2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Guide: Who’s playing, how does it work and where can I watch?

The 2025 Canadian soccer calendar begins once again this year with the Concacaf Champions Cup, in which 27 teams from across North and Central America — including the Canadian Premier League’s Cavalry FC and Forge FC, as well as the Vancouver Whitecaps — go head-to-head in the region’s premier club competition.

Many of the region’s stars and biggest clubs will be involved, including a star-studded Inter Miami featuring Lionel Messi, as well as MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy and many of Mexico’s giants, from Chivas to Club América to Monterrey.

This being the tournament’s second year in this format, much of it will be familiar to Canadian fans, especially with our country sending the same three representatives as last year. However, with a new field of combatants, a quick refresher — and some facts on the tournament’s newcomers — won’t go amiss.

So, we've put together this guide on all you need to know for this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup — but make sure to keep checking back for more in-depth coverage of the Canadian sides competing.

What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?

This tournament is the marquee club competition organized by Concacaf, the regional governing body of North and Central America and the Caribbean. It pits teams from all over the map — in this case, 10 different countries — against one another in a knockout bracket to determine a continental champion.

The 2025 edition is officially the 60th such competition, albeit just the second in this expanded format. From 2008 to 2023 the tournament was known as the Concacaf Champions League, and prior to that it was, again, the Concacaf Champions Cup. That contest’s history spans as far back as 1962, when Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara claimed the first trophy.

Since then, the tournament has gone through various renditions and formats, although Mexican clubs have remained dominant, winning 39 of the 60 titles, including 14 of the 15 years in the Champions League era.

In 2024, Pachuca were crowned the first winners of the new Champions Cup format, beating Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew SC 3-0 in the final.

The 27 teams competing in the tournament qualified from a variety of pathways, be it winning titles in Liga MX or Major League Soccer, or Concacaf regional competitions like the Leagues Cup, Central American Cup or Caribbean Cup. Canada’s three entrants are the winners of the TELUS Canadian Championship (Vancouver Whitecaps), Canadian Premier League Shield (Forge FC) and North Star Cup (Cavalry FC).

What is the format and schedule?

As it was last year, the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup is a five-round knockout competition, with each round except for the final being a two-legged home-and-away tie.

Of the 27 teams participating, 22 will start the competition in the first round. A further five clubs have received byes to the round of 16 by virtue of winning certain competitions: Columbus Crew SC (Leagues Cup winners), Club América (2023-24 Liga MX Apertura and Clausura champions), Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS Cup champions), Cavalier FC (Caribbean Cup winners) and Alajuelense (Central American Cup winners).

For the draw, the 22 first-round clubs were seeded into two pots based on the latest Concacaf Club Rankings, with the higher-seeded club to host the second leg of their tie.

The full bracket for the tournament has been drawn, so each club knows its path to the final (see below). The rough schedule for each round is as follows:

The full tournament schedule is available here, and the first-round schedule is also included at the bottom of this page.

A few other key tournament rules are worth noting. All two-legged rounds (that is, everything except for the Final) will use away goals as the first tiebreaker. If two clubs are tied on aggregate and on away goals, they’ll proceed to extra time — where away goals no longer count — followed by penalties.

The Concacaf Champions Cup does employ a yellow card accumulation rule, wherein two yellow cards result in a one-match suspension. However, cards are wiped twice in the tournament: after the completion of the first round, and after the quarter-finals.

For two-legged ties beyond the round of 16, the second leg will be hosted by the highest-ranked club based on performances from the round of 16 onwards — teams get three points for a win and one for a draw, with the first tiebreaker being goal difference followed by total goals scored, total away goals, most wins, most away wins, disciplinary record, and finally Concacaf Club Ranking. The tournament Final will also be hosted by the higher-ranked of the two participating sides, based on the same criteria.

How can I watch the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup?

The tournament will be broadcast in Canada once again on OneSoccer.

It’ll be available to watch in the United States on Fox Sports 1, on ESPN2 in Central America and the Caribbean, and on Concacaf GO in other locations around the world.

For more information on each region’s official broadcaster, click here.

Who’s playing, and how did they qualify?

Here’s a quick primer on each of the 27 clubs participating in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. They’re ordered alphabetically, with each team’s Concacaf Club Ranking next to its name in parentheses.

