2019 CONCACAF Champions League: The best ever version
CONCACAF Champions League 2019 field has two spots. But the competition already promises great soccer, if only the television networks were to increase the coverage.
The Scotiabank sponsors it. And CONCACAF have worked on the competition format to spice things up. These improvements — and the 2019 field — should produce the best CONCACAF Champions League ever.
But until the latest legs of the championship, fans will have to really dig to ensure they see the greatest plays. Keep honing those internet search skills! If few of the games make your town, however, what you see will make it worth it.
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CONCACAF worked with representatives of teams far and wide to tweak the format. They aimed to increase the quality of competition for players and fans. The tweaks in recent years worked. Beginning in 2018, CONCACAF eliminated the group-stage structure used since 2008. That means the 16 competing teams start play in a high gear, with games from February through May.
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And with Atlanta United qualifying, the team making their first appearance in CONCACAF Champions League, the quality might well be higher than ever. Atlanta qualified by amassing the best aggregate record in the 2017 and 2018 MLS seasons. They are one of the most exciting teams in CONCACAF and could light up the CCL.
A few other teams also sail their maiden voyage into the Champions League. There’s Guastatoya FC from Guatemala. The team won Guatemala’s 2018 Clausura title and then defeated Antigua. Also playing the first time: Independiente FC from Panama. This team had the best aggregate record in their 2018 Clausura play.
The teams taking the final two spots in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League will be the 2018 league champion, decided November 1, and the winner of the 2018 MLS Cup.
The original competition was called the Champions Cup. CONCACAF organizers at that time hoped to work their teams into the South American Copa Libertadores. The competition pits 16 teams against each other from three zones, plus winners of the CONCACAF League. That’s a competition of teams from Central American and Caribbean zones.
The Champions League zones are:
North American Zone clubs:
Four from Mexico; Four from the United States; One from Canada.
Central American Zone Clubs:
One each from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama.
Caribbean Zone club:
Winner of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.
With the two spots pending as of this writing, here are the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League teams:
USA: Sporting Kansas City, Houston Dynamo, Atlanta United.
Canada: Toronto FC
Mexico: Tigres UANL, Santos Laguna, Monterrey, Toluca.
El Salvador: Alianza FC
Guatemala: Guastatoya FC
Costa Rica: Deportivo Saprissa
Honduras: CD Marathon
Panama: Independiente FC
Dominican Republic: Atletico Pantoja (CFU winner)
Plus: 2018 MLS Cup and Champions League winners. Named very soon.
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Get ready for some great soccer competition in the CONCACAF Champions League February will get here before you know it. And it could be the best ever.