The Summer Cup 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most important events on the women’s sports calendar this year. This tournament, which brings together women’s teams from Mexico and the United States, arguably the two strongest leagues in the Americas, will be played for the first time in its history.
Summer Cup 2024: Tournament Format
The Summer Cup 2024 will feature an innovative format that seeks to maximize competitiveness and entertainment for fans. A total of 20 teams will participate: 14 teams from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and six from Liga MX Femenil, which are the six best-positioned teams in the 2023 Mexican league annual table (Apertura + Clausura). These six clubs are: Tigres, América, Chivas, Rayadas, Pachuca, and Xolas.
The teams will be divided into five groups of four, with at least one Mexican in each group. Each will face their three group rivals, and among the five group winners, the four with the best scores will advance to the semifinals. In other words, winning your group does not guarantee a place in the next phase.
The semifinals will be paired by points, so the team with the most points will face the one with the least. Both the semifinals and the final will have extra time in the event of a tie and then penalties if the draw persists.
Almost all matches will be in the United States, except for Tigres vs. Pachuca, as they share a group.
Participating teams
Group A
Portland Thorns FC
Seattle Reign FC
Utah Royals FC
Xolas
Group B
Angel City FC
San Diego Wave FC
Bay FC
América
Group C
Kansas City Current
Houston Dash
Tigres UANL
Pachuca
Group D
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Washington Spirit
Chicago Red Stars
Chivas
Group E
Orlando Pride
North Carolina Courage
Racing Louisville FC
Rayadas
Featured Teams
Among the most prominent teams that will participate in the Summer Cup 2024, we mention Tigres UANL, Rayadas, and América from Mexico, as well as Portland Thorns and NJ/NY Gotham FC from the United States. These teams have not only demonstrated excellence in their respective leagues but also have large fan bases.
Tigres UANL has dominated the Liga MX Femenil in recent years, with a roster that combines young talent with the experience of veteran and international players, such as Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso, who has extensive experience playing for the best clubs in Europe, winning many titles such as the Women’s World Cup and the Champions League with Barcelona, among others. In the last league, they were the best team in the first phase but lost in the semifinals. They have six of the 13 Mexican leagues, having reached the final on three other occasions.
Monterrey’s other team, the Rayadas, are coming from being champions of the Mexican league, defeating América on penalties. They were reinforced with one of the best players of the Águilas, Katty Martínez, a great striker who will surely get along very well with the South African Jermaine Seoposenwe, and the new signing, the Spaniard Lucía García, who arrives from Manchester United.
América, meanwhile, has shown steady growth and is coming off a runner-up finish. They have also been in the last four Mexican league finals, although they only managed to win one. Although they lost their star player, Katty Martínez, they brought back Scarlett Camberos to replace her and signed Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Paños.
As for the U.S. teams, the Portland Thorns are known for their defensive solidity and ability to control the midfield. Sophia Smith, one of their most outstanding players, is a versatile young forward who can unbalance any defense. She has 10 goals and seven assists in 14 games this season, as well as being a regular for the U.S. National Team where she has five goals in 2024. To top it off, they have the most titles in their country (3).
The NJ/NY Gotham FC side, formerly known as Jersey Sky Blue and Sky Blue FC, are the current champions of the US league, defeating OL Reign 2-1 in the final. International players include German goalkeeper Ann Katrin Berger and Spanish striker Esther Gonzalez.
Dates and Venues
The tournament will begin on July 19, and its group stage will last until August 2, taking advantage of the recess in the U.S. league due to the Olympic Games. The semifinals will be played on August 6, while the final is planned for October 25.
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