ORLANDO, Fla. (July 25, 2024) — With the Paris 2024 Olympics underway, the National Women's Soccer League will take a break from regular season play to host an international tournament, featuring clubs from Mexico's Liga MX. The Pride started the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup last weekend on the road and will host their first home game of the tournament this Saturday.
Ahead of the Pride's matches at Inter&Co Stadium, here's a look at the Summer Cup tournament, including format, rule changes and a glimpse at each opponent:
Tournament Format
- Debuts this season as a brand new tournament. This is not the Challenge Cup.
- The 2024 Challenge Cup was one match between the Shield and NWSL Championship winners.
- This is a groundbreaking collaboration between the two leagues, the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil.
- The six LIGA MX Femenil teams with the most points in 2023 qualified for this tournament.
Group Stage
- 5 groups of four teams
- Pride are in Group E with NWSL sides North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville along with LIGA MX Femenil team C.F. Monterrey
- A total of 30 matches will make up the Group Stage, with each team playing three games in group play.
Knockout Rounds
- The semifinals will be comprised of the top four (4) clubs from the five (5) group winners (i.e., Clubs must first win their group to qualify).
- In the event two (2) or more Clubs are even on points, tiebreakers will be employed to determine standings.
- Will be hosted on August 6 at CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, in Kansas City, Missouri.
What's at Stake
The first-ever NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup champions will be crowned on Friday, Oct. 25 in San Antonio.
Rule Changes of Note
- VAR will not be used in the Summer Cup.
- If a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it will go directly to a penalty kick shootout.
- The winner of the shootout gets 2 points while the loser gets 1 point.
Group Stage Match Dates
Sat. July 20 at North Carolina (D, 1-1 / 4-5 PKs)
Sat., July 24 vs. Monterrey (Inter&Co Stadium)
Thur., Aug. 1 vs. Louisville (Inter&Co Stadium)
About Group Opponents
North Carolina Courage
Head Coach: Sean Nahas
- NWSL team
- The Pride have played them twice in regular season this year, a 4-1 win at home on May 1 and 0-0 draw at WakeMed Soccer Park on June 15.
- Orlando was the first team this year to earn a point in the regular season at WakeMed Soccer Park.
- Honors:
- 2018 and 2019 NWSL Champions
- 2022 and 2023 Challenge Cup winner
C.F. Monterrey
Head Coach: Amelia Valverde
- Liga MX Femenil team
- Based in Guadalupe, Nuevo León
- Women's section of C.F. Monterrey since 2016
- Nicknames: Rayadas or Rayadas de Monterrey
- Honors:
- Have won Liga MX Femenil three times, most recently in 2023/24.
- Fun Fact:
- Former Pride player Christina Burkenroad is on their roster
- Burkenroad was selected No. 15 overall in the 2016 NWSL Draft and played with the Pride all of 2016 and half of 2017.
- In 2022 Apertura, she was second in the league in scoring with 16 goals.
Racing Louisville FC
Head Coach: Bev Yanez
- NWSL team
- Orlando has played them twice in regular season this year, a 2-2 draw on road (Season Opener; March 16) and 1-0 win at home (May 5)
