On March 20, 2024, the National Women’s Soccer League, along with the Liga MX Femenil, jointly revealed the formation of a joint summer tournament named “Summer Cup” that will kick off on July 19. The tournament will be played during the NWSL’s regular season break for the 2024 Summer Olympics and international games. Additionally, it will feature all 14 NWSL teams along with six teams in la Liga MX Femenil with the most points achieved in the 2023 Apertura and Clausura tournaments, including Tigres UANL, Club América, Chivas de Guadalajara, Rayadas de Monterrey, Pachuca and Tijuana.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, along with Liga MX Femenil Director Mariana Gutierez, commented further on the program’s goal to grow women’s soccer in North America and worldwide.
“Today’s announcement marks a historic milestone for women’s soccer in North America and another significant step in the continued elevation of our global game,” stated Jessica Berman. “We’re excited to partner with LIGA MX Femenil to create additional competitive opportunities for our athletes, unlock new rivalries, tap into our collective fan bases and continue our shared mission of raising the value, visibility and global standard of our sport.”
“The alliance we are announcing today is a great achievement for women’s football in our region and around the world – two great women’s professional football leagues coming together to advance the sport in our area, expand and grow the industry, build a new sporting identity and rivalry, strengthen partnerships beyond the pitch, inspire more people to join the movement, build community and open up new opportunities for players to have new windows of internationalization,” claimed Mariana Gutierrez. “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.”
The tournament will be played in a format that includes 30 group stage games between five groups throughout 15 different stadiums in the USA. The groups are formatted so that four of them include three NWSL and one Liga MX Femenil Club, while one group will include the top two teams in the NWSL along with the top two teams in the Liga MX Femenil. The top four teams with the most points out of the five group winners will advance to the semifinal round where the No. 1 team will play No. 4 while No. 2 will play No. 3. The semifinal games will be played in the week of August 4. And, on the weekend of October 25-27, the final between the two semifinal winners will take place.
The Groups have been set with Group A including Portland Thorns FC, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals FC and Tijuana. Group B has Angel City FC, San Diego Wave FC, Bay FC and Club America. Group C has Kansas City Current, Houston Dash, Tigres UANL and Pachuca. Group D contains NJ/NY Gotham FC, Washington Spirit, Chicago Red Stars and Chivas de Guadalajara. Finally, Group E includes Orlando Pride, North Carolina Courage, Racing Louisville FC and Rayadas de Monterrey.
Broadcast details, specific playoff schedules including where they will be played and competition rules will be announced in the upcoming weeks.