Club competitions revolutionized
Concacaf has announced a new format for the Concacaf Champions League. The new competition format will kick off in the spring of 2024. The new competition format will feature 27 teams, with 22 teams entering in the first round and a further five entering at the round of 16 stage to join the 11 first-round winners. From 2023 onwards, three regional cup competitions will be played in the fall of each year and will qualify clubs into the Concacaf Champions League.
The 22 teams entering the first round will come from the following competitions:
The following five teams qualify for the competition directly:
- 1 x MLS Cup winner
- 1 x Leagues Cup winner
- 1 x Liga MX winner
- 1 x Central American Cup winner
- 1 x Caribbean Cup winner
“This will elevate clubs and leagues from Concacaf and provide even more compelling regional rivalries,” Concacaf president Victor Montagliani said. “It will also provide more international relevance to our club competitions, and a very competitive pathway as clubs strive to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup and succeed on the global stage.”
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Leagues Cup will see month-long competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs
Central America and the Caribbean will both create a new regional competition that will see teams qualify for the Champions League. In North America, the Leagues Cup will be significantly expanded. All Major League Soccer and Liga MX teams will take part in the competition. The tournament will take place over the course of a month with league play stopped in both leagues.
The winner, the runner-up, and the third-placed team will qualify for the Champions League. The Leagues Cup will also provide an additional pathway for Canadian MLS teams, which previously could only qualify via the Canadian Championship. Two Canadian Premier League teams will also directly qualify.
