Vying For Regional Supremacy – What Is Concacaf Champions Cup?
Concacaf Champions Cup (formerly Concacaf Champions League) is an international competition featuring the top clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The top teams from around the continent qualify for the tournament by winning or finishing near the top of their domestic leagues and cup competitions, or through regional qualifying competitions like the Concacaf Central American Cup and Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
In all, 230 teams from all across North America compete for the right to play in Concacaf Champions Cup. The 27-team field for Concacaf Champions Cup 2026 features nine MLS clubs, including LAFC. There are 18 clubs representing other leagues.
Survive And Advance – How The Tournament Works
Concacaf Champions Cup has a direct elimination knockout stage format and contains five rounds: Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. The first four stages include home and away play, while the Final is a single-leg match.
In each round, two teams face one another in a home-and-away knockout format. The team with the most combined goals at the end of both legs advances. If teams finish both legs with the same number of goals, the team with the most away goals in the round advances. In the final, a penalty shootout determines the winner if both teams are level at the end of extra time.
Ultimately, the tournament’s winner will face the champions of the world’s other five confederations, including the UEFA Champions League winner, in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is played every four years.