Vying For Regional Supremacy – What Is The Concacaf Champions League
The 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 international tournament by winning their domestic leagues and cup competitions or via regional qualifying competitions like the Concacaf League.
In all, 230 teams from all across North America compete for the right to play in the Concacaf Champions League. Just the top 16 teams qualify for the CCL draw on December 9 in Mexico City.
At the draw, the 16 teams are arranged in head-to-head matchups in a bracket-style competition that begins with the Round of 16.
Survive And Advance – How The Tournament Works
The Concacaf Champions League consists of four rounds starting with the Round of 16.
In each round, two teams face each other 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 on aggregate score and away goals at the end of both matches.
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 World Club Cup.
Be The First – The History Of MLS Teams In The Competition
The Concacaf Champions League has been an obsession of MLS teams since its formation in 2008.
Four MLS sides, including LAFC, have reached the final of the tournament, but all failed at the hands of Liga MX opponents.
MLS’ neighbors to the south have dominated the tournament. A side from Liga MX has won the past 12 tournaments. And thus, Mexico has been the Concacaf region’s representative at the FIFA Club World Cup 12 years running.