2019 CL/2020 CCL qualifiers [R]

I want to check if the Eastern Conference has ever qualified three non-Canadian clubs. The Western Conference qualified Seattle, FC Dallas, and Colorado in 2018, with the Red Bulls representing the East.

 

The 2014-15 CCL had three Eastern Conference teams. Kansas City (won the 2013 MLS Cup as a Eastern team), NY Red Bulls, DC United. Portland got in from the West.

The 2009-10 CCL had three Eastern Conference teams: Columbus, NY Red Bulls, DC United. Houston got in from the West.

Other oddities:

The 2013-14 CCL and the 2012-13 CCL had four teams that are all in the Western Conference now. Houston and KC were in the East and qualified along with San Jose and LA Galaxy in 13-14. The 12-13 tournament had Houston from the East along with LA Galaxy, Seattle, and RSL from the West.

The 2011-12 CCL had 4 Western Conference teams straight-up. Colorado, LA Galaxy, Seattle, and Dallas. The MLS Cup playoffs had the crossover system so teams from the same conference could meet in the Cup.

No current Eastern Conference team made the CCL for three straight tournaments back then.

 

The Red Bulls have never represented the East in MLS Cup, but they represented the West and lost to Columbus in 2008.

 

I'd say 09-10 still counts - even if they only got into the 08 Cup final through the Western bracket, they were still an Eastern Conference team - they qualified for the playoffs with an Eastern Conference schedule, etc.

 

Wikipedia says it is the USA1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_CONCACAF_Champions_League#Draw

But irrelevant now, it would have been interesting if "best" US team was unseeded.

Thanks for clarification.

 

My mistake. I was looking at the 2019 seedings.

USA1 was seeded 8th while USA2 was 10th in that tournament. USA1 and USA2 are tied at the moment for the 7th and 8th for next year's tournament. I don't know if PAN1 which was 9th last year or CRC1 which was 11th can still move up

 

Do we know whether they're judging the slots as SCL1, SCL2, etc. or as the individual country slots yet?

 

We could have another qualifier on Wednesday from MLS depending on results.

NYCFC will guarantee either winning the Eastern Conference or finishing second behind Atlanta and getting the hand-me-down spot via the Supporters Shield standings with the following results:

• A NYCFC win and a Philadelphia tie or loss OR
• A NYCFC tie and a Philadelphia loss

 

Philadelphia beat San Jose 2-1, so despite an NYCFC win, the race for the Eastern Conference champion spot is still on. They are still 6 points apart with 2 matches remaining. Both teams play Sunday, and NYCFC will qualify with either of the following results:

• An NYCFC win or tie OR
• A Philadelphia tie or loss

 

And from the final qualifying track, the Concacaf League, we are very close to having some guaranteed qualifiers as soon as tonight (Wikipedia says that Motagua has already qualified, but that is not the case).

Motagua
Motagua of Honduras won the opening leg of their quarterfinal on the road against Waterhouse 2-0, so they already have one foot into the semis and a guaranteed Champions League spot. Even if Motagua lose the tie, they already have 7 points in the qualification standings for the two best quarterfinal losers.

The Alianza-San Carlos loser cannot get to 7 points and with the following result tonight the Comunicaciones-Olimpia loser would not be able to either:

• Comunicaciones-Olimpia tie

 

This assumes that they aren’t giving 3 points for a shootout win, as that would be rewarding teams that do worse but then win in penalties. Then again this is concacaf.

 

Pretty sure they have. I just did a quick glance, so my math could be off. Only one team can pass them from San Carlos - Alianza, and only one can from Saprissa - Independiente, so they're at least ahead of two, which is enough to progress. I didn't bother looking any further, but if someone can craft the scenario where both teams from one of those ties can pass Motagua, please feel free to correct me.

 

I think the following scenario would see Motagua fail to qualify:

• Motagua loses tie to Waterhouse, and so must finish in top 2 quarterfinal losers. Let's say they lose 0-3. Motagua would then be on 7 points with GD of 0
• Comunicaciones beats Olimpia 2-0, then loses the tie on penalties. Comunicaciones would be the quarterfinal loser on 7 points with GD of +1, ahead of Motagua
• Independiente beats Saprissa 4-3, losing the tie on away goals. Independiente would be the quartefinal loser on 7 points with GD of +1

In this scenario, albeit far fetched, Motagua would be in 3rd place among the quarterfinal losers and not advance to the Champions League

 

That's what I overlooked. I was looking at top 6 overall and neglected the whole, you know, advancing thing. Thanks.

 

Of the 24 MLS clubs:

4 are qualified including Montreal
12 are alive for the MLS Cup spot who haven't qualified yet
6 are American and cannot make the playoffs
2 are Canadian and cannot qualify through MLS (Toronto is going to the playoffs and Vancouver is not)

If Philadelphia wins hosting NYCFC, they clinch the hand-me-down spot if it happens. If Philadelphia draws and Seattle and Minnesota won, all three would have the same record, but that's impossible because the latter two are playing each other in Seattle. If Philadelphia draws and Minnesota wins, they will have the same record. Minnesota's goal differential of +10 is 1 better than Philadelphia so if Minnesota wins and Philadelphia draws, Minnesota will have the better goal differential. Seattle's goal differential is +2, so they would need to win by 7 or 8 depending on goals scored if Philadelphia draws. Realistically, Seattle needs a win and a Philadelphia loss. All MLS clubs not already qualified other than those three can only qualify by winning MLS Cup. All MLS club end on Sunday at 4:00 P.M. USA Eastern.

 

When D.C. earned the right to host the second leg in the MLS playoffs but the Red Bulls got to host the second leg because of an approaching storm, D.C. fans complained. If NYCFC reaches the Semifinals, which has hosting determined by the previous two rounds, they could have to play CCL games elsewhere or switch what leg they host due to the Yankees. Concacaf hasn't announced the dates, but if 2020 has about the same dates as 2019 then the Semifinals will be the first round during MLB season. I want an MLB club to win the CCL, but I'd root for a Liga MX club over NYCFC.

 

I dunno, it really sounds like you want the team in a baseball stadium to win!