Leagues Cup presents the LA Galaxy's Only Chance of Silverware in 2025
The LA Galaxy's most realistic chance at silverware is Leagues Cup. A refresher on the new structure of the tournament
Having captured its sixth MLS Cup in December 2024, the LA Galaxy entered 2025 as reigning champions with high hopes. Fast forward to late July, the LA Galaxy’s only realistic chance at silverware is in Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup.
A winless start that set negative records for a defending champion has been the story of the 2025 LA Galaxy. At the time of the Leagues Cup break, the Galaxy sits last in the Western Conference and Supporters Shield standings. With major departures and injuries to the championship squad, LA wasn’t expected to be a contender right away, but nobody anticipated how low the club would be in the standings.
The revamped Leagues Cup—featuring 18 MLS and 18 Liga MX teams—is set to run from July 29 to August 31, 2025, and guarantees only MLS vs Liga MX matchups through the quarterfinals. As reigning MLS Cup champions, LA will host every game they play in the tournament at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Points & standings system
MLS and LIGA MX teams will compete and earn points in a league-specific table against teams from their own league.
For example, a win by an MLS club earns points in the Leagues Cup MLS table. A win by a LIGA MX team contributes to the Leagues Cup LIGA MX table.
The top four clubs from each Leagues Cup league-specific table advance to the quarterfinals. The tables were designed to ensure more interleague matches in the Knockout Rounds.
Placed in Group Western 3, LA Galaxy will face Tijuana on July 31, Cruz Azul (Winners of Concacaf Champions Cup) on August 3, and Santos Laguna on August 7—three home fixtures to determine whether they advance as one of the top four MLS teams into the knockout stage.
Passage into the quarterfinals and beyond would grant a shot at the Leagues Cup trophy, qualification for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, and a much-needed boost for a season gone off the rails.
“The tournament is important, we do want to try to advance and get into the quarterfinals and move on from there. So it should be interesting,” said Vanney following July 23rd’s training.
“The good thing is, we get the games at our place, so we're at home. We don't have to travel in this stretch, you. We have the opportunity to hopefully build some momentum inside of our stadium and try to get some results out of this,” he said.
The new points and standing system adds another interesting element to this year's edition. Vanney provided some insight on how he views it and how he plans to get LA into the top four of the Leagues Cup MLS table.
“The tournament is an interesting one to try to navigate, because it really is about taking points. Because you're not playing against your direct opponents necessarily, you're playing against opponents that you won't see,” noted Vanney.
“The teams that you're trying to compete with for points aren't the team across from you, necessarily; it's teams that are playing games somewhere else. You've got to take as many points as you can, because it's somewhere else where we're not taking away points from them. You got my picture? So it's an interesting setup,” he said.
Every point matters in Leagues Cup, and winning matches in regulation instead of through a penalty shoot-out aids a team's chances of being at the top of its respective league table.
The other 17 MLS teams competing in the tournament are:
Atlanta United
Charlotte FC
FC Cincinnati
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew
Houston Dynamo FC
Inter Miami CF
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
The Galaxy will be heading into Leagues Cup with an extended rest period due to the club’s Friday night match in Houston being postponed due to weather.
LA’s Leagues Cup roster also includes a surprise inclusion - Riqui Puig. The Spanish midfielder is advancing his rehabilitation from a torn ACL suffered in late November. However, with Vanney’s track record of being conservative with injury recoveries, it seems unlikely he will see any playing time. Vanney should answer questions about this during Wednesday’s scheduled press conference.
With their MLS season almost over, Leagues Cup remains LA Galaxy’s only realistic route to silverware in 2025. It’s the Galaxy’s last lifeline for redemption, momentum, and a chance to salvage pride in what’s been a disastrous title defense.
If they succeed, a home-packed knockout run culminating in a Leagues Cup title would secure not only a trophy but a pathway forward via Champions Cup qualification and the psychological reset the club desperately needs.
The LA Galaxy needs Leagues Cup. The club aims for silverware, and this is the only opportunity to lift a trophy this season and create a positive moment in a season that will always have a negative view.