Atlanta, get ready! Atlanta United is gearing up for a summer showdown in the 2025 Leagues Cup, where they’ll go head-to-head with the best of MLS and Liga MX. But while the Five Stripes will be bringing their firepower to this high-intensity competition, they won’t be taking part in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Leagues Cup Showdown Awaits The 2025 Leagues Cup will feature 18 teams—nine from each conference—going toe-to-toe with Liga MX clubs in a battle for continental bragging rights. Atlanta United earned its spot by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference during the 2024 regular season. The tournament runs from July 29 to August 31, overlapping with four of Atlanta’s MLS regular-season matches.
Joining Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference lineup are some familiar foes: Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, CF Montréal, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, and defending Leagues Cup champions Columbus Crew. Expect plenty of fireworks as the Five Stripes take on top-tier opposition!
No U.S. Open Cup Run for 2025 For the first time since 2022, Atlanta United won’t be competing in the U.S. Open Cup—a tournament they famously conquered in 2019. Due to changes in MLS qualification rules, only 16 MLS teams will take part in the Open Cup next year, and since Atlanta is already in Leagues Cup, they won’t be eligible.
Here’s how U.S. Open Cup qualification was determined:
- Only U.S.-based clubs could qualify.
- MLS teams not playing in Leagues Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup automatically qualified.
- The final spots were awarded based on Supporters’ Shield standings, excluding clubs already set for Concacaf Champions Cup.
That means nine MLS teams got in automatically, while seven earned spots based on performance—but Atlanta didn’t make the cut. That leaves the Five Stripes out of the nation’s oldest soccer tournament for 2025.
Why the Shake-Up? The reason for the new structure? Two massive global tournaments are set to hit the U.S. in back-to-back years. In 2025, the FIFA Club World Cup will take center stage, while in 2026, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the FIFA World Cup. With such a packed soccer calendar, MLS adjusted its tournament participation structure to help teams manage their workload.
The qualification process will be re-evaluated for 2026, meaning Atlanta United could make its return to the Open Cup next year. For now, all eyes are on Leagues Cup, where the Five Stripes will look to make their mark against the best North America has to offer!
Stay tuned, Atlanta! The road to Leagues Cup glory begins this summer!
