The four Canadian teams set to compete in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup are officially confirmed, and with the draw scheduled for December, we already have a clear picture of who they might face.
Of the 27 participating clubs, 25 have been finalized — only one spot from Major League Soccer and another from the Caribbean Cup remain undecided.
A look at the qualified teams
United States (7/8):
- Seattle Sounders (Bye to the Round of 16)
- Inter Miami CF
- LA Galaxy
- Philadelphia Union
- San Diego FC
- FC Cincinnati
- Nashville SC
Mexico (6/6):
- Deportivo Toluca (Bye to the Round of 16)
- Club América
- CF Monterrey
- Cruz Azul
- Tigres UANL
- Pumas UNAM
Canada (4/4):
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- Forge FC
- Atlético Ottawa
- Vancouver FC
Central America (6/6):
- Real CD España (Honduras)
- CD Olimpia (Honduras)
- LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
- CS Cartaginés (Costa Rica)
- Sporting San Miguelito (Panama)
- CSD Xelajú MC (Guatemala)
Caribbean (2/3):
- Mount Pleasant FA (Jamaica)
- Universidad O&M FC (Dominican Republic)
As usual, five clubs will receive a bye directly to the Round of 16: the Caribbean Cup champions, Central American Cup champions, Leagues Cup champions (Seattle Sounders), Liga MX Apertura or Clausura champion with the higher aggregate points (Deportivo Toluca), and the MLS Cup champions.
The remaining 22 teams will enter in Round One, with the draw separating them into two pots based on the Concacaf Club Ranking, which is updated weekly.
The draw is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT, one day after the final ranking update. Rankings typically don’t shift much in the final month, meaning we already have a solid idea of the potential opponents for the Canadian clubs.
What the pots are looking like
Forge FC, Atlético Ottawa, and Vancouver FC will all remain in Pot 2 for the draw, which all but guarantees they’ll face a Major League Soccer or Liga MX opponent in Round One.
Currently, Pot 1 includes Mexican giants Cruz Azul, Club América, Tigres, Monterrey, and Pumas, as well as MLS clubs Inter Miami, Vancouver Whitecaps, Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, LA Galaxy, and Nashville SC. Should any of these MLS teams win MLS Cup, they would advance directly to the Round of 16, freeing up a Pot 1 spot for the next-best MLS team in the Supporters’ Shield standings — LAFC.
To prevent top clubs from clashing early, Concacaf will pre-seed the three highest-ranked teams in Pot 1 directly into the bracket, as well as the five clubs with byes to the Round of 16.
There are no draw restrictions, meaning an all-Canadian clash is possible; The Vancouver Whitecaps could be paired with any of the three CPL clubs. Statistically, the Whitecaps have a favourable outlook, with about a 91% chance of drawing a CPL, Caribbean, or Central American opponent.
Asides from the three CPL clubs, Pot 2 currently features San Diego FC (the only MLS club in that pot as it stands), CD Olimpia, CS Cartaginés, Real España, Sporting San Miguelito, as well as three additional teams that will be confirmed in the coming month; Either Alajuelense or Xelajú — depending on who wins the Central American Cup, with the champion earning a Round of 16 bye — plus one of Mount Pleasant FA or Universidad O&M FC from the Caribbean Cup final, and finally, the third-place finisher in that same cup between Defence Force and Cibao.
Draw information
The draw will be conducted on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on OneSoccer.
