The Concacaf Champions Cup is the most prestigious club soccer tournament in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It features the best teams from the region competing for the title and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024, including its history, format, schedule, prize, and more.
What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?
History and Format of the Competition
The Concacaf Champions Cup was founded in 1962 as a way to determine the regional champion among the club teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf). The tournament has undergone several changes over the years, both in terms of format and name. It was originally called the Concacaf Champions’ Cup, then the Concacaf Giants Cup, then the Concacaf Champions League, and finally the Concacaf Champions Cup since 2020.
The current format of the competition consists of four stages: the preliminary round, the round of 16, the quarter-finals, and the final. The preliminary round is played in August and September, the round of 16 in October and November, the quarter-finals in February and March, and the final in April. The matches are played in a two-legged home-and-away format, except for the final, which is a single match at a neutral venue.
Changes in Format for 2024
In 2024, the Concacaf Champions Cup will undergo some major changes in its format, as part of the Concacaf’s plan to revamp its club competitions and align them with the global calendar. The main changes are:
- The tournament will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams, with more representation from the Caribbean and Central American regions.
- The preliminary round will be scrapped, and the round of 16 will be the first stage of the competition.
- The round of 16, the quarter-finals, and the semi-finals will be played in a single-elimination format, with one match per round at a neutral venue.
- The final will be played in May, instead of April, to avoid clashing with the FIFA Club World Cup.
- The winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup will qualify directly for the FIFA Club World Cup, instead of playing a playoff against the winner of the Copa Libertadores.
Qualification and Participating Teams
The 24 teams that will participate in the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be determined by their performance in their domestic leagues and cups, as well as in the Concacaf League, which is a secondary club tournament for the region. The allocation of the 24 spots is as follows:
- Mexico: 4 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura)
- United States: 4 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Major League Soccer Eastern and Western Conferences)
- Canada: 1 team (the winner of the Canadian Championship)
- Costa Rica: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Liga FPD)
- Honduras: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Liga Nacional)
- Panama: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Liga Panameña de Fútbol)
- El Salvador: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Primera División)
- Guatemala: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Liga Nacional)
- Caribbean: 3 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Caribbean Club Championship, and the winner of the Caribbean Club Shield)
- Concacaf League: 2 teams (the champions and runners-up of the Concacaf League)
The teams that have qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 are:
- Mexico: América, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Tigres
- United States: Atlanta United, Los Angeles FC, New York City FC, Seattle Sounders
- Canada: Toronto FC
- Costa Rica: Alajuelense, Saprissa
- Honduras: Marathón, Olimpia
- Panama: Plaza Amador, Tauro
- El Salvador: Alianza, FAS
- Guatemala: Comunicaciones, Municipal
- Caribbean: Cibao (Dominican Republic), Portmore United (Jamaica), Robinhood (Suriname)
- Concacaf League: Motagua (Honduras), Real Estelí (Nicaragua)
Schedule and Format
Rounds and Knockout Phase
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will start with the round of 16, which will be played from February 15 to February 17, 2024. The 24 teams will be divided into eight groups of three teams each, and each group will play a round-robin format, with one match per team. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, which will be played from March 8 to March 10, 2024. The quarter-finals will be followed by the semi-finals, which will be played from April 5 to April 7, 2024. The final will be played on May 3, 2024, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Distribution of Teams
The distribution of the 24 teams into the eight groups for the round of 16 will be based on a seeding system, which will take into account the performance of the teams in their domestic leagues and cups, as well as in the Concacaf League. The seeding system will rank the teams from 1 to 24, with the highest-ranked team being the first seed, and the lowest-ranked team being the 24th seed. The seeding system will also ensure that teams from the same country or the same sub-region (North America, Central America, or Caribbean) will not be drawn into the same group.
The distribution of the teams into the eight groups will be as follows:
- Group A: 1st seed, 16th seed, 24th seed
- Group B: 2nd seed, 15th seed, 23rd seed
- Group C: 3rd seed, 14th seed, 22nd seed
- Group D: 4th seed, 13th seed, 21st seed
- Group E: 5th seed, 12th seed, 20th seed
- Group F: 6th seed, 11th seed, 19th seed
- Group G: 7th seed, 10th seed, 18th seed
- Group H: 8th seed, 9th seed, 17th seed
Draw Process
The draw for the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be held on December 15, 2023, at the Concacaf headquarters in Miami, Florida. The draw will be conducted by the Concacaf General Secretary, the Concacaf Director of Competitions, and two guest assistants, who will be former players or coaches from the region. The draw will be broadcast live on the Concacaf website and social media platforms, as well as on several TV channels across the region.
