Concacaf has confirmed the final details ahead of the draw for the 2026 Champions Cup, which will take place on Tuesday, December 9 (7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT). The event will be broadcast live on Concacaf’s YouTube channel.
Next year’s edition will feature a record four Canadian clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Vancouver FC, Forge FC, and Atlético Ottawa.
Of the 27 participants, five teams will receive a bye to the Round of 16, while the remaining 22 sides will begin in Round One.
The five teams with a bye to the round of 16 are:
- Deportivo Toluca FC (MEX)
- Inter Miami CF (USA)
- Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
- LD Alajuelense (CRC)
- Mount Pleasant FA (JAM)
The 22 remaining teams are separated into two pots based on their Concacaf Club Ranking as of December 8.
Pot 1:
- Cruz Azul (MEX)
- Tigres UANL (MEX)
- Club América (MEX)
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)
- Los Angeles FC (USA)
- CF Monterrey (MEX)
- Philadelphia Union (USA)
- FC Cincinnati (USA)
- LA Galaxy (USA)
- Nashville SC (USA)
- Pumas UNAM (MEX)
Pot 2:
- San Diego FC (USA)
- CD Olimpia (HON)
- Forge FC (CAN)
- Atlético Ottawa (CAN)
- CS Cartaginés (CRC)
- CSD Xelajú MC (GUA)
- Sporting San Miguelito (PAN)
- Real CD España (HON)
- Defence Force FC (T&T)
- Vancouver FC (CAN)
- Universidad O&M FC (DR)
There are no restrictions on drawing teams from the same country, meaning the Vancouver Whitecaps can be matched with any of the three other Canadian clubs.
The five teams with byes to the Round of 16, along with Cruz Azul, Tigres, and Club América, will be pre-seeded in the bracket to prevent them from meeting each other until at least the quarter-finals.
The opening round will span four weeks from February 3 to 26, with Mexican clubs playing in the first two weeks and Major League Soccer teams closing out the final two weeks.
The Round of 16 will begin in March, followed by the quarter-finals in April, the semi-finals in May, and the final on May 30, 2026.
