| File:CONCACAF CL logo.png | |
| Founded |
1962 (Champions Cup) 2008 (Champions League) |
|---|---|
| Region |
North America, Central America, Caribbean (CONCACAF) |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Current champions | Mexico Monterrey (2nd title) |
| Most successful club(s) |
Mexico Cruz Azul Mexico Club América (5 titles each) |
| Website | CONCACAF Champions League |
| File:Soccerball current event.svg 2012–13 Champions League | |
The CONCACAF Champions League (Spanish: Concacaf Liga Campeones; French: Ligue des champions de la CONCACAF) is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean). The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Prior to 2008, the top-level competition for CONCACAF club teams was the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, sometimes called simply the Champions' Cup. The tournament was played in a variety of formats over the years. In 2008, CONCACAF announced a change in both name and format, inviting twenty-four teams to participate in a preliminary round, group stage, and knockout tournament called the CONCACAF Champions' League.
Between 2008–09 and 2011–12, the tournament was played as a twenty-four team tournament with a preliminary round, followed by a sixteen-team group stage (four groups of four), followed by an eight-team home-and-away single-elimination tournament. In early 2012, CONCACAF announced a new format for the 2012–2013 CONCACAF Champions' League. Under the new format, the preliminary round would be eliminated, and group play would consist of eight groups of three teams each, with each group winner advancing to the quarterfinals.
The title has been won by 27 different clubs, 11 of which have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Cruz Azul and América, who have won the competition five times each. Mexico's Primera División is, by far, the most successful league, amassing 27 wins in the tournament. Until 2011, when Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake reached the finals, each CONCACAF Champions League final had been an all-Mexican affair. The Mexican Primera División also holds the record for most appearances in the final of both the Champions Cup and Champions League as well as the highest number of winning clubs.
In the Champions' Cup era, the second most successful league has been Costa Rica's Primera División, while in the Champions League era, the second most successful league has been the United States and Canada's Major League Soccer.
History[]
Champions' Cup era (1962–2008)[]
Champions' Cup logo
The competition's former format, a knockout tournament called the Champions' Cup, was played under a variety of formats. The last format, used from 2004 to 2008, had eight teams competing – four from the North American zone (two from Mexico, two from the United States/Canada), three from the Central American zone, and one from the Caribbean zone. Since 2005, the champion of the competition also gained entry into the FIFA Club World Cup, giving clubs an added incentive for a strong participation and greater interest from fans. Also, the Champions' Cup Runner-up would be one of the three CONCACAF invitees to the Copa Sudamericana.
Champions League era (2008–present)[]
The CONCACAF Executive Committee at their 2006 November meeting decided to "act upon" a proposal at their next meeting by the CONCACAF Secretariat to develop the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup into a larger "Champions League" style event. The CONCACAF Executive Committee reported on November 14, 2007 some of the details.[1] The previous Champions' Cup format was used as planned in the Spring of 2008. Then, a newly expanded Champions League tournament was conducted starting in August 2008 and concluding in May 2009. The setup involves 24 teams initially and features a Preliminary Round contested by some of the teams to reduce the field to 16 teams, which are separated into 4 groups of four teams.[1][2] After the Group Stage, the Championship Round are held from the Quarterfinal Round onward.
Qualifying[]
The current format features 24 teams in total.
From the North American Zone:
- 4 clubs from Mexico Mexico
- 4 clubs from the United States United States
- 1 club from Canada Canada
From the Central American Zone:
- 2 clubs from Costa Rica Costa Rica
- 2 clubs from El Salvador El Salvador
- 2 clubs from Guatemala Guatemala
- 2 clubs from Honduras Honduras
- 2 clubs from Panama Panama
- 1 club from Nicaragua Nicaragua
- 1 club from Belize Belize
From the Caribbean Zone:
- 3 clubs, qualifying via the CFU Club Championship.[3]
The four teams qualifying from the United States are the two MLS Cup finalists, the winner of the MLS Supporters' Shield (awarded to the team with the best regular season record), and the winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Should the same team qualify multiple times and/or should a Canadian team occupy one or more of the MLS qualifying places, then the American MLS team(s) with the best regular season records not otherwise qualified will be entered.
