Following the FIFA World Cup, MLS ran an ad campaign that cheekily opined, "Thanks, world. We'll take it from here." The idea was that those still needing a soccer fix could get it in the form of Major League Soccer. At which point, reality socked the league in the nose. This week's quarterfinals in the Leagues Cup witnessed four MLS teams squaring off against four of their Liga MX counterparts. The teams from south of the border prevailed in every instance.

It makes for an embarrassing outcome for MLS. This is a competition that is supposed to tap into the best aspects of the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry. Instead, what's left is more evidence that MLS still has some catching up to do in terms of competitiveness. Liga MX teams have won 20 of the past 21 Concacaf Champions Cups. Only the Seattle Sounders' triumph in 2022 has interrupted an otherwise clean sweep.

MLS will point out that the 2025 Leagues Cup witnessed the opposite outcome. During that edition's quarterfinal stage, it was four MLS teams prevailing over Liga MX sides, but looking under the tournament's hood reveals some important context. In 2025, all four quarterfinals were played in the home venue of the MLS team, providing a significant home-field advantage. Even then, two of those quarterfinals were decided by penalties.

All of this points to the Leagues Cup being fundamentally broken. The concept, on a certain level, makes sense. There is money to be made from tapping into the U.S.-Mexico soccer rivalry. MLS also needed to provide broadcasters content that it controls. But the format makes little sense from a competition standpoint.