International football competition
The 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup was the 59th season of the North, Central America, and the Caribbean's premier club football tournament organized by CONCACAF, and the first since it was rebranded as the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This was the first season under a new format featuring 27 teams and a five-round knockout phase.
As winners of the final, Pachuca qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States alongside the 2021 winners Monterrey, the 2022 winners Seattle Sounders FC, and the 2023 winners León.[1][2] The winner also qualified for the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup to be held in December.[3]
Qualification
Twenty-seven teams qualified for the tournament, with five of them earning direct qualification to the round of 16. The remaining twenty-two teams entered in round one.
In addition to national league competitions in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, 12 of 27 berths were determined by international competitions, including the revamped North American zonal competition, the 2023 Leagues Cup (three), and the existing regional or zonal championships in the Caribbean and Central America, the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup (three) and CONCACAF Central American Cup (six), respectively.[4]
Unlike in previous years, the three MLS teams based in Canada were eligible to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup through slots allocated to MLS (five), in addition to the slot for the Canadian Championship winners, while two Canadian Premier League teams qualified automatically for the first time. The United States-only 2023 U.S. Open Cup knockout competition and the Canada-only equivalent, the 2023 Canadian Championship, provided one berth each.
The winners of the three zonal championships, along with the winner of MLS Cup 2023 and the highest-scored champion from the 2022–23 Liga MX season, received the five byes into the round of 16.[4][5][6]
Location of teams of the
2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup
North American Zone
Central American Zone
Caribbean Zone
Distribution
A total of 27 teams (from 10 associations) qualified for the tournament.[6]
Five teams received a bye into the round of 16.
- The champion of the regional competitions for each of CONCACAF's constituent zones; North American, Central American and Caribbean
- The champions of Liga MX of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada (Liga MX had a split Clausura and Apertura system, so the champion team with the higher aggregate points took this place.)
The remaining 22 teams entered in round one.
Teams
The following table includes the number of appearances, last appearance, and previous best from the CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament.
Draw
The draw for the tournament was held on 13 December 2023. Teams were seeded based on their CONCACAF club ranking as of 11 December 2023. This ranking formula replaced the CONCACAF club index which was used in past editions.[7] Eight teams – the five receiving byes and the top-three ranked teams entering in the first round – were directly assigned positions in the bracket based on their club ranking. The remaining nineteen teams were divided into two pots and then randomly drawn into positions.[8]
Entering in the round of 16
Entering in round one
Schedule
The competition was scheduled as follows.[8]
Times are EST or EDT,[note 1] as listed by CONCACAF (local times, if different, are in parentheses).
Bracket
Round one
Summary
The first legs were played on 6 and 7 February and 20, 21, and 22 February, and the second legs were played on 13, 14, and 15 February and 27, 28, and 29 February 2024.
Matches
Philadelphia Union won 6–5 on aggregate.
4–4 on aggregate. Herediano won on away goals.
América won 3–2 on aggregate.
Guadalajara won 5–2 on aggregate.
New England Revolution won 4–0 on aggregate.
2–2 on aggregate. Houston Dynamo FC won on away goals.
UANL won 4–1 on aggregate.
Orlando City SC won 6–1 on aggregate.
Monterrey won 7–1 on aggregate.
FC Cincinnati won 6–0 on aggregate.
Nashville SC won 7–0 on aggregate.
Round of 16
Summary
The first legs were played on 5, 6, and 7 March, and the second legs were played on 12, 13, and 14 March 2024.
Matches
Pachuca won 6–0 on aggregate.
Herediano won 3–1 on aggregate.
América won 5–3 on aggregate.
New England Revolution won 5–1 on aggregate.
Columbus Crew won 2–1 on aggregate.
UANL won 4–2 on aggregate.
Monterrey won 3–1 on aggregate.
Inter Miami CF won 5–3 on aggregate.
Quarter-finals
In the quarter-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:
- QF1: Winner R16-1 vs. Winner R16-2
- QF2: Winner R16-3 vs. Winner R16-4
- QF3: Winner R16-5 vs. Winner R16-6
- QF4: Winner R16-7 vs. Winner R16-8
The quarter-finalists in each tie which had the better performance in previous rounds (excluding round one) hosted the second leg.
Summary
The first legs were played on 2 and 3 April, and the second legs were played on 9 and 10 April 2024.
