The close relationship and cooperation between the Major League Soccer (MLS) and Liga MX is as strong as any other that you can think of. This is largely demonstrated by the sheer high number of soccer competitions that MLS and Liga MX teams are engaged in. One such competition is the Campeones Cup which will be explored in detail in this comprehensive guide. See also the Leagues Cup.
A Brief History of the Campeones Cup
The Campeones Cup was established in 2018. The Cup came about as a result of collaboration between the MLS and Liga MX. Essentially, the Campeones Cup is a one-off soccer game which pits the cup champions from MLS and Liga MX.
The Campeones Cup is attributed as an offspring of another inter-league partnership between MLS and Liga MX, the Superliga which ran from 2007 to 2010. The Superliga allowed teams from both associations to increase their competitiveness in the drive to claim bragging rights. While the Campeones Cup is in part also a competition which allows teams to claim bragging rights, it does have a different inspiration.
The United States together with Canada and Mexico are set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the desire to improve the level of play of the three host nations, the soccer associations from the U.S. and Mexico have embarked on a massive drive to create high-level competitions. It’s against this background that the Campeones Cup was established in 2018.
Campeones Cup Format
The Campeones Cup is just a one-off game – more like the ultimate Final as it pits two Cup winners. After the regular season in the MLS, the top-ranked teams advance to play the MLS Cup Playoffs. One team will emerge victorious during the Playoffs and that team gets the nod to represent the MLS in the Campeones Cup. likewise, in Mexico, the winners of the Apertura (team with the most points at the halfway point of the regular season) and Clausura (team with the highest points at the end of the regular season) clash in the Campeon de Campeones and the team that emerges victorious gets the nod to represent Liga MX. If a single team wins both the Apertura and Clausura, it gets an automatic nod to reach the Campeones Cup.
The Campeones Cup is played in regulation 90 minutes. If the match ends in a stalemate, it proceeds to extra time and afterwards, to the penalty shootout if the result is still the same.
Campeones Cup Schedule
The Campeones Cup is typically played in the last week of September. Following the format of the J.League Cup/Sudamericana which is always hosted by the Japanese team, the Campeones Cup is always hosted by the MLS team.
Campeones Cup Prizes
At stake when playing the Campeones Cup is undoubtedly the bragging rights. Being crowned the ultimate champion for the whole of the North American region is just a big flex. Well, apart from the bragging rights, another great thing is that winning feeling which comes with lifting the trophy in front of jubilant fans.
On the monetary front, the winner of the Campeones Cup receives a whopping $340,000 prize money. This amount is more than the prize money that both competing teams get for winning their respective leagues. It just falls narrowly short of the prize money awarded to the winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, $500,000.
Top Teams in the Campeones Cup
The team with the most Campeones Cup titles is UANL from Mexico. UANL has 2 titles and is also the current defending champions. No other Mexican team has won the Campeones Cup. The three other editions have been won by three different MLS teams. Namely, these are Atlanta United FC, Columbus Crew and New York City FC.
Campeones Cup Interesting Facts
- Only MLS teams host Campeones Cup matches
- More Mexicans than Americans tune in to watch the Campeones Cup as reported by Univision, TUDN and ESPN.