MLS in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup: Columbus Crew and LAFC ready to make history

In front of us is the upcoming 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the MLS having already flexed its muscle toward what is to be the grandest stage for soccer in the Americas. Entering the fray will be two of the North American soccer powerhouses, the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC, who have punched tickets to prove that the United States belongs amongst the elite. Let's be real — the road to this point hasn't been a cakewalk.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

Columbus Crew and LAFC: First Two Teams to Qualify

Among the first two teams to qualify into the Champions Cup is no surprise — Columbus Crew and LAFC. Both have tasted success recently by finishing runners-up at the 2024 and 2023 editions, respectively. But what exactly sealed their tickets to the continental competition was the final of the 2024 Leagues Cup. This will mostly be an overlooked competition, but it would turn to a game-changer for these teams. Now, having secured their spots, a dream of representing the MLS in the FIFA Club World Cup is slowly becoming more real with each day.

The Leagues Cup final is set at Lower.com Field, the Columbus Crew will call it home, and it's about more than just winning a championship. It's about making a statement that soccer in North America has united. But the winner won't leave with just a trophy; they will be given another added advantage of being able to skip those tricky early rounds and get straight into the Round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions Cup. You know, who would not want to avoid those mines from the early rounds?

The Race for the Third Position: Philadelphia Union vs Colorado Rapids

While Columbus and LAFC can now take a deep breath, the battle for the MLS's third spot in the Champions Cup becomes intriguing. Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids are due to play off for third place in the Leagues Cup, with a highly-coveted place in the continental tournament at stake. Both teams have been showing glimpses of being able to make a deeper run in the tournament, but now it all comes down to who can stay calm under pressure and grind out that golden ticket into Concacaf.

Of note here is that this was the steady increase in representation for the MLS in the Champions Cup. The league can have up to 10 representatives, which goes to show just how far the United States has come with regard to the growth and quality of soccer. This leaves five more spots available, and that race will be keen right from the very start of the season.

Unfold the MLS Standings

The attention will not only be on the league title but also to qualify for Champions Cup, as the season closes in on its final journey. Chances are more likely that the champion of the 2024 MLS Cup, the winner of the MLS Supporters' Shield, and the top two in the overall standings view, along with the best team from each conference. And then there are those reserved for the winners of the Canadian Championship and the U.S. Open Cup.

These are the makings of icing on the cake for teams that, be it for one reason or another, have not had the chance to shine in former continental competitions. Clubs like Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC, Sporting Kansas City, and Seattle Sounders are still jostling, with any slip-up now proving very costly. The internal competition of the MLS has never been this fierce, and that simply goes to show how far this league has risen in the past few years.

The Challenges in Concacaf

Now, if we're talking about the Concacaf Champions Cup, then we're talking about serious challenges. It is no secret that MLS clubs have always found it hard to dislodge the traditional powerhouses of LIGA MX—the ever favorite teams in this competition. Chivas Guadalajara, CF Monterrey, Club América, Cruz Azul, Pumas UNAM, and Tigres UANL have reserved seats at the competition slated for 2025, and any club in North America that faces them will most certainly go through hell.

These Mexican teams have tradition, experience, and a history of success in the competition. What the MLS has managed to show in recent years, though, is that it's no longer the "ugly duckling" of the continent. With massive investments made in infrastructure, scouting and development of players, and a fan base which seems to grow by the day, MLS clubs have begun to be prepared to go toe-to-toe against the Mexican giants.

The format of the Champions Cup adds a special flavor to the competition. And then there are the five knockout rounds that will be electrifying, featuring 27 teams fighting for the title. The first phase includes 22 teams, but only the top five progress automatically to the Round of 16—adding the Leagues Cup winner and the MLS and LIGA MX champions. If you believe that somehow gives the favorites easier lives, think again. The pressure will be immense, where any mistake can even be fatal.

Anticipation of 2025

With the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup fast approaching, the soccer world is on high alert. The MLS wants to flex its muscles with as many as 10 representatives and prove that it is just as good as traditional clubs in Latin America. And for Columbus Crew and LAFC, the mission is much more than just making a representation for Major League Soccer; it means putting the United States on the world soccer map.

It's in league growth, investment in local and foreign talent, and increasingly in fanbase passion that signs are shown that the MLS can handle the duty. Now it's just a waiting game to see who steps up onto the biggest stage in North American soccer.

By then, the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup won't be just any tournament; it will be a baptism of fire, an opportunity for MLS clubs to stand up and show they are not here just to participate but to compete as serious contenders. And for Columbus Crew, LAFC, and all other teams fighting for spots, the journey has only just begun. Bring on 2025, because soccer in the Americas will never be the same.