May 24 – With one Champions League closing this weekend in Europe with the final between Real and Atletico Madrid in Milan, another one opens on Monday in the Americas with the draw for the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League in Miami.
The next CONCACAF Champions League will be the third under the title sponsorship of Scotiabank and the draw will feature 24 teams – two will finish qualification this weekend with play-offs in El Salvador and Guatemala.
Mexican teams have dominated the Champions League to date, winning it in each of its eight editions – current champions Club America have won the last two, while Monterray have won three times. MLS sides are taking an increasing interest and the upcoming competition will be an indicator of whether the top level of the club game in the US is improving. The US has only ever had one Champions League finalist – Real Salt Lake in the 2010/11 season.
Club America failed to qualify for one of the four Mexican places this time round, but will represent CONCACAF at this year’s Club World Cup in Japan as current champions.
The draw will see the 24 qualifying teams placed into eight groups of three, with the group stages to be played August to October. The championship round will begin in early 2017, with the winner representing CONCACAF in the 2017 Club World Cup.
The draw will be televised live on Univision Deportes Network in the US and streamed live worldwide on the Official CONCACAF Facebook Page.
Teams qualified for the draw are:
Pot 1: Police United FC (BLZ), Central F.C. (TRI), W Connection F.C. (TRI), Don Bosco FC (HAI), Real Estelí F.C. (NCA), C.D. Plaza Amador (PAN), Alianza F.C. (SLV), C.D. Dragón or C.D. Águila (SLV)
Pot 2: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN), Club Sport Herediano (CRC), Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), Antigua FC (GUA), C.S.D. Comunicaciones or C.D. Suchitepéquez (GUA), C.D. Honduras Progreso (HON), Club Deportivo Olimpia (HON), Deportivo Árabe Unido (PAN)
Pot 3: Pumas UNAM (MEX), Tigres UANL (MEX), CF Monterrey (MEX), CF Pachuca (MEX), Sporting Kansas City (USA), New York Red Bulls (USA), FC Dallas (USA), Portland Timbers (USA)
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