Link Mr Chuck McFatBlazer made an announcement regarding next year's CCL, which, as of now, we have qualified for, thanks to Columbus making the MLS Cup. So what does this mean? Teams playing in CCL couldn't participate in SL...not unless it is moved to May or June OR there are different Mexican and MLS teams in SL.
Three points. 1. We may have qualified for the 09-10 CCL if the USSF gets the same number of entries and if the same criteria is used. 2. I like the fact that they are spreading out the CCL more. This new schedule would mean the six group stage games would be spread out over 10 weeks rather than the 7 weeks used this year. 3. I agree that this probably means different teams in SuperLiga and the CCL next year. That has been hinted at in statements from MLS on scheduling issues.
Combine this with a possible change in the MLS set up as a whole and teams like us that went thru a grueling fixture congestion in '08 could have this hiccup resolved as soon as next March. Funny to be talking of CCL 2009 when we still have a group stage match with Firpo to play for '08 advancement.
I'm sticking with "may have qualified" until we get a final word. I would normally say that MLS would want to have a Chicago team with Blanco in the CCL but they probably want them in Superliga to put more attention on that event.
We are officially in the next CCL, and have a chance to go straight to the group stage. http://www.forever-orange.com/2008/11/20/got-black-and-gold-for-sunday/
Next years spots should be the same as this year: USA 1- Columbus USA 2- Houston USA 3- New York USA 4- D.C. United Canada 1- Winner of the Canadian playoffs next summer Mexico 1- Apertura champion (the finals are on Dec. 11th and 14th) Mexico 2- Clausura champion (the finals are on May 27th and 30th) Mexico 3- Apertura runner up Mexico 4- Clausura runner up Costa Rica 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Inveirno and Verano winners (the finals of the Inveirno are Dec. 14th and 21st) Costa Rica 2- loser of the playoff El Salvador 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Apertura and Clausura winners El Salvador 2- loser of the playoff Guatemala 1- as above Guatemala 2- as above Honduras 1- as above Honduras 2- as above Panama 1- as above Panama 2- as above Nicaragua 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Apertura and Clausura winners Belize 1- 2008/2009 league champion Caribbean 1- 1st place in the CFU championship (final and third place game on Dec. 14th) Caribbean 2- 2nd place in the CFU championship Caribbean 3- 3rd place in the CFU championship The play-in round starts the last week of July, and the group stages start in August this year.
I agree. It does look like all the slots will stay the same for next year's tournament. After that we may see some adjustment based on results but maybe not for a couple more years.
I forgot to note, that if a Central American team wins both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, then they are that countries #1, and the 2nd best team from the CLAUSURA will be the #2. (with the exception of Nicaragua of course.)
Both Toluca and Cruz Azul secured spots in the 09/10 Champions League by advancing to the Mexican apertura final. The winner of that series will be seeded as Mexico #1, and the loser will be seeded as Mexico #3.
Mexican and panamanian spots updated for last weekends action: USA 1- Columbus USA 2- Houston USA 3- New York USA 4- D.C. United Canada 1- Winner of the Canadian playoffs next summer Mexico 1- Toluca or Cruz Azul (the finals are on Dec. 11th and 14th) Mexico 2- Clausura champion (the finals are on May 27th and 30th) Mexico 3- Toluca or Cruz Azul Mexico 4- Clausura runner up Costa Rica 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Inveirno and Verano winners (the finals of the Inveirno are Dec. 14th and 21st) Costa Rica 2- loser of the playoff El Salvador 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Apertura and Clausura winners El Salvador 2- loser of the playoff Guatemala 1- as above Guatemala 2- as above Honduras 1- as above Honduras 2- as above Panama 1- Arabe Unido or clausura winner Panama 2- Arabe Unido or clausura winner Nicaragua 1- winner of a playoff between the torneo Apertura and Clausura winners Belize 1- 2008/2009 league champion Caribbean 1- 1st place in the CFU championship (final and third place game on Dec. 14th) Caribbean 2- 2nd place in the CFU championship Caribbean 3- 3rd place in the CFU championship
The playoffs no longer exist for Central American teams as the 1 & 2 slots are now decided by tiebreakers (First is aggregrate points over both seasons, then goal difference, then goals scored). http://concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4553
It also interesting that the winner of the tournament (if they are not one of the qualifying teams) does not get a slot for 2009.
US spots #1 - MLS Cup Winner #2 - SS Runner Up #3 - USOC Winner #4 - MLS Cup Runner-Up DC won the USOC
Correct. I forgot to change that: USA 1- Columbus USA 2- Houston USA 3- New York USA 4- D.C. United Canada 1- Winner of the Canadian playoffs next summer Mexico 1- Toluca or Cruz Azul (the finals are on Dec. 11th and 14th) Mexico 2- Clausura champion (the finals are on May 27th and 30th) Mexico 3- Toluca or Cruz Azul Mexico 4- Clausura runner up Costa Rica 1- invierno or verano winner (the finals of the Inveirno are Dec. 14th and 21st) Costa Rica 2- invierno or verano winner El Salvador 1- apertura or clausura winner El Salvador 2- apertura or clausura winner Guatemala 1- apertura or clausura winner Guatemala 2- apertura or clausura winner Honduras 1- apertura or clausura winner Honduras 2- apertura or clausura winner Panama 1- Arabe Unido or clausura winner Panama 2- Arabe Unido or clausura winner Nicaragua 1- apertura or clausura winner Belize 1- 2008/2009 league champion Caribbean 1- 1st place in the CFU championship (final and third place game on Dec. 14th) Caribbean 2- 2nd place in the CFU championship Caribbean 3- 3rd place in the CFU championship