Why LAFC are not playing in the group stage of the Leagues Cup 2023

Following the group stage, the advancing teams will join LAFC and Pachuca to compete in the single-game elimination knockout rounds.

Kieran Quailekquaile90Update: Jul 19th, 2023 15:23 EDT

Jayne Kamin-OnceaUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Leagues Cup group stage kicks off on 21 July and runs through 31 July, featuring matches between Liga MX and MLS sides.

As MLS Cup 2022 champions, Los Angeles Football Club have qualified directly for the Leagues Cup Round of 32.

Mexican outfit Pachuca earned the bye as the Liga MX champion with the most combined points accumulated across the Clausura and Apertura seasons in the 2022 calendar year.

Pachuca will enter the knockout stage in the South region, in the opposite bracket from the MLS Cup champion, LAFC, who enter in the West region.

Denis the Menace. #MLSAllStar pic.twitter.com/cSe1M0wbJU

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 19, 2023

Knockout rounds