The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Is Set!
The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup path is set! On Wednesday, December 13th all of the qualified MLS clubs for next season’s CONCACAF Champions Cup competitions learned their matchup and path to taking home the top prize of the region.
Starting on February 6th of 2024, the new format of the top international tournament in CONCACAF begins. This new format included expanded qualifying tournaments, ways to qualify, and more teams making the competition. MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew, Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami CF, Liga MX champions CF Pachuca, Central American Cup champions L.D. Alajuelense, and Caribbean Cup champions SV Robinhood all get immediate byes for Round 1 of this tournament and qualify for the Round of 16 immediately.
Eight other MLS sides have made the 2024 tournament and will begin in the 1st round. The Philadelphia Union will take on Deportivo Saprissa who qualified via the Central American Cup play-in game. The New England Revolution will face CA Independiente who qualified as Central American Cup semi-finalists. The Houston Dynamo will take on St. Louis City SC in the lone MLS vs MLS matchup of the first round. The Vancouver Whitecaps will play against Liga MX side Tigres who qualified as Liga MX Clausura champions with the lower aggregate table points. Orlando City will face Cavalry FC who qualified as Canadian Premier League regular season champions. FC Cincinnati take on Cavalier FC as Caribbean Cup runners-up. And finally, Nashville SC will take on Moca FC after they qualified via the 3rd place spot in the Caribbean Cup. When I look at these matchups, obviously my eye immediately heads to two competitions; Houston Dynamo vs St. Louis City and Vancouver Whitecaps vs Tigres. These seem like two of the most difficult matchups in the 1st round of this competition.
Overall, the Philadelphia Union and New England Revolution seem to have gotten the bad end of the stick during the draw. Both of these Eastern Conference clubs are on the same side as four Liga MX clubs (Pachuca, Toluca, Club America, and Chivas Guadalajara). On the other side of the bracket the remaining eight MLS clubs only have the possibility of facing two Liga MX clubs (Tigres and Monterrey) on their way to a final appearance.
All Round 1 games are going to be two legged matchups, giving each club an opportunity to host a game. With any regional competition, the excitement is always there! Who is going to step up? Who is going to be upset? And ultimately, who is going to take home the gold?
