North American cups: Where MLS teams will compete in 2025, qualification criteria

Major League Soccer has announced MLS club qualification criteria for official North American cup competitions during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, as well as 2025 participants.

The four tournaments – Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, US Open Cup and Canadian Championship – provide important opportunities for clubs to compete for championships outside of MLS play.

In addition to these North American tournaments, Seattle Sounders FC and Inter Miami CF will also represent MLS in the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, joining other top teams from around the world this summer.

MLS club participation in North American cup competitions rewards club performance, manages player workload and ensures every MLS club can compete in at least one, but no more than two, North American competitions that run concurrently with the MLS league season.

This qualification structure will be in place for the 2025 and 2026 MLS seasons, providing a guideline for MLS’ qualification parameters as the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup and FIFA 2026 World Cup are played in North America.

This process will be re-evaluated for 2027 as the competition landscape continues to evolve.

Concacaf Champions Cup

• Criteria set by Concacaf.

Leagues Cup

• 18 MLS clubs qualify to match the 18 participating LIGA MX clubs.
• The top nine teams in each MLS conference from the prior season qualify.
• Due to Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s participation in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup and defending their Canadian Championship title, Vancouver will not participate in Leagues Cup 2025. Instead, expansion club San Diego FC will join Leagues Cup 2025.

US Open Cup

• From last year, the number of MLS first teams participating in the US Open Cup has increased from 8 to 16. In addition, 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams will compete in the tournament.
• The 16 participating MLS teams are determined as follows:
  • Only US-based clubs are eligible to participate in the US Open Cup.
  • MLS teams not competing in Leagues Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup automatically qualify for the US Open Cup. For the 2025 tournament, this accounts for 9 of the 16 MLS teams.
  • The remaining teams are determined by Supporters’ Shield standings, excluding teams competing in Concacaf Champions Cup. For the 2025 tournament, this accounts for 7 of the 16 MLS teams.

Canadian Championship

• All three Canadian-based MLS clubs compete.

Concacaf Champions Cup

• Ten (10) MLS clubs will compete in the 2025 tournament, which begins Feb. 4 and concludes June 1.
• The reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champion (LA Galaxy) and the reigning Leagues Cup champion (Columbus Crew) enter in the Round of 16.
• Eight (8) other MLS teams begin play in Round One.

Leagues Cup

• Eighteen (18) MLS clubs will face off against all 18 LIGA MX teams. Leagues Cup takes place from July 29 to August 31.

US Open Cup

• The 16 competing MLS teams will enter the US Open Cup in the Round of 32, with eight of those teams hosting their opening matches.
• The 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams will enter the tournament in the First Round.

Canadian Championship

• CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will compete in the tournament. The Canadian Championship takes place from April through October.

• Colorado Rapids
• Columbus Crew
• FC Cincinnati
• Inter Miami CF
• LAFC
• LA Galaxy
• Real Salt Lake
• Seattle Sounders FC
• Sporting Kansas City
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC

• Atlanta United FC
• Charlotte FC
• FC Cincinnati
• Colorado Rapids
• Columbus Crew
• Houston Dynamo FC
• Inter Miami CF
• LA Galaxy
• LAFC
• Minnesota United FC
• CF Montréal
• New York City FC
• New York Red Bulls
• Orlando City SC
• Portland Timbers
• Real Salt Lake
• San Diego FC
• Seattle Sounders FC

• Austin FC
• Charlotte FC
• Chicago Fire FC
• D.C. United
• FC Dallas
• Houston Dynamo FC
• Minnesota United FC
• Nashville SC
• New England Revolution
• New York City FC
• New York Red Bulls
• Orlando City SC
• Philadelphia Union
• Portland Timbers
• San Jose Earthquakes
• St. Louis CITY SC

Additionally, 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams will compete in the 2025 US Open Cup:

Eastern Conference

1. Carolina Core FC (Independent)
2. Chattanooga FC (Independent)
3. Columbus Crew 2
4. FC Cincinnati 2
5. Inter Miami CF II

Western Conference

1. LAFC 2
2. Real Monarchs
3. Sporting KC II
4. Tacoma Defiance
5. Ventura County FC

• CF Montréal
• Toronto FC
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC