea that we’ll take a break in our season, have a meaningful competition at a time when there’s not a lot of soccer being played around the world, so it’s no coincidence when we’ll play. The idea we’ll take a break in our schedule, which is unprecedented, has lots of people really excited. Probably more so than we expected.”