The draw process will be as follows:
- The 24 teams will be placed into four pots, according to their seeding. Pot 1 will contain the teams ranked from 1 to 6, Pot 2 will contain the teams ranked from 7 to 12, Pot 3 will contain the teams ranked from 13 to 18, and Pot 4 will contain the teams ranked from 19 to 24.
- The draw will start with Pot 1, and the first team drawn will be placed in Group A as the first seed. The second team drawn will be placed in Group B as the second seed, and so on, until all six teams from Pot 1 are distributed into the six groups.
- The draw will continue with Pot 2, and the first team drawn will be placed in Group G as the seventh seed. The second team drawn will be placed in Group H as the eighth seed, and so on, until all six teams from Pot 2 are distributed into the six groups.
- The draw will proceed with Pot 3, and the first team drawn will be placed in Group D as the 13th seed. The second team drawn will be placed in Group E as the 14th seed, and so on, until all six teams from Pot 3 are distributed into the six groups.
- The draw will conclude with Pot 4, and the first team drawn will be placed in Group A as the 24th seed. The second team drawn will be placed in Group B as the 23rd seed, and so on, until all six teams from Pot 4 are distributed into the six groups.
Match Schedule
The match schedule for the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be as follows:
- Round of 16: February 15-17, 2024
- Group A: 1st seed vs 24th seed, 16th seed vs 1st seed, 24th seed vs 16th seed
- Group B: 2nd seed vs 23rd seed, 15th seed vs 2nd seed, 23rd seed vs 15th seed
- Group C: 3rd seed vs 22nd seed, 14th seed vs 3rd seed, 22nd seed vs 14th seed
- Group D: 4th seed vs 21st seed, 13th seed vs 4th seed, 21st seed vs 13th seed
- Group E: 5th seed vs 20th seed, 12th seed vs 5th seed, 20th seed vs 12th seed
- Group F: 6th seed vs 19th seed, 11th seed vs 6th seed, 19th seed vs 11th seed
- Group G: 7th seed vs 18th seed, 10th seed vs 7th seed, 18th seed vs 10th seed
- Group H: 8th seed vs 17th seed, 9th seed vs 8th seed, 17th seed vs 9th seed
- Quarter-finals: March 8-10, 2024
- QF1: Winner of Group A vs Runner-up of Group B
- QF2: Winner of Group B vs Runner-up of Group A
- QF3: Winner of Group C vs Runner-up of Group D
- QF4: Winner of Group D vs Runner-up of Group C
- QF5: Winner of Group E vs Runner-up of Group F
- QF6: Winner of Group F vs Runner-up of Group E
- QF7: Winner of Group G vs Runner-up of Group H
- QF8: Winner of Group H vs Runner-up of Group G
- Semi-finals: April 5-7, 2024
- SF1: Winner of QF1 vs Winner of QF2
- SF2: Winner of QF3 vs Winner of QF4
- SF3: Winner of QF5 vs Winner of QF6
- SF4: Winner of QF7 vs Winner of QF8
- Final: May 3, 2024
- Winner of SF1 vs Winner of SF2
- Winner of SF3 vs Winner of SF4
Prize and Sponsorship
Prize Money and Trophy
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will offer a total of $20 million in prize money, which will be distributed among the 24 participating teams according to their performance. The breakdown of the prize money is as follows:
- Round of 16: $250,000 for each team
- Quarter-finals: $500,000 for each team
- Semi-finals: $1 million for each team
- Final: $3 million for the winner, $2 million for the runner-up
The winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup will also receive a gold-plated trophy, which is designed by the Mexican sculptor José Luis Cuevas. The trophy depicts a stylized soccer ball with the Concacaf logo and the words “Concacaf Champions Cup” engraved on it. The trophy weighs 10 kilograms and stands 60 centimeters tall.
Sponsorship and Broadcast Information
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be sponsored by several global and regional brands, which will provide financial and logistical support for the tournament. The main sponsors are:
- Scotiabank: The Canadian bank is the title sponsor of the Concacaf Champions Cup, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Scotiabank has been a partner of Concacaf since 2014, and has invested in the development of soccer in the region.
- Nike: The American sportswear company is the official ball supplier of the Concacaf Champions Cup, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Nike has been a partner of Concacaf since 2018, and has provided innovative and high-quality soccer balls for the tournaments.
- Coca-Cola: The American beverage company is the official soft drink sponsor of the Concacaf Champions Cup, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Coca-Cola has been a partner of Concacaf since 2016, and has promoted the tournaments through its marketing campaigns and social media platforms.
