Played during the Olympic break, the exciting new tournament kicked off on 19 July.
With the first two matches played last night, the inaugural Summer Cup sees all 14 NWSL teams and the top six Liga MX Femenil teams compete for a trophy. The historic tournament is the first to be played between the US and Mexican leagues.
The Cup commenced with two exciting matches: Seattle Reign defeated Utah Royals 2-1, and Tigres Femenil triumphed over Pachuca Femenil with a 4-2 victory. These opening games set the stage for a competitive tournament that promises to showcase top talent from both leagues.
In a press release announcing the tournament, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said: “We’re excited to partner with LIGA MX Femenil to create additional competitive opportunities for our athletes, unlock new rivalries, tap into our collective fanbases and continue our shared mission of raising the value, visibility and global standard of our sport.”
Teams are placed in five groups of four, and each team will play three group stage matches between 19 July and 2 August. Every group has a mixture of teams from the two leagues.
However, not every group winner will advance. Only the top four teams with the most points will move on to the semifinals, played on August 6 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The final game will not take place until months later, on October 25 in San Antonio, Texas.
Previously, there have been few opportunities for international competition between teams in North America. The Summer Cup represents an exciting change to that, as does the W Champion’s Cup, which kicks off this August and features top teams from across the CONCACAF federation.
LIGA MX Femenil Director Mariana Gutierrez said: “LIGA MX Femenil is proud and privileged to work together with the NWSL. Let us celebrate that this is a historic moment for women and sport.”
Viewers can livestream matches on Paramount+, with 11 matches additionally airing on CBS Sports Golazo Network, and 12 airing on CBS Sports Network.
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