Real Salt Lake Joins 2023 World Cup-Style Tournament
Oct 6, 2022, 10:03 AM | Updated: 10:10 am
Pablo Ruiz of Real Salt Lake chases down his opponent from Atlas FC during a friendly fixture at American First Field on September 22, 2022. (Photo by Laura Dearden/Real Salt Lake)
(Photo by Laura Dearden/Real Salt Lake)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Leagues Cup will have a different feel after CONCACAF announced a 47-club World Cup-style tournament to be introduced in the summer of 2023.
The Supporters Shield winner, LAFC, will bypass the group stage and qualify for the round of 32. For LIGA MX, of the two recent champions in Clausura 2022 and Apertura 2022, the club with the most combined points accumulated across both tournaments in the 2022 calendar year will qualify directly into the Round of 32. The remaining 45 clubs will be divided into 15 groups of three clubs each. The 15 groups will be divided into four regions.
The group stage placement will be based on Supporter Shield standings for MLS clubs, the top 15 MLS sides will be split into groups based on seeding and region, all MLS sides will host two Leagues Cup matches.
The top 15 Liga MX clubs, based on the combined Claurura and Apertura standings, will be placed into groups in reverse order from the MLS clubs. For example, the number 15 Liga MX seeded club will be paired with the number one MLS seesed club.
Un mes de mucho soccer, dos grandes ligas, a NEW RIVALRY AHEAD. ¡Prepárate para el nuevo juego! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/DibEsYak3O
— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) October 6, 2022
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The remaining 13 MLS clubs together with the 2 remaining LIGA MX clubs, will be drawn into groups and divided geographically. The 13 MLS clubs will each host one Group Stage match; should RSL draw or lose at home Sunday against Portland, the Utah side would fall into this scenario. LIGA MX v. LIGA MX matches will be played at select venues depending on the region. The 2023 Leagues Cup schedule and details will be announced in the coming months.
Real Salt Lake hosts Portland Timbers this weekend on Decision Day for a spot in the 2022 MLS Playoffs and now positioning in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
No matches in the Leagues Cup Group Stage will end in a tie. Each team receives one point if the game is tied after 90 minutes. The winner of the subsequent penalty kicks will earn an additional point. Regulation wins count as three points.
Clubs that qualify for the knockout rounds will be placed into a single-elimination bracket.
The Leagues Cup Final and Third-Place game, which will determine the qualifiers in CONCACAF Champions League, will be played on Saturday, August 19.
Timbers Vs. RSL Match Info
Real Salt Lake will play its final game of the 2022 regular season at home on Sunday, October 9 when they host Portland Timbers.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be available to watch via ESPN 2.
