Are NWSL and LIGA MX F Merging? Summer Cup Announcement Heralded as Initial Step in Experimental Integration

This year promises to be transformative for women’s soccer, particularly within the NWSL. From the historic $240 million media rights deal to the unveiling of the first women’s club stadium, the landscape is evolving rapidly. Days ago, another groundbreaking development unfolded with the announcement of the NWSL x Liga MX F Summer Cup. While initially perceived as just another competition, journalist Fernando Cevallos suggests that stakeholders are actually ‘exploring the possibility of merging’ both leagues. 

Speaking on FOX Sports MX alongside the panel of Monica Arredondo, Paulina Chavira, and Fernanda Cortez, Cevallos candidly discussed the true intentions of the Summer Cup. “I knew that part of this tournament is also like an experiment, a test field to start exploring the possibility of merging the two leagues in the future,” he said. 

The commentator referenced a scenario in which over 6–8 top teams from the MX league, who wish to ‘support, promote,’ and are interested in women’s soccer, could be combined with 14–16 teams from the North American league to create a highly ‘competitive league‘ comprising 20 or 22 teams. This assertion from Cevallos is bound to spark numerous debates among soccer fans. Hypothetically, even if we consider for a moment that it could be an experiment to merge both leagues, will it ultimately prove to be a successful strategy?

Strikingly, it is a typical occurrence in men’s soccer, not the rarest one. To this day, a few Welsh clubs are competing in England’s Premier League. Subsequently, merging the USA and Mexico’s women’s domestic sides does sound intriguing as it would make the contest more compelling and competitive. Yet, for now, this is merely a hypothesis, as a clearer understanding of the Summer Cup may contradict Cevallos’ assertions.

Everything to know about the Summer Cup ft. NWSL and Liga MX F

The 33-match tournament begins on July 19th and concludes its Group Stage on August 2nd, with the semi-finals scheduled for the week of August 4th. The final is expected to be held around October 25–27. It includes all 14 NWSL teams and 6 Liga MX Femenil teams, such as Pachuca, Tigres UANL, Club América, Tijuana, Chivas, and Monterrey, which excelled in the 2023 Apertura and Clausura tournaments.

Featuring 5 groups of 4 teams each, only 4 teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. Groups are structured with combinations of 3 NWSL and 1 Liga MX F team, with Group C being the only one with two teams from each league. In the semi-finals, the top-ranked team faces the 4th best, while the 2nd and 3rd best teams compete against each other. Meanwhile, details regarding broadcasting, venues, and prize money are yet to be revealed. 

In short, this is certainly a game-changing tournament. However, to consider that it is a trial for the beginning of something unique, we might have to wait for that.

READ MORE: Which NWSL Teams Will Play in the Concacaf W Champions Cup? Exploring Key Details of the Region’s First Women’s Club Competition