In its inaugural campaign and coming to Red Bull Arena is the 2023 Leagues Cup: a mid-season, annual tournament that combines all 29 MLS clubs and all 18 teams from Liga MX into one exciting CONCACAF competition.
On the line is a trophy and a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League for the top three finishers.
The tournament will run from July 21 through August 19, and Red Bull Arena will host two matches as the New York Red Bulls begin their group stage play.
How it works:
The tournament follows a World Cup style, beginning with a group stage before knockout rounds. Teams are sorted into 15 groups of three based on their 2022 league championship records and geographic region.
LAFC, the winner of the 2022 Supporters’ Shield, is automatically qualified for the knockout round of 32.
During the group stage, matches will not be decided in a draw – if the game is tied in the 90th minute, each team will receive a point and they will compete in a subsequent penalty shootout for an additional point.
New York is the top seeded team in group East 4. Joining them in the group are the MLS’s New England Revolution and Liga MX’s Atlético de San Luis.
The Red Bulls will play New England and San Luis once each, and the top two finishers in the group will advance to the round of 32.
From there, the tournament will enter bracket-style competition until a winner is determined.
The Red Bulls’ road ahead:
New York begins Leagues Cup action on July 22 against the New England Revolution.
A mainstay at the top of the MLS’s Eastern Conference, the Revolution currently ranks second in the league and boasts a regular season record of 12-4-7.
New England is also tied for first with 9 goals outside the 18-yard box, and captain Carles Gil leads the MLS with 12 assists this season.
The Red Bulls last defeated New England 2-1 at home on July 8th after a stoppage-time goal by the Revolution was overturned.
New York and New England will face off again at Red Bull Arena this weekend as they begin tournament play.
After taking on the Revolution, the Red Bulls will be in action again on July 30 against Atlético de San Luis.
Just three matchdays into the Liga MX’s Apertura tournament, the first half of its season which runs from July to December, San Luis holds a record of 1-1-1 and sits at 6th in the standings.
The team was founded in 2013 and was promoted to Liga MX in 2019.
San Luis’s Spanish center-back Unai Bilbao currently leads the team with two goals scored over the last three matches.
In May, San Luis concluded Liga MX’s Clausura tournament in the quarterfinals with an overall record of 5-8-4, its highest finish in La Liga yet.
San Luis will be taking on New England on July 26th before coming to Red Bull Arena for its final group stage competition and first-ever match against New York.
How to watch:
All Leagues Cup matches will be available for streaming on Apple TV MLS Season Pass. Additional broadcasting will be available on TUDN, Univision, UniMás, and Fox Sports.
For tickets to the Red Bulls’ two home Leagues Cup matches, click here.
