Leading up to the July 21 launch of Leagues Cup, we'll be previewing all 47 teams, group by group.
In this first of four articles, we preview the West groups and the two teams with byes.
Byes
LAFC
Odds: +1100
Why they can win it all
The Black & Gold just made a deep Concacaf Champions League run, getting to the final against León before missing out for the second time in four years. Though they’re a little lighter in roster depth than they were at the start of the year after moving Kwadwo Opoku, they’ve still got one of the deepest rosters in MLS and they know how to win.
Player to watch
Denis Bouanga was on pace for 40 goal contributions early in the season, and though he’s cooled off a bit of late, he’s still on the short list of MLS MVP candidates. He’s simply electric when he gets his foot on the ball and has a path toward goal.
The X-factor
Carlos Vela might not be as effective as he once was, but it seems like he’s going to be especially motivated in this tournament with so many El Tri players featuring. He might have one vintage performance left in him.
Pachuca
Odds: +1400
Why they can win it all
Pachuca’s squad that won the Apertura 2022 title has slowly been dismantled, but the mastermind still remains. Uruguayan coach Guillermo Almada is considered one of the top coaches in Liga MX, with notable pundits arguing that it should have been him that got the Mexico men’s national team opportunity over Diego Cocca. Los Tuzos will have an advantage by skipping the group stage altogether, giving Almada plenty of time to scout his opposition.
Player to watch
Luis Chavez was the Mexican player that impressed the most at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 27-year-old is one of the national team’s best midfielders, looking to make a jump to Europe ASAP. With a lot more eyes on the Leagues Cup due to the global access of Apple TV, European clubs have an effortless route to scouting him.
The X-factor
Pachuca has been Mexico’s best developer of talent in recent years, churning out the likes of Hector Herrera, Hirving “Chucky” Lozano to Europe. So don’t sleep on them if you see players with three numbers on their jerseys.
West 1
Tigres UANL
Seed: No. 2 Liga MX
Odds: +1200
Why they can win it all
Tigres are the superteam of the region and that wealth of talent makes them one of the favorites to win it all. Coach Robert Siboldi unlocked the best of this team to take them to the Clausura 2023 title.
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman and captain Guido Pizarro lead the defense into a tough outing for any opponent. Two former Golden Boot winners feature in the attack, André-Pierre Gignac and Nicolas Ibanez. However, Gignac and playoff MVP Sebastian Cordova have been out recently due to injury, so those are the kinds of breaks that could impede their title hopes.
Player to watch
If you’re a neutral who doesn’t usually attend Liga MX friendlies in the United States, Gignac will make your ticket worth the price of admission. You think Bouanga has been money for LAFC? This Frenchman has done it multiple years for Tigres UANL and, while Father Time is catching up to him, he’s got enough gas in the tank to deliver in a month-long tournament.
The X-factor
How about a player nicknamed “The Factor?” Since returning from Europe, 23-year-old Diego Lainez has yet to regain his best form, but has at least started to get more playing time with Tigres. It took him a while but it looked like he was starting to show some promise during the playoffs. The coaching changes couldn’t have helped. This season he has been absent because was called to the national team to replace the injured Cordova. Time to see if Lainez will sink or swim.
Portland Timbers
Seed: No. 14 MLS
Odds: +6600
Why they can win it all
Portland’s capable of deep tournament runs, most recently hosting the 2021 MLS Cup and winning the 2020 MLS Is Back tournament. Gio Savarese is an experienced MLS coach who’s been at the Timbers’ helm since 2017. And, of course, Portland’s still one of the best home atmospheres in MLS.
Player to watch
Evander’s in his first season in MLS and in newcomer of the year contention with five goals and three assists in 17 appearances. The Timbers are struggling some in league play while they work to get their defense right, specifically filling the Bill Tuiloma-sized hole they've had their lineup since preseason, Evander’s a catalyst in his prime and capable of tapping into the Timbers’ tournament magic.
The X-factor
Portland’s home-field advantage doesn’t just extend to its fans; the Timbers play on turf and that could prove tricky for their opponents in the group stage.
