After the MLS All-Star Game, which featured the best and brightest players from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX, both leagues are going head-to-head in a month-long tournament called the Leagues Cup.

Mascherano couldn’t help himself but joke about Messi’s availability before the Leagues Cup opener against Liga MX side Atlas on Wednesday, July 30 at Chase Stadium,From NFL plays to college sports scores,

América vs Real Salt Lake, 9:30p: This Leagues Cup matchup is interesting: Diego Luna was a key performer for the USMNT at the Gold Cup; Alex Zendejas was left off the Gold Cup roster, but is one of the top players in Liga MX.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLS Power Rankings: San Diego FC, Orlando City SC Impress After Matchday 27 . The 2025 MLS season comes to a bit of a midsummer slow next week as the Leagues Cup gets underway for more than half the teams, but the latest weekend of regular season action brought some entertaining storylines.

Five good teams have a shot at topping the Eastern Conference, and the Union might be the favorite. Plus a look at the start of the summer transfer window, and Tai Baribo's hopes for a new contract.

After seeing some of the biggest stars and players who were perceived as the face of the league opt out of the All-Star game, the league’s identity is now in crisis, with no clear face of the league.