The first League Cup between MLS and Liga MX clubs, starting this summer, will feature a Video Assistant Referee (VAR), allowing Mexican clubs to determine the number of foreign players on their tournament rosters has acquired. According to a letter sent to all Liga MX clubs athleticThis document details important information for Mexican participants in the competition, which will be held only in the United States and Canada from July 21st to August 19th.
According to the documents, referees for the tournament will come from the Mexican Federation (FMF), the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) of the United States and Canada, and CONCACAF.
After CONCACAF introduced VAR in the 2021 Men’s Nations League Final, the federation will begin using VAR in multiple competitions in 2022. Liga MX has been using VAR since 2018. The league introduced a semi-automated offside technique in January of this year. MLS in 2017 he introduced VAR.
Liga MX teams were informed that they could register between 26 and 30 players for the tournament, with a maximum of 23 players selected for each match day. However, the Mexican side can choose as many foreign players as they like for the League Cup. This is an interesting tournament wrinkle.
Liga MX has strict rules that limit the number of international contracts in Mexico. In January, league president Mikel Ariola reduced the number of foreign players allowed on each roster from 10 to nine. A maximum of 7 foreign players are allowed as part of a club’s starting XI.
After being eliminated from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Liga MX made it a priority to give Mexican-born players and academy prospects more first-division opportunities. But for the League Cup, the Mexican side can field the most competitive team to win the competition.
Liga MX technical staff must be limited to 9 people on matchdays and a Liga MX team delegation cannot exceed 45 people. According to the guidance document, each Liga MX club will receive $45,000 to cover travel expenses for the first group stage match of the tournament. The document states that teams must provide receipts for all expenses incurred.
Teams must also arrive two days before the season opener. The document emphasizes that a visa application to Canada is required and must be sent to the Liga MX office to “accelerate the process”.
Additionally, each Liga MX player must use the same jersey number they use in league matches, and once the player registration period ends, teams can substitute up to three players for the quarter-final phase of the tournament. increase.
In preparation for the League Cup, participating clubs can schedule friendly matches against international opponents in the United States and Canada until 29 June. These matches must take place within a 100 mile radius of the Group Stage host city. Friendly matches are available until 20 July in the club’s home country. The tournament will begin on his July 21st, with the finals scheduled for his August 19th.
The document described many of the details of the tournament that had already been made public, including the World Cup-style format of the competition and the fact that all matches would be played in the United States and Canada. Adidas match balls were also confirmed to be used, which may or may not give MLS clubs a slight advantage. Voit is the official match ball of Liga MX and the partnership between Adidas and MLS dates back to his 1996 launch of the league. The CONCACAF Champions League uses Nike balls.
According to the approved tournament format, MLS clubs host their respective Liga MX teams, but when two Mexican teams face each other in the knockout rounds, the League Cup will determine the venue among selected city groups. increase. At the League Cup in March, the cities that will host Neutral Site games were announced.
West: BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, CA), Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, CA), America First Field (Salt Lake City, UT), PayPal Park (San Jose, CA).
Central: SeatGeek Stadium (Bridgeview, IL), Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX), DICK’S Sporting Goods Park (Commerce City, CO), Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, TX).
South: Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX), Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX), Exploria Stadium (Orlando, FL).
east: Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ), Subaru Park (Chester, PA), Audi Field (Washington, DC).
Venues are selected before the knockout rounds begin, which is a smart commercial decision. Remaining flexible allows CONCACAF to choose the right market depending on the Liga MX to Liga MX matchup. According to the documents, an undisclosed percentage of the tickets will be allocated to Liga MX club supporters.
All games will air on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, Univision, UniMás and TUDN will air 21 League Cup games on TSN in the US, and RDS will televise the tournament in Canada.
No kick-off time has been announced. “The game schedule was not published with (kick-off) times as television outlets in Mexico, the United States and Canada were being evaluated,” the document said.
Finally, League Cup matches will follow concussion protocol and each match will have an ‘onsite doctor’. Liga MX clubs must travel with a staff doctor, an international health insurance policy and a portable defibrillator.
A Disciplinary Commission consisting of individuals from CONCACAF, MLS and Liga MX will be established. The documents state that the prize money for matches played, won, or when the club advances through the tournament stages has not been determined.
(Photo: Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
