By Mariana Smithfield
NEW YORK AND MEXICO CITY – Leagues Cup, the first in-season club tournament in North America across all men’s professional sports, announced an investment for the 2024 competition, with the implementation of virtual offside line technology during the second edition of the official club competition between all Major League Soccer (MLS) and LIGA MX clubs. The month-long tournament will unfold from July 26 to August 25, 2024.
Leagues Cup also announced sports technology leader Sportec Solutions (STS) will provide the Virtual Offside Line in all the venues in use for Leagues Cup. Sportec Solutions via View technology is one of only two providers in the world to hold a FIFA Quality Pro certification
Additionally, utilizing its state-of-the-art operations center in Arlington, Texas, STS, the Video assistant referee (VAR) technology provider for Major League Soccer, will implement its FIFA-approved VAR technology for the second edition of the tournament. The system works by drawing each virtual line considering camera distortion and the exact field’s surface providing an accurate result for a virtual offside line.
Moreover, the participating referees will begin Leagues Cup workshop next week in Dallas, Texas in preparation for the start of the tournament next Friday, July 26.
Leagues Cup 2024 will decide three qualifiers for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup in which the winner will represent the region at the FIFA Club World Cup. This innovative club tournament has redefined soccer tournament competition, showcasing the best talent in North America and the intensity of the competition.
Ticket Information
Tickets for all matches – including LIGA MX hub venues – are available on LeaguesCup.com and are also available to fans via the hosting MLS club, if applicable. MLS club season ticket holders should contact their club representative for more information or visit LeaguesCup.com and follow @LeaguesCup on social. For every ticket purchased, two meals will be donated as part of the United Against Hunger program. Click here to find out more about United Against Hunger.
About Leagues Cup
Leagues Cup represents a monumental new chapter for North American soccer. Since 2023, Major League Soccer and LIGA MX pause their regular seasons each summer, allowing all 47 first division professional clubs in both leagues to compete in the World Cup-style, official Concacaf sanctioned tournament, which will qualify the top three finishers for the Concacaf Champions Cup. In 2023, MLS’ Inter Miami CF became the first-ever Leagues Cup champion.
Leagues Cup 2024 will kick off Friday, July 26, and will feature 77 games hosted at stadiums throughout the U.S. and Canada, with the Final taking place on Sunday, August 25. Fans in over 100 countries and regions will be able to watch Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. MLS Season Pass is available on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. Fans can also access MLS Season Pass from the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro, where they can watch games alongside other apps in their physical space; within an Environment, so the screen feels 100 feet wide; and in Spatial Audio for an even more immersive viewing experience. In addition, TelevisaUnivision, FOX Sports, TSN, and RDS will be the linear broadcast home for select Leagues Cup matches.
COURTESY LEAGUES CUP COMMUNICATIONS