LD Alajuelense (44)

Location (league): Alajuela, Costa Rica (Primera División)
Date founded: 1919
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 27
Best finish: Champions (1986, 2004)
First opponent: Cavalry FC or Pumas UNAM

How they qualified: Won 2024 Central American Cup

One of the most successful teams in all of Central America, Alajuelense have won 30 Costa Rican titles as well as two Concacaf Champions Cups, one as recently as 2004. They finished top of the table in the most recent Apertura season but lost a semi-final clash to Herediano. Their squad features numerous Costa Rican national team stars, including three members of the most recent World Cup team in Bryan Oviedo, Celso Borges and Ronald Matarrita. Familiar faces to Canadian fans will include former Forge FC players Manjrekar James and Joshua Navarro.

Club América (2)

Location (league): Mexico City, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 1916
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 15
Best finish: Champions (7 times incl. 2016)
First opponent: Cibao FC or CD Guadalajara

How they qualified: Won 2023-24 Liga MX Apertura and Clausura

The most successful team in Mexico with 16 league titles to their name, América are one of the giants of this competition, having won a record seven Concacaf Champions Cups. Their squad features a number of El Tri regulars including Érick Sánchez, Néstor Araujo and Luis Malagón, not to mention Uruguayan national team players Sebastián Cáceres, Rodrigo Aguirre and Brian Rodríguez. They’re led up top by captain Henry Martín, who scored nine goals with six assists in the most recent Liga MX Apertura. América don’t yet know their round of 16 opponent, but they’ll either be heavily favoured against Dominican side Cibao FC, or faced with a clash against bitter rivals Chivas.

Antigua GFC (55)

Location (league): Antigua, Guatemala (Liga Nacional)
Date founded: 1958
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: Group stage (2016-17)
First opponent: Seattle Sounders FC

How they qualified: 2024 Central American Cup semi-finalists

The only Guatemalan side in this year’s tournament, Antigua enjoyed something of a Cinderella run in the Central American Cup, knocking out Honduran club Olimpia and beating Costa Rican giants Saprissa in the quarter-finals to get here. They’ve only won the Guatemalan top flight four times — and not since 2019 — but they’d be familiar to some CPL fans for a matchup with Forge FC in both sides’ first-ever Concacaf League appearance in 2019. Antigua’s squad is largely made up of domestic players like captain and centre-back José Ardón, but their attack is often engineered by Argentine Santiago Gómez (10 goals in the last season) and Brazilian winger Romario (14 assists).

Cavalier FC (86)

Location (league): Kingston, Jamaica (Jamaica Premier League)
Date founded: 1962
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: First round (2024)
First opponent: Sporting Kansas City or Inter Miami

How they qualified: Won 2024 Caribbean Cup

In this competition for the second time — and for a second consecutive year — are reigning Jamaica Premier League and Caribbean Cup champions Cavalier. The Kingston-based club are enjoying a period of success after winning just their second ever title in 2021. Cavalier’s squad was led last year by Antiguan leading scorer Jalmaro Calvin. This is a younger side, primarily made up of Jamaican players like Dwayne Atkinson, Jeadine White and Richard King, many of them under the age of 25. Their bye to the round of 16 means they don’t yet know their first opponent, but there’s a strong chance they get a much-coveted date with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Cavalry FC (53)

Location (league): Calgary, Alberta (Canadian Premier League)
Date founded: 2018
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: First round (2024)
First opponent: Pumas UNAM

How they qualified: Won 2024 CPL championship

One of the Canadian Premier League’s traditional powerhouses, Cavalry finally won their first playoff championship in 2024, taking down rivals Forge FC in an impressive Final performance. Led by manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. at the beginning of his seventh year at the helm, Cavalry have brought back much of the same squad from their championship team including CPL Final MVP and Golden Boot winner Tobias Warschewski. They made their Concacaf debut last year, falling in the first round to Orlando City SC, but will be hopeful to improve their fortunes this time around against Pumas. Cavalry’s home game in the first round will, like last year, be played at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. due to weather concerns in Calgary.

