Concacaf announced that in the period 2023-2024, the Champions League at club level will have a new format.
A regionalized group stage will be played as part of a renewal of the tournament, which aims to promote football in the club throughout the confederation.
The new group stage will be played in the fall of each year and will include four groups of clubs from North America, four from Central America and two clubs from the Caribbean.
After the group stage, there will be an eliminatory phase of 16 clubs, which will be played in the spring.
This new format will end with a one-game final to crown a regional club champion. The winner of the competition will also qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
North American clubs
A total of 20 clubs from Canada, the United States and Mexico will qualify for the competition through their performance in national leagues and cups, including a place in the League Cup, Concacaf reported.
The 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each will play a total of four games in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of this stage, the four winners and the four secondary places will advance to the knockout phase. Those eight teams will be joined by three other North Americans, who will qualify through a playoff that will be played after the group stage.
Central American clubs
A total of 20 clubs from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will qualify for the tournament through their performance in their national leagues and a new Central American Cup.
The 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each club will play a total of four games in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of the group stage, the four winners and the four secondary places will advance to the playoffs. The four playoff winners will advance to the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Caribbean clubs
10 teams from the Caribbean will qualify for the group stage of the competition. Of the 10, eight will do so through professional leagues in the Caribbean region and two through a new Caribbean Cup, which will include performances from across the Caribbean.
The 10 clubs will be divided into two groups of five. Each club will play a total of four games in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of the group stage, the first two places will advance to the playoffs. The playoff winner will advance to the knockout stages of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Grow
“This is a very important evolution for CONCACAF and for the football club in our region. The CONCACAF Champions League has grown impressively in recent years, but this new format will transform the competition and significantly increase its relevance in our confederation and globally, “said CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani.
“He will raise the bar for CONCACAF clubs and leagues with several regional matches that we know fans want to see. It will also provide a competitive path to the FIFA Club World Cup, as clubs in our region strive to triumph on the world stage, ”added Montagliani.
The current format of the CONCACAF Champions League will remain for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions. 2023 will be a year of transition.