CARSON, Calif. – CONCACAF announced on Monday that the federation is embarking on a major overhaul to the CONCACAF Champions League which will see MLS teams enter from February through May and the elimination of the group stage in favor of a separate tournament.
The new edition of the tournament will begin in August and feature 31 teams with a home-and-away knockout round. From August to October, 16 teams from the Caribbean and Central America will face off in Phase 1, with the champion advancing to the 16-club Phase 2 that will include MLS and Liga MX sides.
Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls qualified as MLS’ representatives, while Toronto FC advanced to the tournament as the Canadian champion.
Phase 1 of the tournament will include two representatives from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, and Nicaragua, as well as one participant from Belize. Also included will be the runner-up, third, and fourth-place finishers from 2017 Caribbean Cup.
The champion of Phase 1 advances to the Champions League proper which will begin February 2018. The teams included in Phase 2 will be as follows: four teams each from MLS and Liga MX, the 2017 Caribbean Cup winner, Canadian Championship winner, and winners from leagues in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.
In Phase 2, the teams will be drawn into a home-and-away series for the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final with the winner advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup.
