The Seattle Sounders are taking on Club Tijuana on Wednesday on Matchday 3 of Phase One of the 2025 Leagues Cup. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 8 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
LEAGUES CUP FORMAT: The 2025 Leagues Cup features all 18 Liga MX teams and the top 18 qualifying clubs from MLS. Teams are divided into Eastern and Western regions and grouped into tiers based on 2024 league performance. Each club will play three group stage matches against teams from the opposing league with no draws allowed. Matches that end with the score level go straight to penalty shootouts with both teams receiving a point and the winner of the shootout receiving an additional point. The top four clubs from each league will advance to the Knockout Rounds beginning with the quarterfinals. From there, it’s a single-elimination sprint to the Leagues Cup Final on Aug. 31.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: In addition to continental bragging rights, the top three finishers from Leagues Cup will secure automatic bids to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. The champion will receive a direct spot in the Round of 16.
ABOUT TIJUANA: Founded in 2007, Xolos is the fourth-youngest club in Liga MX. They have one Liga MX title, winning the 2012 Apertura.
CURRENT LEAGUE FORM: Tijuana is in 10th place in the Liga MX Apertura table with four points from three matches.
MATCHDAYS 1 AND 2 RESULTS:
Sounders: Defeated Cruz Azul 7-0, defeated Santos Laguna 2-1
Club Tijuana: Lost to the LA Galaxy 5-2, defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1
LEAGUES CUP STANDINGS:
Sounders: 1st in MLS table
Xolos: 9th in Liga MX table
Leagues Cup 2025
The battle for North America is back and it’s bigger than ever.
This summer, 36 of the best — all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 qualifying teams from MLS — will clash for regional supremacy, with the top three finishers punching their ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup.
HOW THE SOUNDERS ADVANCE: Seattle will automatically qualify as one of four MLS teams to reach the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals with a win (three points) or a penalty kick shootout victory after a draw (two points). A draw with a penalty kick shootout loss (one point) would not guarantee the Sounders to advance, but with seven points, it would put them in a prime position to do so given their strong goal differential through two matches (plus-eight).
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Wednesday will only be the second all-time meeting between the Sounders and Tijuana, after the clubs played to a 2-2 draw at Lumen Field in an international friendly in March 2015. Lamar Neagle and current Sounders Assistant Coach Andy Rose scored for Seattle, with current Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan providing the assist on Neagle’s opener.
SOUNDERS STAY UNBEATEN: Make that eight consecutive matches without a loss (5-0-3) for the Sounders in all competitions since exiting the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this month. They’ve scored an impressive 23 goals in that span.
BATTLE OF TEENAGE MEXICAN PHENOMS: Sounders midfielder and Mexico international Obed Vargas, 19, will be squaring off against fellow Mexico international teammate Gilberto Mora, 16, in central midfield. Vargas is one of Major League Soccer’s best teenagers and recently competed in the MLS All-Star Game. Mora, meanwhile, is one of the best young talents in Mexico and scored the lone goal for the Liga MX All-Stars in the MLS All-Star Game.
XOLOS PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Gilberto Mora, M: Mora is not just a complementary piece of this Tijuana squad, he is one of the focal points. Despite losing to the LA Galaxy 5-2 in their Leagues Cup Phase One opener, Mora scored both goals for Xolos to keep them in it.
- Shamar Nicholson, F: The 28-year-old Jamaican international joined Xolos in February from Russian First Division side Spartak Moscow. The six-foot-four Nicholson, who has also spent time in Slovenia, Belgium and France, leads the line as Tijuana’s towering No. 9.
- Vitinho, M: The Brazilian winger joined from fellow Liga MX side Atlético San Luis in July. The 24-year-old São Paulo product scored 15 goals in 88 Liga MX matches with San Luis.
