The Leagues Cup quarterfinals are set, and four Liga MX clubs remain in the cross-border tournament, facing MLS opposition. But as the competition moves into its decisive phase, a familiar frustration has resurfaced among Mexican fans: the so-called home advantage isn't really home at all.
Club América and Toluca, thanks to their strong Concacaf coefficient rankings, earned the official right to host their knockout matches. Yet tournament rules dictate that every match from the round of 32 onward must be played within the United States. That means even the highest-seeded Mexican teams can't bring the playoff atmosphere of the Estadio Azteca or the Nemesio Díez to their supporters south of the border.
Why the US hosts every knockout game
The Leagues Cup, a joint venture between Liga MX and Major League Soccer, was designed from the start as a US-based event. The governing regulations are explicit: all knockout stage fixtures must take place on American soil. This clause overrides the seeding advantage that higher-ranked clubs would normally enjoy, creating a peculiar dynamic where a team like América can select its host venue—but only within the United States.
For their quarterfinal clash, América's management chose Los Angeles, a city with one of the largest Mexican-American populations in the country. The choice makes sense: the club's fan base in Southern California is massive, and the Rose Bowl or SoFi Stadium can feel like a home game. Toluca, meanwhile, picked Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, a venue with a strong Mexican fan presence in the New York metropolitan area.
But not every Liga MX club gets that luxury. Monterrey's Rayados and León, the other two Mexican sides still alive, were designated as visitors or neutral-site teams. They'll have to navigate long travel and unfamiliar stadiums, without the backing of their own supporters in Monterrey or Guanajuato. As the quarterfinal matchups take shape, the logistical burden on these clubs is a talking point among fans and analysts alike.
Could the semifinals finally cross the border?
There's a glimmer of hope for those dreaming of a knockout match in Mexico. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Estadio Azteca has reserved September 2 and 3 for potential Leagues Cup semifinal fixtures. That would mark a significant shift in policy, allowing the tournament's later rounds to be played in Mexico City, a venue steeped in football history.
Tournament officials have not confirmed any change, and the current guidelines remain strict. But the fact that the Azteca—one of the most iconic stadiums in the Americas—has blocked out those dates has fueled speculation. If the semifinals do move south, it would be a major concession to Mexican fans who have long argued that the Leagues Cup's US-only format undermines the competitive integrity of the tournament.
For now, the quarterfinals will proceed as scheduled, with all matches on US soil. The chaotic energy of the Leagues Cup continues to deliver drama, but the home-field question remains a sore spot. As the tournament evolves, the hope is that the organizers listen to the fans who fill these stadiums—many of them traveling from México or part of the diaspora—and consider a more balanced approach.
Until then, Mexican clubs will keep fighting for glory in a competition that, for all its cross-border ambition, still feels a lot like an away game.