Cibao FC (83)

Location (league): Santiago, Dominican Republic (Liga Dominicana de Fútbol)
Date founded: 2015
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: Round of 16 (2018)
First opponent: CD Guadalajara

How they qualified: 2024 Caribbean Cup runners-up

Winners of the last four Dominican league titles, Cibao have established themselves as a formidable side in Caribbean football in their short history. This year’s first round will actually be their second ever meeting in the Concacaf Champions Cup with Guadalajara, having taken on Chivas in the last 16 of the 2018 tournament. Colombian winger Rivaldo Correa is one to watch in this squad, having scored 21 goals in the 2024 league campaign.

FC Cincinnati (16)

Location (league): Cincinnati, Ohio (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2015
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: Round of 16 (2024)
First opponent: FC Motagua

How they qualified: Fifth in 2024 Supporters’ Shield standings

Cincinnati have been a dangerous side in MLS the past two years, winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2023 and finishing fifth in 2024. They were knocked out of the Champions Cup by CF Monterrey last year, but are now hoping to go a little further in this, their second attempt at the competition. Under the guidance of head coach Pat Noonan since 2022, Cincy’s team features plenty of domestic talent and experience, in U.S. national team veterans Miles Robinson, Matt Miazga and DeAndre Yedlin. The star, however, is Luciano Acosta, an Argentine number 10 who was named to the MLS Best XI each of the past three years, winning MVP honours in 2023. He led MLS in assists last season with 19, also scoring 14 goals.

Colorado Rapids (31)

Location (league): Denver, Colorado (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 1995
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 3
Best finish: Round of 16 (2022)
First opponent: Los Angeles FC

How they qualified: Third place in 2024 Leagues Cup

The 2024 MLS campaign wasn’t ideal for the Rapids, who were thumped by the LA Galaxy in round one of the playoffs after finishing seventh in the Western Conference, but an excellent run in the Leagues Cup earned them a fourth appearance on this continental stage. They defeated four Liga MX sides in succession — two of them on penalties — en route to the semi-finals, and beat the Philadelphia Union in the third-place game to secure their place here. The squad, led by head coach Chris Armas, features American attacking talent in Djordje Mihailovic and Cole Bassett as well as Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro.

Columbus Crew SC (1)

Location (league): Columbus, Ohio (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 1994
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 5
Best finish: Runners-up (2024)
First opponent: Colorado Rapids or Los Angeles FC

How they qualified: Won 2024 Leagues Cup

The Crew sit atop the Concacaf Club Rankings right now, after winning the 2023 MLS Cup and following that by winning the 2024 Leagues Cup and finishing second in the Supporters’ Shield standings. They return to this competition with a chip on their shoulder, after going all the way to the final last year — knocking out Liga MX giants Tigres and Monterrey in the process — but falling at the final hurdle to Pachuca. Manager Wilfried Nancy, the reigning MLS Coach of the Year, leads a strong team featuring Cucho Hernández — this year’s runner-up to Lionel Messi in MVP voting — as well as Uruguayan designated player Diego Rossi. Columbus’s Canadian contingent features dynamic winger Jacen Russell-Rowe and former Cavalry FC wingback Mo Farsi.

Cruz Azul (6)

Location (league): Mexico City, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 1927
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 17
Best finish: Champions (6 times incl. 2013-14)
First opponent: Real Hope

How they qualified: 2023-24 Liga MX Clausura runners-up

Another of Liga MX’s ‘Big Four’ clubs — alongside América, Pumas and Chivas — Cruz Azul are one of the most successful sides in the history of this tournament with six titles, although they haven’t won it since 2014. They lost to América in the most recent Liga MX Apertura semi-finals in December, but finished atop the regular season table as the league’s highest-scoring team, also conceding the fewest goals — just 12 in 17 games. Experienced Mexican striker Ángel Sepúlveda led the attack with nine goals, and they also enjoyed major contributions from Argentine Carlos Rotondi and Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis. However, they lost a major midfield presence in Luis Romo, who led Liga MX in assists last campaign but recently signed for Chivas. Cruz Azul did add some younger talent in January though, bringing in 22-year-old defenders Omar Campos and Jesús Orozco.

