The League’s cup starts back up Tuesday for the third year running, the MLS and Liga MX clash to determine who the best team is between the two biggest leagues in North America.
Since the current format was introduced in 2023, the MLS has dominated this competition. Inter Miami won in the first year and was followed by the Columbus Crew the very next season.
The MLS has the quality to have a team win the competition for the third straight year. Are Championship aspirations expected for every team or the chosen few?
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Eastern Conference teams will be more competitive.
The Eastern Conference has shown more muscle this season, and being the more competitive conference gives me more faith that the teams representing it will have a better showing.
The East has teams like Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Inter Miami, who all have a good track record in this competition since its inception.
One of these teams has a better chance of making the semi-finals as this tournament progresses to the knockout rounds. The two winners of the League Cup, Inter Miami and Columbus, are both top Eastern Conference teams that want to repeat their success from years prior.
Philadelphia has a good shot to win it this year if they can maintain their good form from the regular season and apply it against other top MLS foes, as well as Liga MX teams that they don’t usually cross paths with.
The Union has been consistent thanks to their young team that was built through their youth system, which has consistently built competitive rosters over the years. The Union lost the MLS Cup three years ago and has been looking for hardware that escaped them a few years ago.
If the winner of the Leagues Cup is an MLS Cup squad, it will be a team from the Eastern Conference.
What Team Can Claim the Title
Like previously mentioned, I believe the winner of the League Cup will come out of the Eastern Conference this year, similar to years past.
Columbus and Inter Miami won’t repeat as winners; both squads have struggled to be consistent against top teams, causing me to think that they will falter in the knockout rounds if they can make it that far.
Philadelphia could win it, like I mentioned before, I don’t think their young roster can make a run deep into a competition like the League Cup. Games come fast after domestic league games with little rest in between.
The team I predict will win the League Cup this season is FC Cincinnati, which has been excellent so far this season.
Cincinnati is currently fighting for the Supporters’ Shield and a top spot in the Eastern Conference. They also have a top MVP candidate who has represented the league well with his play.
Evander is a top player in the MLS as he is one of the few players who are making their case for the MVP award. Cincinnati has a solid attack and plays organized defense; this keeps them in games and gives them chances late in games to change the result in their favor.
This trophy has stayed with the MLS in’s first two years of existence. If there is a team that can win the League Cup, it is Cincinnati.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
Recording Date 18.07.2025