Alex VejarReal Salt Lake is slated to compete in a new summer tournament between Major League Soccer and Liga MX, it was announced Wednesday.
The Leagues Cup, which will feature four teams from each league, is a three-round, single-elimination tournament. RSL will face Tigres UANL, the reigning Liga MX champions, on July 24, the second day of the quarterfinal round.
Semifinals are Aug. 20, and the final round is on September 18.
THE LEAGUES CUP
RSL VS. TIGRES UANL
Where • At Rio Tinto Stadium
When • July 24
Kickoff • TBD
“Playing against Tigres is a big opportunity for this club — a big opportunity for this team, especially when you have a chance to win a trophy. We’re looking forward to it,” RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando said in a team release. “This is another chance for us to step up against these big opponents down in Mexico and prove that we can play with them and maybe one day win a championship against them.”
RSL and Tigres faced off in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2016. The Liga MX team also employs former RSL Academy players Carlos Salcedo and Lalo Fernandez.
The other three MLS teams competing in the tournament are the Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy. Club America, Cruz Azul and Club Tijuana round out the teams in Liga MX.
“We are excited to take our partnership with Liga MX to the next level with Leagues Cup,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a league release. “We have an intense rivalry between our national teams, and Leagues Cup provides a terrific opportunity to increase the growing rivalry between MLS and Liga MX clubs.”
Alex is an expat from Los Angeles who started his journalism career in 2013 after attempting, and failing, to become the next great rock star. He most recently covered local sports in Chico.