Forge FC (56)

Location (league): Hamilton, Ontario (Canadian Premier League)
Date founded: 2018
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 2
Best finish: Round of 16 (2022)
First opponent: CF Monterrey

How they qualified: Won 2024 CPL Shield

The Canadian Premier League’s most successful club with four championships, plus the most recent regular season title, Forge return to the Champions Cup for a third time, still looking for their first win in the competition. They have now matched up with Liga MX teams twice, playing Cruz Azul in 2022 and Chivas in 2024, and they’re hoping that experience can carry them into a strong showing against Monterrey. Under the guidance of CPL Coach of the Year Bobby Smyrniotis, Forge have a talented cast of Canadian players, including captain Kyle Bekker, CPL Player of the Year Tristan Borges, and recently-added striker Brian Wright, signed from local rivals York United.

CD Guadalajara (14)

Location (league): Guadalajara, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 1906
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 9
Best finish: Champions (1962, 2018)
First opponent: Cibao FC

How they qualified: Fourth in 2023-24 Liga MX aggregate table

Considered the most popular team in Mexico, Guadalajara — known colloquially as “Chivas” — are another historic giant of this competition, having won the first Champions Cup in 1962. Unique in the fact that they exclusively employ players with Mexican heritage, Guadalajara have no shortage of domestic talent, beginning with last season’s team leader in goals and assists, winger Roberto Alvarado, though the American-born Cade Cowell is also dangerous. The midfield is patrolled by Fernando Beltrán, Érick Gutiérrez and January signing Luis Romo. The wildcard at Chivas, though, could be 36-year-old striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández — formerly of Manchester United and Real Madrid. He didn’t quite find his footing in Liga MX last campaign, but he’s got the talent and experience to be a difference-maker.

CS Herediano (50)

Location (league): Heredia, Costa Rica (Primera División)
Date founded: 1921
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 16
Best finish: Semi-finals (2015)
First opponent: Real Salt Lake

How they qualified: 2024 Central American Cup semi-finalists

Costa Rica’s defending champions from the 2024 Apertura campaign, Herediano are another giant of Central America, with 30 league titles on their record — plus a trophy from the 2018 Concacaf League. They enjoyed a thrilling Cinderella run in last year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, dispatching Mexican side Toluca on away goals en route to the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Pachuca. Herediano’s attack is led by Allan Cruz, who scored six goals in the last Clausura campaign, and 19-year-old talent Andy Rojas, who had five plus three assists, with four goals in the proceeding 2024 Apertura. However, both players — plus several other Herediano stars — could be out of form by the start of the Champions Cup, as they serve suspensions for their roles in hostilities at the end of the 2024 Apertura Final in December.

Inter Miami CF (8)

Location (league): Miami, Florida (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2018
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 1
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2024)
First opponent: Sporting Kansas City

How they qualified: Won 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield

A club needing little introduction at this point, Miami stroll into 2025 once again led by such icons as Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets. Their first-round tie against fellow MLS side Sporting KC will be their first matches under new head coach Javier Mascherano, who has assumed his first command after a storied career playing alongside Messi for Argentina and Barcelona. Miami have some pressure on them to perform in this competition, having lost in the 2024 quarter-finals to Monterrey. They were also dumped out of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs in the first round by ninth-seed Atlanta United after winning the Supporters’ Shield, so there’s an expectation in South Florida that they go deep in this year’s Champions Cup and pick up some silverware.

Los Angeles FC (7)

Location (league): Los Angeles, California (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2014
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 2
Best finish: Runners-up (2023)
First opponent: Colorado Rapids

How they qualified: 2024 Leagues Cup runners-up

Another star-studded MLS side, LAFC have thrived in knockout football the past few years. After winning their first MLS Cup in 2022, they went to the 2023 Concacaf Champions Cup Final, and last year won the U.S. Open Cup and finished as Leagues Cup runners-up. They were also the top side in the Western Conference in 2024, but lost in the conference semi-finals to the Seattle Sounders. LAFC’s squad features some familiar faces like French World Cup winners Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, but the real starpower on the pitch is in back-to-back MLS Best XI honouree Denis Bouanga, who scored 28 goals for LA last year with 16 assists, as well as Polish midfielder Mateusz Bogusz (20 goals, 11 assists) — although his name has recently popped up in rumours of a transfer to Cruz Azul.

