The inaugural Leagues Cup kicks off for Philadelphia Union on Saturday night as they host Club Tijuana at Subaru Park. Don't miss the action starting at 8PM ET free on MLS Season Pass, FS1 and Univision.
Saturday's match will also be broadcast by 97.5 The Fanatic on the radio dial, the app, and website.
With the start of the tournament, Major League Soccer regular season play has officially paused, and now, teams are locked on emerging victorious among 47 first division clubs across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Leagues Cup is a World Cup-style tournament sanctioned by Concacaf, featuring all first division clubs in Liga MX and MLS teams. It features a schedule of 77 matches in stadiums across the United States and Canada, beginning Group Stage play divided into four regions, East, West, South, and Central. Each team is guaranteed two games – after that, it’s win or go home. The Union is in the East 1 Group paired alongside Club Tijuana and Queretaro FC.
With a trophy and spot in the Concacaf Champions League on the line, the Boys in Blue will be pushing hard to bring home the silverware and secure another trip to the continent's biggest tournament. Philly enters the match full of confidence after claiming two momentous wins that skyrocketed the team up the Eastern Conference rankings. The Union now sits at third with 40 points, though Leagues Cup won’t contribute to MLS standings.
Last time out the Union knocked off rivals New York City FC in front of the Union faithful with goals from Jose Martinez and Chris Donovan. With a new tournament comes some additions to the roster which you can see by clicking here.
Tijuana’s squad is led by Head Coach Miguel Herrera, who was hired by the club in February 2023. It’s his most recent run with the Xolos, but not his first. He previously stood at the helm of Tijuana from 2015-2017.
Aside from his experience coaching on Mexicos’ Pacific Coast, his resume is a robust one, featuring stints at Atlante (2002-04, 2011), Monterrey (2004-07), Veracruz (2008), Tecos (2008-10), Club America (2012-13, 2017-20), and Tigres (2021-22). Most notably, though, was his role as the manager of the Mexican Men’s National Team. During his tenure there, the group qualified for the 2014 World Cup and won the Concacaf Gold Cup the following year.
His present Tijuana squad is has picked up four points to start the 2023 Apertura, earning a win, draw, and a loss. Their lone win was an impressive one – knock off Cruz Azul 2-1 on July 14, with a goal from Carlos González and a 92nd minute game-deciding own goal off a cross. González, the team's 30-year-old Paraguayan forward, has scored in all three Apertura matches.