The team qualifying from Canada is the winner of the Amway Canadian Championship.
Stadium standards[]
If a club fails to meet the standards for its home stadium (all-seater stadium), this club must find a suitable stadium in its own country. If said club fails to provide the adequate facilities, it will run the risk of being replaced.[4]
- Central America: If one or more of the twelve Central American clubs is precluded, it will be supplanted by a club from the best Central American league, based on results from the current Champions League.
- Caribbean: If any Caribbean club is precluded, it will be supplanted by the club who finished 4th in the CFU Club Championship.
Format[]
New for the 2012-13 format, all 24 teams in the event will be drawn straight into the group stage. Each of the eight groups will have three teams. United States and Mexican sides cannot be drawn into the same group. Each group winner will then advance to the quarterfinals, which proceed unchanged from previous versions of the event.
Finals[]
| Year | CONCACAF Champions Cup era | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
| 1962 Details |
Guadalajara Mexico | 1 – 0 / 5 – 0 Aggregate 6 – 0 |
Guatemala Comunicaciones |
| 1963 Details |
Haïtien Haiti | (2) | Mexico Guadalajara |
| 1967 Details |
Alianza El Salvador | 1 – 2 / 3 – 0 Aggregate 4 – 2 |
Netherlands Antilles Jong Colombia |
| 1968 Details |
Deportivo Toluca Mexico | (2) | |
| 1969 Details |
Cruz Azul Mexico | 0 – 0 / 1 – 0 Aggregate 1 – 0 |
Guatemala Comunicaciones |
| 1970 Details |
Cruz Azul Mexico | (2) | |
| 1971 Details |
Cruz Azul Mexico | (1) | Costa Rica Alajuelense |
| 1972 Details |
Olimpia Honduras | 0 – 0 / 2 – 0 Aggregate 2 – 0 |
Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Robinhood |
| 1973 Details |
Transvaal Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands) | (2) | |
| 1974 Details |
Municipal Guatemala | 2 – 1 / 2 – 1 Aggregate 4 – 2 |
Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Transvaal |
| 1975 Details |
Atlético Español Mexico | 2 – 0 / 1 – 1 Aggregate 3 – 1 |
Suriname Transvaal |
| 1976 Details |
Águila El Salvador | 6 – 1 / 2 – 1 Aggregate 8 – 2 |
Suriname Robinhood |
| 1977 Details |
América Mexico | 1 – 0 / 0 – 0 Aggregate 1 – 0 |
Suriname Robinhood |
| 1978 Details |
Universidad de Guadalajara Mexico Comunicaciones Guatemala Defence Force Trinidad and Tobago |
(3) | |
| 1979 Details |
FAS El Salvador | 1 – 0 / 8 – 0 Aggregate 9 – 0 |
Netherlands Antilles Jong Colombia |
| 1980 Details |
UNAM Mexico | (1) | Honduras Universidad |
| 1981 Details |
Transvaal Suriname | 1 – 0 / 1 – 1 Aggregate 2 – 1 |
El Salvador Atlético Marte |
| 1982 Details |
UNAM Mexico | 0 – 0 / 3 – 2 Aggregate 3 – 2 |
Suriname Robinhood |
| 1983 Details |
Atlante Mexico | 1 – 1 / 5 – 0 Aggregate 6 – 1 |
Suriname Robinhood |
| 1984 Details |
Violette Haiti | (2) | |
| 1985 Details |
Defence Force Trinidad and Tobago | 2 – 0 / 0 – 1 Aggregate 2 – 1 |
Honduras Olimpia |
| 1986 Details |
Alajuelense Costa Rica | 4 – 1 / 1 – 1 Aggregate 5 – 2 |
Suriname Transvaal |
| 1987 Details |
América Mexico | 1 – 1 / 2 – 0 Aggregate 3 – 1 |
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force |
