Leagues Cup Matchday 1 kicks off Friday, July 26 with 5 games on Friday, 7 on Saturday and 3 more Sunday. In total all 47 teams from MLS and Liga MX will compete. Let’s get into the Leagues Cup predictions for Friday in a moment, but first give some info on the format of the tournament.
- MLS byes: Columbus (MLS Cup champs)
- LigaMX byes: Club America (most combined points across 2023 Clausura and Apertura)
All games will be played at MLS stadiums so there is a big home advantage. The top 2 from each group will advance.
- Regulation wins count as 3 points
- No ties!
- Each team will receive 1 point if the game is tied after 90 minutes
- The winner of the subsequent penalty shootout will earn an additional point
This was a great tournament to bet last year if you liked goals. With MLS hosting, every MLS team has a home advantage. But generally speaking, the calibre of LigaMX is still considered higher than MLS, maybe outside of some of your top MLS teams. Which in my opinion creates a more level playing field and saw a ton of scoring last season.
Leagues Cup Picks and Parlays #1
Atlanta United vs DC United Prediction
It you were picking a team to beat the Crew, who’ve only lost 3 times this season in any competition it likely would not have been Atlanta who were winless in 5 games, but they topped the champs 2-1 at the Benz last weekend.
The Five Stripes have scored 2 goals in back-to-back games and at least 1 in 11/12 in all comps. But they’ve given up a goal in 12/13 in all comps and multiple in 4/6.
It’s a similar story for DC who had been winless in 11 games before 2-1 and 3-2 wins in recent games. Still, it’s not since March 30 has DC kept a clean sheet, a run of 19 games.
This season Atlanta won 1-0 in DC back in June. Previous scorelines have been 3-2, 1-1, 3-1 and 3-2. BTTS is 7-2 in the past 9 meetings.
I see that happening again here. DC can’t keep clean sheet, but with Christian Benteke, 2nd in league scoring with 16 goals, they’re always capable of getting on the scoresheet.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Both Teams to Score
Orlando City vs CF Montreal Prediction
Oscar Pareja has the Lions rolling at 5-2-1 in their past 8. They’d won 4 straight before drawing NYCFC 1-1 last round. In this stretch they’ve outscored opponents 22-11. They’re piling up the goals but BTTS is still 7-2 in their past 9.
Montreal were kept off the scoresheet at home to TFC in their last game despite Josef Martinez having a great chance to equalize near the end.
MTL had a 2-2 draw, 1-0 win and 1-1 draw before the TFC game and have only lost 3 times in 12, but they also only have 3 wins in 12 and 3 wins in 20 in all comps.
It was a 2-2 draw in April and a 0-0 draw in February. That extends a run of 7 games where the home team is undefeated.
Orlando to win or maybe BTTS for a straight bet or Over 1.5 in this parlay.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Over 1.5
Pumas UNAM vs Austin Prediction
These teams have never met.
It’s been a strong start in the Apertura for Pumas at 3-1-0, sitting 2nd, but tied overall in 1st with Cruz Azul and Tigres on 10 points.
They’ve scored 9 and conceded just 3 in their 4 games.
Go back further and Pumas has just 1 loss in 12 games. They’ve scored in 9/11, scored multiple in 4/5, conceded in 5/6 and BTTS is 4-1.
It’s not been a good season for Austin who are 10th in MLS. They’re home form of 6-4-3 may give them a bit of a boost here but they’ve still conceded 19 goals in 13 home games including 2, vs Charlotte last round drawing 2-2.
The Verde have only 2 wins in 11 and have conceded in 11/12.
With games vs Pumas and Monterrey, their stay in Leagues Cup could be brief.
Being at home Austin could get on the scoresheet so maybe BTTS is an option, but they’ve been poor and some sort of play on Pumas looks like a better bet.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Pumas to score
- Parlay Picks: ATL vs DC btts / ORL vs MTL over 1.5 / PUM to score (+120)
Leagues Cup Picks and Parlays #2
Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United Prediction
Seattle won 2-0 at home in June and they are now 5-1-0 undefeated in 6 vs Minnesota and 12-2-1 all-time.
The way these teams are playing right now it could be 13 wins for the Sounders after this.
Seattle got pumped 3-0 at home to LAFC in their last game but had won 6 straight outscoring opponents 12-4 in that time in the games prior. Further back they have just 3 losses in 19.
Meanwhile, Minnesota snapped a run of 9 winless games, by beating Wooden Spoon leaders San Jose 2-0 last weekend. That’s nothing to get excited about. They should go back to the L Column here. The Loons had given up multiple goals in 6 of their previous 8 before the SJ game.
If I’m picking a winner, it’s Seattle, or to simply improve the odds in my next pick, simply Seattle to score.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: Seattle to score
LAFC vs Club Tijuana Prediction
Tijuana sits mid-pack in Mexico at 2-1-1 at this early stage with scores of 2-1 and 4-2 wins, a 3-0 loss and a 1-1 draw with Atletico San Luis in their most recent game. So it’s a good start under new manager Juan Carlos Osorio.
Domingo Blanco and Raul Zuniga lead the team with 2 goals each and MLS fans will remember Emanuel Reynoso from Minnesota who’s now playing with Xolos.
Current form this season and to end last season looks good at 4-1-2. But before that time they were winless in 15 games. And these 4 wins of late have been vs Juarez, Puebla, Queretaro and Chivas. Only Chivas could be considered a top-half team.
LAFC is not only a top-half team but probably one of the top 3 teams in MLS.
A 5-1 loss to the MLS Cup champs Columbus 3 games back is their only defeat in 16. They just dismantled Seattle 3-0 on the road last weekend and are 13-2-1 in those last 16 games.
It’s a home game for LAFC but Tijuana is only 150 miles south so will be well supported in the crowd as well.
Olivier Giroud is unlikely to debut for LAFC yet having just finished the Euros but LAFC are one of the top teams on the continent right now and are in great form with Denis Bouanga and Mateusz Bogusz combining for 29 goals (16/13) already.
These teams have never met.
The line is moving on LAFC from -125 to -154 at Bet365 and I agree. They should win here.
- Leagues Cup Predictions: LAFC win
- Parlay Picks: SEA to score / LAFC to win (-118)
Looking for more Leagues Cup Matchday 1 picks? Check out the weekend preview here!
Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
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