2017-18 CCL qualifiers [R]

Hey everyone,

While national-team football hogs the spotlight, it is worth noting that the first qualifier for next season's edition of the CONCACAF Champions League will emerge at the end of this month.

In the Canadian Championship, defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps survived a scare after going down 2-0 at the Ottawa Fury, winning 3-0 at home. They will face Toronto FC, who beat Montreal 4-2 at home and held out for a 0-0 draw in the Stade Saputo; the first leg will be June 21 at 7:30 p.m. EDT in Toronto, and the second at BC Place in Vancouver on June 29 at 10:00 p.m. EDT.

 

Now that's the Vancouver we know and love.

Time to whip out the board (below); the next qualifiers will be either the 2016 US Open Cup winner on Sep. 21 or a regular-season conference winner in MLS, depending on how fast that occurs. Mind you, Colorado Rapids currently have the inside track on the Supporters' Shield...

2017-18 CCL Qualifiers

1. Toronto FC [CAN]

 

The US Open Cup semifinals are set (home team first, both games on August 10):

New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire
LA Galaxy vs. FC Dallas

On September 21, the winner of LA/Dallas will either travel to Chicago or host the Revs in the Final.

 

The next qualifier will be either FC Dallas or the New England Revolution, as the former will host the latter in the 2016 US Open Cup final. FC Dallas is playing for a second straight season of Champions League football, while the Revs would be returning for the first time since the "inaugural" CCL. Not that they have any intention of remembering how that went...

 

Make that September 13.

 

Congratulations to FC Dallas - the best MLS team at the moment won handily over the Revs 4-2 to claim the US Open Cup and the first US berth in next season's Champions League.

In addition, they've set up a trio of hand-me-down situations: they're still in the running for both the Supporters' Shield (4 points ahead of the pack with 5 games to go) and the MLS Cup, while Toronto FC finishing first in the Eastern Conference (regular season) would cause that berth to go back to the top of the MLS table and down to the next US team not yet qualified. So finishing second and third in the full-year table could have serious CCL implications...

2017-18 CCL Qualifiers

1. Toronto FC [CAN]
2. FC Dallas [USA]

 

We're closer to finding out the MLS regular season CCL qualifiers: NYRB won and NYCFC lost this afternoon, so the Red Bulls just need a point next Sunday to officially clinch first place in the East; even if they lose, their derby rivals would have to make up GD difference of 13 goals to top them.

Meanwhile, if Colorado win at Portland and Dallas lose at home against Seattle, the Rapids could clinch the Supporters' Shield and a return to the Champions League this very afternoon - we'll find out in two hours.

Finally, although this corresponds to the next edition of the CCL, the 2017 Canadian Championship bracket is set (assuming no expansion). Team hosting the return leg first...

Play-in Round:

FC Edmonton vs. Ottawa Fury

Semifinals:

Toronto FC vs. Play-in Winner
Impact de Montréal vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

 

At the conclusion of MLS's penultimate matchday, the Supporters' Shield is still up for grabs. Nonetheless, we can confirm the following:

Congratulations, @JasonMa et al.! The Rapids are back in the Champions League!

While Colorado lost today, NYCFC's defeat in DC means that the only team that could catch them for second place in the overall MLS table are the New York Red Bulls - who would presumably have the "opposite conference regular season winner" CCL berth in their pockets. Either FC Dallas or Colorado will take the Shield; in the worst case, the Rapids finish third in the table, and with FC Dallas holding two tickets and NYRB one, Dallas's hand-me-down berth would end up in Commerce City.

Now, here's hoping Mastroeni takes continental ball more seriously than Gary Smith did...

2017-18 CCL Qualifiers

1. Toronto FC [CAN]
2. FC Dallas [USA]
3. Colorado Rapids [USA]

 

The MLS regular season finished a half-hour ago...and the Red Bulls won in Philly to wrap up first place in the East. Like Dallas, they've signed up for a full year of CCL in 2017 - knockout round in the spring, then next season's group stage in the fall.

As for the final CCL berth from the US: if any of the already-qualified teams wins the MLS Cup final, the hand-me-down berth falls to New York City FC. The Pigeons are also in if they do the honors themselves; the rest (Montreal excepted) will try to qualify on their own merits.

2017-18 CCL Qualifiers

1. Toronto FC [CAN]
2. FC Dallas [USA]
3. Colorado Rapids [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]

 

An update from MLS: the Canadian teams swept the Eastern Conference play-in games, so the only teams in the East than can make MLS Cup are NYCFC and three teams that would get them in the CCL if they were to win it all.

Thus, if the Western Conference Final is FC Dallas-Colorado Rapids - or failing that, if either one makes MLS Cup from the West - David Villa and co. are Champions League-bound from that moment.

 

Yup - for now, the Canadian qualifier is in Pot 2, so said team can end up in any group.

OTOH, Giovinco performing well against Mexican opposition might get the Italy NT to take him more seriously

 

As always, the Panamanian league is the first in Central America to reach the playoff round, with the first legs of the semifinals taking place last weekend:

Resultados de las semifinales de ida. #YosoyLPF @ChorrilloFC 0-0 @cdplazaamador @ArabeUnido_ 3-0 @TauroFC

— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) November 20, 2016

And a major announcement for the Apertura final:

El cantautor panameño @rubenblades cantará el himno nacional de Panamá en la Gran Final del Torneo Apertura 2016. #YosoyLPF

— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) November 21, 2016

I don't care who you are, that's amazing - Ruben Blades is retiring from his music career soon (this year?), so to book him will make this Final must-see TV in Panama.