San Jose Earthquakes
Seed: No. 25 MLS
Odds: +8000
Why they can win it all
The Quakes are no longer the chaos merchants they were when Matias Almeyda guided them. Manager Luchi Gonzalez has been a steadying force, and under his direction, the Quakes have gone from Wooden Spoon contender to a potential playoff game host in just half a season. It also helped a good deal to get Carlos Gruezo and Jonathan Mensah in to anchor the team’s spine.
Player to watch
Cristian Espinoza’s having a career year, with nine goals and six assists in 21 games this season and his first-ever All-Star selection. Having Jeremy Ebobisse and Cade Cowell in the front line means this is more than just a one-person show, but Espinoza’s already-elite wing play is reaching new levels this season.
The X-factor
San Jose’s a much better team this season than their 2022 record indicated. While seeds don’t matter in the knockout rounds, as it’s set up with group winners playing second-place finishers in the Round of 32 (save for the South 2 vs. South 3 winners meeting), San Jose could prove a tough out for opponents should it advance.
Group Matches
- Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday, July 22, 10 p.m. ET (Providence Park, Portland, Ore.)
- Portland Timbers vs. Tigres UANL, Wednesday, July 26, 11 p.m. ET (Providence Park, Portland, Ore.)
- Tigres UANL vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Sunday, July 30, 11 p.m. ET (PayPal Park, San Jose, Calif.)
West 2
CF Monterrey
Seed: No. 3 Liga MX
Odds: +1200
Why they can win it all
Another of Mexico’s high-priced squads, Monterrey feels the pressure to win plus combat any and every success of their Tigres rivals. To that end, former coach and club legend Victor Manuel Vucetich was fired after the team was eliminated in the Clausura 2023 playoff semifinals by Tigres UANL despite the team placing first overall in the regular season.
Now, former Club America coach Fernando Ortiz leads from the sidelines and will be expected to challenge for every trophy with national team players like Jesús Gallardo and Luis Romo on his squad. The Argentine attacking trio of Maxi Meza, German Berterame and Rogelio Funes Mori make this a team with great potential and can certainly translate that into a trophy.
Player to watch
Rogelio Funes Mori will have much of the spotlight on him as the most well known player for Rayados, his standing as the club’s all-time leading scorer and his MLS past as a winner of the Sueño MLS contest that saw him almost become an FC Dallas player.
The X-factor
Monterrey added Ecuadorian midfielder Joao Rojas in the offseason and he’s already had a few good moments off the bench, including a great goal at Mazatlan in Jornada 3. If he can bring those types of performances to the Leagues Cup, life will be much easier for Funes Mori and Berterame and that’s a dangerous place to be for opposing teams.
Real Salt Lake
Seed: No. 13 MLS
Odds: +6600
Why they can win it all
RSL’s been a bit under the radar for much of the season, but they're doing well and loading up on impact players, getting Cristian “Chicho” Arango and Nelson Palacios to join Brayan Vera and Andrés Gómez as the squad’s cadre of Colombians. Damir Kreilach’s having a bounce-back season and Pablo Ruiz and Jefferson Savarino are making good contributions. There are no All-Stars in the squad, but they’re playing as a true team and they've grown into an MLS Cup dark horse.
Player to watch
Arango just got back from Liga MX after being one of LAFC’s most reliable scorers, getting 30 goals in 51 regular-season appearances between 2021 and 2022. I’m not exactly sure how he fell out of favor at LAFC, but expect him to score for as long as RSL stays in this tournament.
The X-factor
They’ve got a great road record this year; though their home record isn’t on the same level, they play at altitude in front of a raucous (yes, even in suburban Salt Lake City) fan base. This draw sucks for them, but they also have the ability and the home-field advantage to knock out a favorite.
Seattle Sounders FC
Seed: No. 20 MLS
Odds: +1600
Why they can win it all
They’re the Sounders. They’re a year removed from being the first MLS team to win CCL. They’ve got one of the best coaches in the tournament, one of the best rosters and they’re insanely flexible in how they can play.
