The LA Galaxy begin their 2025 Leagues Cup campaign Thursday July 29 against Club Tijuana, as part of the new format for the tournament that ends Aug. 31 and features exclusively MLS vs. Liga MX matchups through the quarterfinals.
Galaxy, as the reigning MLS Cup champions, are among 18 MLS clubs that qualified based on their 2024 playoff performance, joining all 18 Liga MX teams for a 36‑team field.
Format
In Phase One (July 29–August 7), each team plays three consecutive matches against opponents from the opposite league. League‑specific tables (MLS and Liga MX) determine seeding.
The top four teams in each table advance to the quarterfinals, where all matches remain MLS vs. Liga MX.
Points are awarded as follows: regulation wins earn 3 points, regulation draws 1 point, and 2 points for a penalty‑shootout win (following a draw).
As defending MLS champions, Galaxy will enjoy home‑venue privileges through the knockout phase unless matched with Club América or Cruz Azul, which carry their own hosting rights up to the semis or quarters, respectively.
What’s at stake
With four MLS and four Liga MX sides advancing, Galaxy must secure strong results to finish among the top MLS teams in the table.
From there, the quarterfinal seeding pits MLS 1 vs. Liga MX 4, MLS 2 vs. Liga MX 3, and so on.
The finalists and the winner of the third‑place match will earn berths in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
How to Watch
📅 Date: Thursday, July 31
⏰ First kick: 8:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
📺 TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
📻 Radio: LA Galaxy’s YouTube channel.
Galaxy’s Group Stage opponents
The Galaxy will host all three of their group matches at Dignity Health Sports Park, consistent with venue privileges granted to the MLS Cup holder. Their matches:
- Thursday, July 31 vs. Club Tijuana (Xolos)
- Sunday, August 3 vs. Cruz Azul
- Thursday, August 7 vs. Santos Laguna.
Club Tijuana (Xolos)
The Galaxy’s first opponents, Club Tijuana’s Xolos, feature the youngest player to lift an international trophy, Gilberto Mora.
The 16 year old Mexican National recently won the Gold Cup with Mexico. Mora first featured in the quarter-final against Saudi Arabia, before earning starts in both the semi-final and final.
Mora registered an assist for Jiménez’s winner against Honduras in the semi-final, and went on to play 75 minutes in the final against the USA, providing fans of the Mexican National Team a beacon of hope for the upcoming 2026 World Cup and beyond.
Cruz Azul
Next up is Cruz Azul, one of Liga MX’s historical heavyweights and part of the same group (Western 3). Cruz Azul was seeded in the same “sets” grouping and opens Galaxy’s second fixture.
“La Máquina” are among the top Liga MX teams in the Western region bracket and boast one of the deepest rosters in Liga MX.
Galaxy fans might remember Mateusz Bogusz, former member of LAFC, who now plays for Cruz Azul. Luka Romero, former member of AC Milan, also is on Cruz Azul’s roster for Leagues Cup.
Santos Laguna
Galaxy close the phase with Santos Laguna, also drawn from the Liga MX side of Western 3.
That match is scheduled in the doubleheader on Aug. 7. Following Cruz Azul vs. Colorado Rapids so pitch conditions will be something to keep an eye on.
Santos Laguna enters Leagues Cup after finishing 15th in this year’s Clasura Campaign and currently sit in 11th in the current Liga MX Apertura.
This could be the Galaxy’s best opportunity for 3 points, but depending on the result of the first two matches, they could be searching for goals in order to qualify for the next phase.
Notes
The Galaxy could have midfielder Riqui Puig available after recovery from a serious knee injury; he returned to training in July and is on the Galaxy’s preliminary roster for the tournament.
If Puig doesn’t return, this gives the Galaxy a chance to build some confidence and momentum before returning to MLS play where they will need all the points they can get from here until the end of the season.
A new competition could also provide a new start of sorts for the players that have been dragged through the nightmare first half of 2025 the Galaxy have endured.
Bottom line
From July 31 to August 7, Galaxy face a compact, intense cluster of three interleague fixtures in pursuit of advancing to the knockout rounds.
A solid group‑stage showing will keep alive their hope of not only lifting the Leagues Cup, but also clinching one of three available tickets to the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.