Los Angeles Galaxy (10)

Location (league): Los Angeles, California (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 1994
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 10
Best finish: Champions (2000)
First opponent: CS Herediano or Real Salt Lake

How they qualified: Won 2024 MLS Cup

The elder of the two Los Angeles MLS teams, the Galaxy march into the tournament as the reigning MLS Cup champions, which has afforded them a bye into the round of 16. They haven’t competed on this Concacaf stage since 2015, but they did win the Champions Cup in 2000. While they’ll enter this year without star midfielder Riqui Puig, who tore his ACL before the MLS Cup Final in December, they have plenty of talent and experience. Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec contributed 21 goals and 18 assists in 41 games last year, and Serbian striker Dejan Joveljic scored 21 in 33. This squad also includes former Barcelona and Juventus defender Martín Cáceres and ex-Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus. They triumphed over New York Red Bulls to win MLS Cup and will hope to carry that momentum into February.

CF Monterrey (4)

Location (league): Monterrey, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 12
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 15
Best finish: Champions (5 times incl. 2021)
First opponent: Forge FC

How they qualified: Second in 2023-24 Liga MX aggregate table

Monterrey are one of the most successful clubs in the recent history of the Concacaf Champions Cup, having won the tournament five times in the last 15 years. They’ve won five Mexican league titles and were runners-up in the most recent Apertura 2024 campaign, losing a narrow two-legged final to América. The star of the show in Monterrey is Spaniard Sergio Canales, who has scored 10 goals in 2024-25, as has Mexican-Argentinian striker Germán Berterame. Winger Lucas Ocampos is another key figure in the attack after joining Monterrey in September, with a wealth of experience in Europe with the likes of Monaco, Marseille and Sevilla. Rayados, as they’re known, made an impact in last year’s Champions Cup by eliminating Inter Miami in the quarter-finals, 5-2 on aggregate, before bowing out to Columbus Crew.

FC Motagua (52)

Location (league): Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Liga Nacional)
Date founded: 1928
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 20
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2023)
First opponent: FC Cincinnati

How they qualified: Won 2024 Central American Cup play-in

The only Honduran side in this year’s tournament, Motagua defeated Salvadoran club Águila in a play-in to qualify. They’re regulars in the Champions Cup though, having gone all the way to the quarter-finals in 2023. They’ve won 19 Honduran league titles, including the most recent Apertura, and pose a formidable threat, especially at home — they’ve held both MLS teams they’ve played in the last five years to draws in Tegucigalpa. Many of Motagua’s squad have experience with the Honduran national team, including defenders Cristopher Meléndez, Luis Vega and Marcelo Santos, as well as star striker Rubilio Castillo, who scored eight goals in 14 games the most recent Apertura campaign.

Pumas UNAM (13)

Location (league): Mexico City, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 1954
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 11
Best finish: Champions (1980, 1982, 1989)
First opponent: Cavalry FC

How they qualified: Fifth in 2023-24 Liga MX aggregate table

Originally founded in the 1950s as a club for students of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Club Universidad Nacional — better known as Pumas — are now one of the most popular teams in Liga MX. They dominated the Champions Cup in the 1980s, when they won three titles, and went to the final in 2022 when they lost to Seattle Sounders, but they haven’t won a Mexican league title since 2011. Pumas were fourth in the most recent Apertura table with one of the best defensive records in the league — thanks to a defensive core led by Brazilian defender Nathan Silva, captain Lisandro Magallán and experienced La Liga veteran Rubén Duarte. The attack is largely by committee, especially now after Pumas sold leading scorer César Huerta to Anderlecht in January.

Real Estelí (75)

Location (league): Estelí, Nicaragua (Liga Primera)
Date founded: 1961
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 12
Best finish: Round of 16 (2021)
First opponent: Tigres UANL

How they qualified: 2024 Central American Cup runners-up

No strangers to the continental stage, Nicaraguan side Real Estelí will make their 13th appearance in the Champions Cup this year. They’ve got a tough first-round matchup against formidable Mexican opponents Tigres, but they proved a tricky opponent in the most recent Central American Cup, defeating Costa Rican side Herediano en route to the final before a hard-fought defeat over two legs to Alajuelense. Estelí are the largest contributors of players to the Niacaraguan national team, supplying nine of the most recent Nations League squad in October, including frequent captain Josué Quijano. Byron Bonilla is the danger man in attack, supplying 12 goals in 2025-25 including three in their recent Apertura playoff run.