Player to watch
There might be flashier offensive players on this team, and Nouhou is just a flat-out delight to watch whether he’s excelling on defense or flirting with danger as he’s trying to advance the ball. But as Joao Paulo goes, so does this team.
The X-factor
While it wasn’t the most terror-laden path to the title for Seattle in 2022, they’ve demonstrated recently that they have what’s needed to get through a tournament dominated by MLS and Liga MX teams.
Group Matches
- Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC, Saturday, July 22, 9:30 p.m. ET (America First Field, Sandy, Utah)
- CF Monterrey vs. Real Salt Lake, Wednesday, July 26, 9:30 p.m. ET (America First Field, Sandy, Utah)
- CF Monterrey vs. Seattle Sounders FC, Sunday, July 30, 9 p.m. ET (Lumen Field, Seattle)
West 3
LA Galaxy
Seed: No. 7 MLS
Odds: +6600
Why they can win it all
If there’s a case to be made for the Galaxy, who have had quite the journey through the wilderness this season, it begins with Riqui Puig. The All-Star is one of the best chance creators in the league, and seeing what he did in the most recent El Trafico match at the Rose Bowl made believes out of a lot of people.
Player to watch
While Puig is the obvious player to keep your eyes on, the diligent work of Gaston Brugman as a defensive midfielder has been one of the biggest hope-giving forces for the Gs. So, Puig if you want to be entertained, and Brugman if you want to learn things.
The X-factor
It’s not like the Galaxy are going to be solely in “do it for Chicharito” mode, but he had to be hungering for Leagues Cup when it was announced as a fully-formed competition with all the MLS and Liga MX teams together. And now he can’t play in it due to his injury. Imagine him being part of the celebrations if they did pull it off.
Club León
Seed: No. 9 Liga MX
Odds: +1600
Why they can win it all
They're the defending Leagues Cup champions and the current Concacaf Champions League winners. That tells you what you need to know about León being a contender. Midfielder Angel Mena is a few years older these days but the Ecuadorian continues to be a dangerous player at the age of 35. Defensively, Rodolfo Cota continues to be one of the best Mexican goalkeepers and will give León a chance anytime he is in goal.
Player to watch
Chilean forward Víctor Dávila has had his number changed from 7 to 10, and that will come with more responsibilities. It’s also a testament to his abilities as a player capable of the spectacular and, at 25, will be one of the prime threats for La Fiera.
The X-factor
If you haven’t heard of Nicolás Larcamón, odds are you’ll know who he is after this tournament. At 38, he is considered one of the best tactical minds in Liga MX. The young Argentine turned lemons into lemonade at Puebla and now, with a way more talented squad, he is expected to win titles, as he has started already with the CCL trophy in his first season.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Seed: No. 16 MLS
Odds: +5000
Why they can win it all
They’ve been outstanding at home this season, and get their match with Club León at BC Place. If they can get out of their group — and it’s entirely conceivable they can — they’ve got a talented squad and an irrepressible coach in Vanni Sartini to lead them. Plus, they’re the reigning back-to-back Canadian Championship winners. That’s not quite CCL, but it’s two straight tournament triumphs that weren't just handed to them.
Player to watch
Ryan Gauld doesn’t quite have the numbers you’d expect from the eye test — though 19 goals and 21 assists in 66 MLS matches since his arrival to the league in July 2021 are respectable enough. But on his day, he’s one of the best creative forces in MLS, and he’s capable of putting together a string of solid matches.
The X-factor
It’s got to be Vanni Sartini, right? He’s one of MLS’s most enthusiastic coaches and one of its best — though, like Gauld, the results don’t quite compare to the eye test.
Group Matches
- Club León vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Friday, July 21, 10:30 p.m. ET (BC Place, Vancouver, BC)
- LA Galaxy vs. Club León, Tuesday, July 25, 10:30 p.m. ET (Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.)
- LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Saturday, July 29, 10:30 p.m. ET (Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.)