- Mastercard: The American financial services company is the official payment sponsor of the Concacaf Champions Cup, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Mastercard has been a partner of Concacaf since 2017, and has offered exclusive benefits and rewards for its cardholders and customers.
- Toyota: The Japanese automobile company is the official mobility sponsor of the Concacaf Champions Cup, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Toyota has been a partner of Concacaf since 2019, and has provided transportation and mobility solutions for the tournaments.
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be broadcasted by several TV and streaming platforms across the region and the world, which will offer live and on-demand coverage of the matches. The main broadcasters are:
- Fox Sports: The American sports network is the exclusive English-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the United States, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Fox Sports has been a partner of Concacaf since 2012, and has delivered high-quality and comprehensive coverage of the tournaments on its channels and platforms.
- Univision: The American Spanish-language network is the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the United States, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Univision has been a partner of Concacaf since 2012, and has reached millions of Hispanic viewers and fans with its coverage of the tournaments on its channels and platforms.
- TSN: The Canadian sports network is the exclusive English-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Canada, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. TSN has been a partner of Concacaf since 2014, and has showcased the best of regional soccer on its channels and platforms.
- RDS: The Canadian French-language network is the exclusive French-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Canada, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. RDS has been a partner of Concacaf since 2014, and has catered to the francophone audience and fans with its coverage of the tournaments on its channels and platforms.
- Televisa: The Mexican media company is the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Televisa has been a partner of Concacaf since 2012, and has brought the excitement and passion of regional soccer to its viewers and fans on its channels and platforms.
- ESPN: The American sports network is the exclusive English-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the Caribbean, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. ESPN has been a partner of Concacaf since 2016, and has provided extensive and in-depth coverage of the tournaments on its channels and platforms.
- Flow Sports: The Caribbean sports network is the exclusive English-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the Caribbean, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Flow Sports has been a partner of Concacaf since 2016, and has offered exclusive and interactive coverage of the tournaments on its channels and platforms.
- Teletica: The Costa Rican media company is the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Central America, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Teletica has been a partner of Concacaf since 2012, and has delivered the best of regional soccer to its viewers and fans on its channels and platforms.
- Facebook: The American social media company is the exclusive digital broadcaster of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the world, as well as the Concacaf League and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Facebook has been a partner of Concacaf since 2017, and has streamed the matches live and on-demand on its platform, reaching a global and diverse audience and fan base.
Records and Statistics
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will feature some of the best and most successful teams and players in the region, who will aim to break or set new records and statistics in the tournament. Some of the records and statistics to watch out for are:
- Most titles: The team with the most titles in the Concacaf Champions Cup is América from Mexico, with seven titles. The team with the most titles in the current format of the tournament is Monterrey from Mexico, with four titles. The only non-Mexican team to win the tournament in the current format is Toronto FC from Canada, who won it in 2020.
- Most appearances: The team with the most appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup is Saprissa from Costa Rica, with 35 appearances. The team with the most appearances in the current format of the tournament is Alajuelense from Costa Rica, with 11 appearances. The only team to appear in every edition of the tournament in the current format is Olimpia from Honduras, who will make their 12th appearance in 2024.
- Most goals: The player with the most goals in the Concacaf Champions Cup is Javier Orozco from Mexico, who scored 25 goals for Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna. The player with the most goals in the current format of the tournament is Raúl Jiménez from Mexico, who scored 14 goals for América. The player with the most goals in a single edition of the tournament is Clint Dempsey from the United States, who scored nine most goals in a single edition of the tournament is Clint Dempsey from the United States, who scored nine goals for Seattle Sounders in 2016.
- Most assists: The player with the most assists in the Concacaf Champions Cup is Nicolás Lodeiro from Uruguay, who provided 12 assists for Seattle Sounders. The player with the most assists in a single edition of the tournament is Carlos Darwin Quintero from Colombia, who provided seven assists for América in 2015.
- Most clean sheets: The goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the Concacaf Champions Cup is Jonathan Orozco from Mexico, who kept 16 clean sheets for Monterrey and Santos Laguna. The goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in a single edition of the tournament is Keylor Navas from Costa Rica, who kept six clean sheets for Saprissa in 2005.
Conclusion
The Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 will be an exciting and competitive tournament, featuring some of the best teams and players in the region. The tournament will also have a new format, which will make it more attractive and accessible for the fans and the media. The winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup will not only claim the regional glory but also secure a place in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face the champions of other continents. The Concacaf Champions Cup is the ultimate club soccer competition in the region and one that you should not miss.