Real Hope FA (110)

Location (league): Cap-Haïtien, Haiti (Ligue Haïtienne)
Date founded: 2014
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 0
Best finish: N/A
First opponent: Cruz Azul

How they qualified: Third place in 2024 Caribbean Cup

Making their Concacaf debut are Haitian champions Real Hope, who were a surprise third place finisher in the 2024 Caribbean Cup. They finished second in their group ahead of several more established Trinidadian and Jamaican sides, and knocked off Dominican outfit Moca in the bronze playoff to earn their spot in this tournament. Their squad is almost entirely composed of domestic Haitian players like striker Ángelo Exilus — scorer of six goals in eight Caribbean Cup games — plus Venezuelan attackers Edgar Castellanos and Juan Narea. Real Hope will play their home leg against Cruz Azul in the Dominican Republic, at the stadium of Cibao FC.

Real Salt Lake (18)

Location (league): Salt Lake City, Utah (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2004
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 3
Best finish: Runners-up (2010-11)
First opponent: Herediano

How they qualified: Sixth in 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

Real Salt Lake will make just their fourth appearance in the Champions Cup this year after a strong 2024 season saw them finish third in the MLS Western Conference, although they exited the playoffs in the first round and the Leagues Cup in the group stage. They’re a team with players to watch though, perhaps none more so than Diego Luna, who was MLS’s Young Player of the Year in 2024 after putting up eight goals and 12 assists as a 21-year-old. Portuguese winger Diogo Gonçalves is one to watch as well after arriving in August, and Paraguayan midfielder Braian Ojeda should form the backbone of RSL’s midfield. The club will be hoping they can get by in attack without captain Chicho Arango, whom they recently traded to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Deportivo Saprissa (48)

Location (league): San José, Costa Rica (Primera División)
Date founded: 1935
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 37
Best finish: Champions (1993, 1995, 2005)
First opponent: Vancouver Whitecaps

How they qualified: Won 2024 Central American Cup play-in

The biggest team in Costa Rica, Saprissa are the most successful non-Mexican team in this tournament’s history, having won it three times. They’re the most recent club from outside of Mexico or the U.S. to win it as well, having done so in 2005. They have won 40 Costa Rican league titles, including the 2024 Clausura, although they were runners-up in the recently concluded Apertura. Captained by 37-year-old Argentine Mariano Torres, their current attacking star is probably Marvin Loría, who arrived from the Portland Timbers in January. Jamaican forward Javon East is perhaps the most lethal finisher in the squad, with 15 goals last season.

Seattle Sounders FC (11)

Location (league): Seattle, Washington (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2007
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 7
Best finish: Champions (2022)
First opponent: Antigua GFC

How they qualified: Seventh in 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

The most recent winners of this tournament from outside of Mexico (and the only ones since 2005), the Sounders are always a serious threat from MLS, returning to the Concacaf stage for the first time since they won it in 2022. They landed seventh in the Supporters’ Shield table last season and went on a good playoff run, although they lost a 1-0 decision in the Western Conference final to the LA Galaxy. They also went to the semi-finals of the U.S. Open Cup and defeated Pumas in the Leagues Cup en route to the quarters. Under the guidance of head coach Brian Schmetzer since 2016, Seattle’s roster is well-stocked with American talents like Jordan Morris (18 goals, seven assists in 2024) and Cristian Roldan, complemented by international stars in midfield like Albert Rusnak (11 goals, 16 assists) and Pedro de la Vega. They recently added two more USMNT regulars via the trade market, acquiring both Jesús Ferreira and Paul Arriola from FC Dallas.

