Leagues Cup and Liga MX vs. MLS: A Q&A With Former Chivas Manager Óscar García Junyent | OneFootball

With a playing and coaching career that has spanned multiple decades and continents, Óscar Garciá Junyent provides insight into the growth of the Leagues Cup, and the increasingly intertwined fates between Liga MX and MLS.

As the fifth edition of Leagues Cup is set to kick off, Major League Soccer and Liga MX are once again headed on a collision course, with a trophy, three coveted CONCACAF Champions Cup spots, and perhaps most importantly, bragging rights all up for grabs.

Now in the third year of its expanded format, the tournament has not been without controversy. Fans remain divided over the Leagues Cup, with some embracing the cross-border competition, while others criticizing its structure and purpose.

In response, organizers have made several changes to enhance the tournament’s appeal, most notably reducing the number of participating teams from 47 to 36. All 18 Liga MX teams will participate once again, but instead of the entire MLS slate of clubs, the 18 sides that reached the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs qualified for the 2025 Leagues Cup. The only exception is expansion side San Diego FC, who replaces the Vancouver Whitecaps, as they are already in two other cup competitions this season.

MLS clubs have won the last two titles, with Inter Miami CF lifting the trophy in 2023 and the Columbus Crew following suit in 2024. These back-to-back triumphs have fueled belief among fans that the skill gap between the leagues is narrowing, despite significant differences in player salaries. It raises questions: When will the most famous and storied Mexican teams like Club América or Chivas claim this trophy? Why is MLS now matching up toe-to-toe with clubs that have deeper pockets and tens of thousands of fans, sometimes outselling the home team in this tournament?

To take a deeper dive into Leagues Cup and one of its most historic participants, I sat down for an interview in Spanish with former Chivas de Guadalajara head coach Óscar García Junyent.

Oscar Garcia Junyent during his Chivas managerial tenure. (Photo by Simon Barber/Getty Images)

García was brought into the Chivas fold ahead of the 2025 season, though his time at the helm was short as he and the club parted ways in March after 11 matches. The Barcelona native saw stints at FC Barcelona, Valencia, Espanyol, and Lleda as a player, and has had a well-traveled managerial career that has included stops at Brighton and Hove Albion, Red Bull Salzburg, Saint-Etienne, and Celta Vigo.

Though García’s time with Chivas ended before a Leagues Cup campaign, he provided valuable insight into what makes the club a unique and storied presence in international competition.

Interview originally in Spanish, translated to English.

Urban Pitch: What are your thoughts about Leagues Cup, and did Chivas put pressure on you as the head coach to win this tournament?

Óscar García Junyent: I thought it was a very interesting competition because we’re also going to CONCACAF, but getting the chance to play against teams from another country is a big motivation. For the players, it changes the mindset a bit — it’s not just about facing Mexican teams. And of course, when you’re at Chivas, there’s always the pressure of wanting to win every match or feeling like you have to win every match.

As Leagues Cup continues to bridge the gap between MLS and Liga MX, cross-league transfers have started to rise. Players like Cade Cowell, Mateusz Bogusz, Brandon Vázquez, and Chicho Arango have all gone back and forth between the two leagues. With more opportunities to assess talent firsthand, it’s not a stretch to say this trend will continue.

Chivas, of course, operates under a unique transfer policy — signing only Mexican players. With all this in mind, I wanted to get insight into the club’s strategy when looking north of the border for talent.

Cade Cowell is one of the more notable MLS-to-Liga-MX transfers in recent years. (Simon Barber/Getty Images)

Would you look for a transfer in MLS?

Well, we always kept an eye on MLS. When you’re at Chivas, you have to focus only on Mexican players, but if there was a really interesting Mexican player in MLS, then yes, you’d look there to find talent. On a technical level, CONCACAF has players who are very skilled, and some could even play in Europe — in fact, some already are.

Where do you think MLS currently stands compared to Liga MX, and do you think CONCACAF teams took the Club World Cup seriously?

I don’t think MLS is that far behind Liga MX. It’s true that the Mexican league has been able to sign some very good European players. People who follow Liga MX know it’s a league with a high level of quality. But I believe MLS is taking steps to get closer and closer to the best leagues in the world. I think in the Club World Cup, the [CONCACAF] teams took it seriously, Monterrey [and Miami] went pretty far in the tournament, it’s just the level of quality is a different one.

How soon will we see you back on the sidelines? Is there a chance you’ll be coaching in the Leagues Cup soon?

Well, I’m waiting for a good opportunity. I’m not going to coach just to coach. I was offered some interesting projects, but I ended up believing it wasn’t the perfect fit.

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While García may not have had the chance to manage in Leagues Cup just yet, his perspective underscores the tournament’s growing strategic value within Liga MX — particularly when it comes to transfers and evaluating talent. Whether it’s scouting players, chasing silverware, or highlighting the region’s growth on a global stage, it’s clear that Leagues Cup is becoming more than just a summer showcase; it’s a legitimate proving ground for North America’s best.

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