| 1988 Details |
Olimpia Honduras | 2 – 0 / 2 – 0 Aggregate 4 – 0 |
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force |
| 1989 Details |
UNAM Mexico | 1 – 1 / 3 – 1 Aggregate 4 – 2 |
Cuba FC Pinar del Río |
| 1990 Details |
América Mexico | 2 – 2 / 6 – 0 Aggregate 8 – 2 |
CubaFC Pinar del Río |
| 1991 Details |
Puebla Mexico | 3 – 1 / 1 – 1 Aggregate 4 – 2 |
Trinidad and Tobago Police FC |
| 1992 Details |
América Mexico | 1 – 0 | Costa Rica Alajuelense |
| 1993 Details |
Saprissa Costa Rica | (1) | Mexico León |
| 1994 Details |
Cartaginés Costa Rica | 3 – 2 | Mexico Atlante |
| 1995 Details |
Saprissa Costa Rica | (1) | Guatemala Municipal |
| 1996 Details |
Cruz Azul Mexico | (1) | Mexico Necaxa |
| 1997 Details |
Cruz Azul Mexico | 5 – 3 | United States Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 1998 Details |
D.C. United United States | 1 – 0 | Mexico Deportivo Toluca |
| 1999 Details |
Necaxa Mexico | 2 – 1 | Costa Rica Alajuelense |
| 2000 Details |
Los Angeles Galaxy United States | 3 – 2 | Honduras Olimpia |
| 2002 Details |
Pachuca Mexico | 1 – 0 | Mexico Monarcas Morelia |
| 2003 Details |
Deportivo Toluca Mexico | 3 – 3 / 2 – 1 Aggregate 5 – 4 |
Mexico Monarcas Morelia |
| 2004 Details |
Alajuelense Costa Rica | 1 – 1 / 4 – 0 Aggregate 5 – 1 |
Costa Rica Saprissa |
| 2005 Details |
Saprissa Costa Rica | 2 – 0 / 1 – 2 Aggregate 3 – 2 |
Mexico UNAM |
| 2006 Details |
América Mexico | 0 – 0 / 2 – 1 Aggregate 2 – 1 |
Mexico Deportivo Toluca |
| 2007 Details |
Pachuca Mexico | 2 – 2 / 0 – 0 Aggregate 2 – 2 7–6p |
Mexico Guadalajara |
| 2008 Details |
Pachuca Mexico | 1 – 1 / 2 – 1 Aggregate 3 – 2 |
Costa Rica Saprissa |
| Season | CONCACAF Champions League era | ||
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | |
| 2008-09 | Atlante Mexico | 2 – 0 / 0 – 0 Aggregate 2 – 0 |
Mexico Cruz Azul |
| 2009-10 | Pachuca Mexico | 1 – 2 / 1 – 0 Aggregate 2 – 2 |
Mexico Cruz Azul |
| 2010-11 | Monterrey Mexico | 2 – 2 / 1 – 0 Aggregate 3 – 2 |
United States Real Salt Lake |
| 2011-12 | Monterrey Mexico | 2 – 0 / 1 – 2 Aggregate 3 – 2 |
Mexico Santos Laguna |
| 2012-13 | Tournament in progress | ||
| 2013-14 | Qualification in progress | ||
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Records and statistics[]
- Main article: CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Champions League records and statistics
Top-ten clubs[]
| Rank | Team | Wins | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico Cruz Azul | 5 | 2 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997 | 2009, 2010 |
| 2 | Mexico América | 5 | 0 | 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006 | |
| 3 | Mexico Pachuca | 4 | 0 | 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010 | |
| 4 | Costa Rica Saprissa | 3 | 2 | 1993, 1995, 2005 | 2004, 2008 |
| 5 | Mexico UNAM | 3 | 1 | 1980, 1982, 1989 | 2005 |
| 6 | Suriname Transvaal | 2 | 3 | 1973, 1981 | 1974, 1975, 1986 |
| Costa Rica Alajuelense | 2 | 3 | 1986, 2004 | 1971, 1992, 1999 | |
| 8 | Mexico Toluca | 2 | 2 | 1968, 2003 | 1998, 2006 |
| Honduras Olimpia | 2 | 2 | 1972, 1988 | 1985, 2000 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force | 2 | 2 | 1978, 1985 | 1987, 1988 |