Sporting Kansas City (39)

Location (league): Kansas City, Kansas (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 1995
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 6
Best finish: Semi-finals (2019)
First opponent: Inter Miami

How they qualified: 2024 U.S. Open Cup runners-up

Sporting KC are back in the Champions Cup for the first time since going to the semi-finals in 2019, and they’ve got their work cut out for them in round one against Inter Miami. The 2024 campaign wasn’t a great one for the Kansas side, finishing 13th in the MLS Western Conference and thus missing the playoffs, but they went all the way to the final of the U.S. Open Cup, which qualified them for this tournament since LAFC already had a spot from their Leagues Cup finish. Head coach Peter Vermes has been in charge since 2009, and he leads a squad in a somewhat transitional state, especially after the winter departure of captain Johnny Russell. Still, there’s some attacking bite in this team, beginning with last year’s leading scorer Willy Agada (12 goals). Mexican veteran Alan Pulido is also a threat up top, as is Hungarian winger Dániel Sallói. SKC also have some strong Canadian representation in winger Stephen Afrifa and fullback Zorhan Bassong.

Tigres UANL (3)

Location (league): Monterrey, Mexico (Liga MX)
Date founded: 1960
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 11
Best finish: Champions (2020)
First opponent: Real Estelí

How they qualified: 2023-24 Liga MX Apertura runners-up

The eight-time Mexican champions have a point to prove in the Champions Cup after losing to Columbus in the quarter-finals last year. Tigres were unceremoniously bounced from the Liga MX Apertura playoffs in late 2024, losing 3-0 on aggregate to underdogs Atlético San Luis, so a good continental run would lift the mood in Monterrey. This is an experienced squad at this level, with nine players in the current Tigres group remaining from the team that won the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final. That includes superstar goalscorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has 219 career goals for Tigres — including 20 in Concacaf — and Argentine captain and stalwart central midfielder Guido Pizarro. Juan Brunetta is a more recent addition and a major threat at the attacking midfield position, and Uruguayan Fernando Gorriarán is another key player patrolling the middle.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (28)

Location (league): Vancouver, British Columbia (Major League Soccer)
Date founded: 2009
Appearances in CCC/CCL: 4
Best finish: Semi-finals (2017)
First opponent: Saprissa

How they qualified: Won 2024 Canadian Championship

The Whitecaps are back in Concacaf for a third straight year after winning the Canadian Championship yet again in 2024, hoping to make a deeper run after losing to Tigres in round one last year. This will be their first competition under new head coach Jesper Sørensen, who takes over from Vanni Sartini after the Italian was let go in November. The ‘Caps finished eighth in the MLS Western Conference in 2024 and thrashed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the wild card round of the playoffs, but bowed out to LAFC, and they beat Mexican side Tijuana in the Leagues Cup but were bounced in the knockout stage by Pumas. Vancouver are led on the pitch by Scottish number 10 Ryan Gauld, the club’s heart-and-soul player who led them with 17 goals and 16 assists in 2024. Brian White is another dangerous weapon up top with his 16 goals in 2024, and Andrés Cubas is a crucial defensive anchor in the middle of the park. Another one to watch in Vancouver is Canadian midfielder Ali Ahmed, who can line up pretty much anywhere in the pitch and has recently enjoyed a breakout with the Canadian national team.

What’s on the line?

Above all, a big shiny trophy, and the distinction of being champions of Concacaf.

The current trophy has been in use since 2018, and will once again be lifted by the winners of this tournament on June 1.

As part of Concacaf’s decision to revamp and expand this tournament in 2024, it massively increased the pot of prize money available, with the winners of the competition to receive around $5 million U.S. — which Concacaf said last year was an increase of more than five times when compared to editions under the Concacaf Champions League format.

The winners of this year’s Champions Cup will qualify for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, as will the next three winners, and will compete in the 32-team tournament alongside the biggest clubs from around the world of football. Last year’s champions, Pachuca, are in the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup (as are the three prior Concacaf champions), and find themselves drawn into a group with Real Madrid, RB Salzburg and Al Hilal.

The 2025 champions also earn a spot in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where they’ll compete with other continental champions in a smaller tournament, of which Real Madrid were crowned the first ever winners in December.

Ultimately, only one team can win the Champions Cup and earn all the spoils and opportunities that go with it, but the benefits to clubs playing in it — particularly those from outside of Liga MX and MLS — are plentiful.

For smaller clubs, including the two Canadian Premier League sides, this opportunity to play against the region’s best teams, on a high-profile stage, against some genuine stars of the game, could be transformative.

These are high-profile matches against massive, historic teams, giving players the opportunity to test and show themselves at a higher level than they’re used to.