Notes
- ^ Due to the availability of their stadium, New England Revolution requested to play the first leg at home, followed by the second leg away. This switch request was accepted by CONCACAF and América.[43]
Matches
Pachuca won 7–1 on aggregate.
América won 9–2 on aggregate.
2–2 on aggregate. Columbus Crew won 4–3 on penalties.
Monterrey won 5–2 on aggregate.
Semi-finals
In the semi-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs. Winner QF4
The semi-finalists in each tie which had the better performance in previous rounds (excluding round one) hosted the second leg.
Summary
The first legs were played on 23 and 24 April, and the second legs were played on 30 April and 1 May 2024.
Matches
Pachuca won 3–2 on aggregate.
Columbus Crew won 5–2 on aggregate.
Final
The final was played on 1 June at Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico. Pachuca hosted as they had an overall better performance in the competition (excluding the first round).[45]
Statistics
Top goalscorers
Team eliminated for this round.
Team was inactive for this round.
Awards
Notes
- ^ EST (UTC−5) for dates up to 7 March 2024 (Round one and first legs of Round of 16), and EDT (UTC−4) for dates thereafter.
- ^ Due to scheduling conflicts, the Vancouver Whitecaps could not host the match at their usual home stadium of BC Place.[21]
- ^ Due to expected winter weather issues in Calgary, Cavalry FC played their first round match in Langford, British Columbia.[24]
- ^ The Columbus Crew v UANL match, originally scheduled to be played at 19:00, was postponed to 21:00 due to thunderstorms in the area.
- ^ The final match (originally scheduled for 2 June 2024) was moved back to 1 June 2024 due to a Mexican team hosting the final due to the 2024 Mexican general election taking place that day.[46]
See also
References
- ^ Evans, Jayda (14 March 2023). "Sounders qualify for 2025 men's Club World Cup". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Mather, Victor (23 June 2023). "U.S. Will Host Club World Cup in 2025". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "FIFA Council confirms key details for FIFA Club World Cup 2025" (Press release). FIFA. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Concacaf announces expanded Champions League starting in 2024". Major League Soccer. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "How clubs can qualify for the expanded 2024 Concacaf Champions League". Major League Soccer. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". CONCACAF. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Q&A: Club Index for 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Draw". CONCACAF. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Concacaf confirms important details for 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup". CONCACAF. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Saprissa vs Philadelphia Union". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Philadelphia Union vs Saprissa". ESPN. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Herediano vs Toluca". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Toluca vs Herediano". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Real Estelí vs América". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "América vs Real Estelí". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Forge vs Guadalajara". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Guadalajara vs Forge". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Independiente vs New England Revolution". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "New England Revolution vs Independiente". ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "St. Louis City SC vs Houston Dynamo FC". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Houston Dynamo vs St. Louis City SC". ESPN. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC to host Tigres UANL at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC on February 7". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps vs UANL". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "UANL vs Vancouver Whitecaps". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Club Statement Regarding 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One Venue". Cavalry FC. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Cavalry vs Orlando City". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Orlando City vs Cavalry". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "Comunicaciones vs Monterrey". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Monterrey vs Comunicaciones". ESPN. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "FC Cincinnati Deliver Historic Victory in CONCACAF Debut Despite All The Challenges That Surrounded It". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Cincinnati vs Cavalier". ESPN. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Nashville vs Moca". ESPN. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Philadelphia Union vs Pachuca". ESPN. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Pachuca v Philadelphia Union". ESPN. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Herediano vs Robinhood". ESPN. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Robinhood v Herediano". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "America v Guadalajara". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "New England Revolution vs Alajuelense". ESPN. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "New England Revolution v Alajuelense". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Orlando City vs Tigres UANL". ESPN. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Tigres UANL v Orlando City". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Monterrey v FC Cincinnati". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "Inter Miami v Nashville SC". Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ "2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinal pairings and schedule confirmed". CONCACAF. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "¡RAYADOS ESTÁ EN SEMIFINALES DE LA COPA DE CAMPEONES DE LA CONCACAF!". Rayados.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Concacaf Champions League to expand with innovative new format starting 2023/24". CONCACAF. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "CF Pachuca to face Columbus Crew in 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Final on June 1". CONMEBOL. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-cup/game-details?matchid=726954
- ^ "Stats". CONCACAF. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Rondon, Rodriguez, Schulte earn 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup honors". CONCACAF. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Rondon, Idrissi lead Concacaf Champions Cup Best XI". CONCACAF. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
External links
Central American Zone 