Major League Soccer has revamped its qualification criteria for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, capping the number of North American cup competitions all 30 of its franchises can compete in.
Clubs will be allowed to play in no more than two North American cup tournaments during the MLS season, which runs from March through December.
MLS will continue to participate in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup — the longest soccer competition in the country — after threats in recent years about pulling its teams out of the tournament. Sixteen teams and 10 lower-division clubs from MLS Next Pro will compete.
Last season’s top nine teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences also qualified for the Leagues Cup, which sees them take on the top teams of Mexico’s top league, Liga MX.
Ten clubs will also compete for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which pits the best teams within North America’s governing body against each other.
Toronto FC, CF Montreal, and the Vancouver Whitecaps will compete at the 2025 Canadian Championship.
“The framework for MLS club participation in North American cup competitions rewards club performance, manages player workload, and ensures that every club has the opportunity to compete in at least one, but no more than two, North American competitions that run concurrently with the league season,” a statement from the league read.
This season, both New York teams, the Red Bulls and NYCFC will compete in the US Open Cup and the League Cup.
Additionally, Inter Miami and the Seattle Sounders are competing in two mid-season tournaments along with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, hosted by the United States.
MLS Club North American cup appearances in 2025
- Atlanta United: Leagues Cup
- Austin FC: US Open Cup
- Charlotte FC: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- Chicago Fire: US Open Cup
- FC Cincinnati: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- Colorado Rapids: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- Columbus Crew: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- DC United: US Open Cup
- Houston Dynamo: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- Inter Miami: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- LA Galaxy: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- LAFC: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- Minnesota United: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- CF Montreal: Leagues Cup, Canadian Championship
- Nashville SC: US Open Cup
- New England Revolution: US Open Cup
- NYCFC: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- New York Red Bulls: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- Orlando City SC: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- Philadelphia Union: US Open Cup
- Portland Timbers: Leagues Cup, US Open Cup
- Real Salt Lake: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- San Jose Earthquakes: US Open Cup
- San Diego FC: Leagues Cup
- Seattle Sounders: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Leagues Cup
- Sporting Kansas City: CONCACAF Champions Cup
- St. Louis City SC: US Open Cup
- Toronto FC: Canadian Championship
- Vancouver Whitecaps: CONCACAF Champions Cup, Canadian Championship