Top-ten countries[]
| Rank | Country | Winner | Runner-up | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico | 28 | 13 | Cruz Azul (5), América (5), Pachuca (4), UNAM (3), Toluca (2), Atlante (2), Monterrey (2), Guadalajara (1), Necaxa (1), Puebla (1), Universidad de Guadalajara (1), Español (1) | Guadalajara (2), Cruz Azul (2), Deportivo Toluca (2), Monarcas Morelia (2), UNAM (1), Necaxa (1), Atlante (1), León (1), Santos (1) |
| 2 | File:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica | 6 | 5 | Saprissa (3), Alajuelense (2), Cartaginés (1) | Alajuelense (3), Saprissa (2) |
| 3 | File:Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador | 3 | 1 | Alianza (1), Águila (1), FAS (1) | Atlético Marte (1) |
| 4 | File:Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname | 2 | 8 | Transvaal (2) | Robinhood (5), Transvaal (3) |
| 5 | File:Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala | 2 | 3 | Municipal (1), Comunicaciones (1) | Comunicaciones (2), Municipal (1) |
| File:Flag of Honduras.svg Honduras | 2 | 3 | Olimpia (2) | Olimpia (2), Universidad (1) | |
| File:Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago | 2 | 3 | Defence Force (2) | Defence Force (2), Police FC (1) | |
| 8 | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 2 | 2 | D.C. United (1), Los Angeles Galaxy (1) | Los Angeles Galaxy (1), Real Salt Lake (1) |
| 9 | File:Flag of Haiti.svg Haiti | 2 | 0 | Haïtien (1), Violette (1) | |
| 10 | File:Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba | 0 | 2 | Pinar del Río (2) | |
| File:Flag of Curaçao.svg Curaçao | 0 | 2 | Jong Colombia (2) |
Top countries (Champions League era: 2008-present)[]
| Rank | Country | Winner | Runner-up | Semi-finalist | Winners | Runners-up | Semi-finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico | 4 | 3 | 5 | Monterrey (2012, 2011), Pachuca (2010), Atlante (2009) |
Cruz Azul (2010, 2009), Santos (2012) | UNAM (2012, 2010), Cruz Azul (2011), Toluca (2010), Santos (2009) |
| 2 | File:Flag of the United States.svg United States | 0 | 1 | 0 | Real Salt Lake (2011) | ||
| 3 | File:Flag of Canada.svg Canada | 0 | 0 | 1 | Toronto FC (2012) | ||
| 4 | File:Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica | 0 | 0 | 1 | C.D. Saprissa (2011) |
See also[]
- Interamerican Cup
- CONCACAF Giants Cup
- CONCACAF Cup Winners' Cup
- North American SuperLiga
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1]
- ↑ "We Are the Champions (League)". The Washington Post. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/11/we_are_the_champions_league.html.
- ↑ "Qualifying Format Unveiled for 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League". CONCACAF Official site. 2008-05-14. http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4171. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ↑ "CONCACAF Executive Committee tightens stadium standards for next year's Champions League". CONCACAF Official site. 2008-11-07. http://www.concacaf.com/page/ConfederationDetail/0,,12813~1858355,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-12.
External links[]
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