The 2023 Leagues Cup Group Stages are complete, and the knockout round bracket is set for competition.
The MLS and Liga MX have been fighting and clawing to get out of the group stage and move onto the knockout round of the Leagues Cup. There have been many memorable moments and heartbreak everywhere, from one of the most extended penalty kicks ever seen to moments of just missing goals to make it to the next round.
The Knockout round for the Leagues Cup will run from August 2nd until the 4th, where 4 to 5 matches will be played daily. Just like the Group Stage, there will be no draws. If there is a draw, penalty kicks will decide the winner. Where the team with the most penalty kicks scored will move on to the Round of 16, and the losing team will go home.
Thirty teams have been able to move on, along with the two teams (LAFC from the MLS and Pachuca from the Liga MX) already in the Round of 32 due to their performance in their perspective leagues in 2022. These matches can be seen on MLS Season Pass and local television channels.
Inter Miami vs. Orlando City, Aug. 2, 8:00 p.m. ET, DVR PNK Stadium
The one match-up that everyone is looking forward to is when Inter Miami, the South 3 winner, takes on Orlando City SC, the South 2 winner. Not just because both teams are in the MLS, but because of one big player picked up by Inter Miami, Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami finished with six points by beating Cruz Azul 2-1 and then beating Atlanta United FC 4-0. Lionel Messi has for sure transformed this team by scoring in both of the Leagues Cup games.
Orlando City Finished with five points by beating Houston 5-4 and then playing to a 1-1 draw with Santos Laguna, but beating them in penalty kicks 3-2.
This will be the 11th time these teams are meeting each other, where Orlando has won the last six times. In the previous meeting with these two teams, Orlando beat Miami 3-1 back in May 2023. Miami's Lionel Messi and Orlando's Duncan McGuire have scored in the last two Leagues Cup matches and look to extend it. Miami has had a horrible time dealing with Orlando, but Messi might be the difference that Miami needed.
The prediction for this match is Inter Miami 2 and Orlando 1
FC Dallas vs. Mazatlan, August 2, 9:00 p.m. ET, Toyota Stadium
FC Dallas, South 4 runner-up, will be taking on Mazatlan, South 1 winner, in a battle to see who will go on to the next round.
Mazatlan took the top spot in South 1 with five points. Mazatlan got a win over Austin FC 3-1 and drew with Juarez, beating them in penalty kicks 4-2.
FC Dallas came out as the runner-up in South 4 with four points. This was after a draw with Charlotte, but lost in penalty kicks 4-1. The second match came up, and Dallas was able to pull ahead and stay ahead as they beat Necaxa 3-0.
Outside the Leagues Cup, Mazatlan has been struggling in their campaign, where they have only been able to draw two games against Pachuca and Pumas UNAM and lost to Monterrey, which has only given them two points and is in 15th Place in the Apertura. Dallas is 8th in the MLS Western Standings with eight wins, six draws, and nine losses.
This will be the first time these two teams are playing each other, but FC Dallas' Sebastian Lletget is looking to continue his streak and score in his third straight Leagues Cup game. Mazatlan has won two of the last ten matches across competitions, whereas Dallas has only won two of their previous six.
The Prediction for this match is FC Dallas 2 and Mazatlan 0.
CF Pachuca vs. Houston Dynamo FC, Aug. 2, 9:00 p.m. ET, Shell Energy Stadium
CF Pachuca is coming into their first Leagues Cup match after gaining a bye into the Round of 32 because of their performance in the Liga MX tournaments. Now they get their first match against Houston Dynamo FC.
Houston Dynamo FC, the South 2 runner-up, scored three points because both matches went into penalty kicks. Houston lost to Orlando City in penalty kicks 5-4 but came back and beat Santos Laguna 5-4 in penalty kicks.
This will be the fifth time these two teams will meet where Pachuca has won three of the five. Pachuca has not won any of their matches in their league, with only two draws and one loss. Houston Dynamo has yet to have a win in their last five games in MLS, with three losses and two draws. Pachuca has the better record of both teams, and both teams have been struggling this year, so that this match might go to a draw and then penalty kicks.
The prediction for this match is a 1-1 draw, with Houston coming out on top with a 3-2 penalty kick win.
LAFC vs. FC Juarez, Aug. 2, 10:30 p.m. ET, BMO Stadium
Los Angeles Football Club was one of the first teams into the Round of 32 due to winning the MLS Cup in 2022, which gave them a direct bye past the Group Stages. The long wait is over for LAFC, and it will face the South 1 runner-up, FC Juarez.
FC Juarez got four points in the Group stage from a win and a draw. FC Juarez Drew with Mazatlan but lost in penalty kicks 4-2 but was able to come back four days later and beat Austin FC 3-1.
These two teams outside of the Leagues Cup have been playing very well. These two teams are expected to put on a very completive matchup. LAFC is sitting second in the MLS Western Conference after completing 23 matches, whereas FC Juarez has already won two matches and drew one in the Apertura tournament.
The prediction for this match is LAFC 3 and Juarez 1, with LAFC moving on to the Round of 16.