2020 CL/2021 CCL qualifiers [R]

Monterrey's bet paid off handsomely: after the B-team won the 3rd-place match at the Club World Cup, they matched América blow-for-blow and outlasted them on penalties to claim the Apertura title.

Now then, a quick grocery list of the remaining qualifiers in the next year:

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Concacaf League

- Belizean full-year champ (1)
- Clausura champions from the rest of Central America (6)
- One more team each from the five biggest CentAm leagues, i.e. everyone but Nicaragua and Belize (5)
- Caribbean Club Championship runner-up, 3rd-placer and 4th/semi-pro playoff winner (3)

Concacaf Champions League

- Mexican Clausura finalists (2)
- MLS Champ, Supporters Shield, opposite-conference winner, US Open Cup winner (4)
- Canadian Championship winner (1)
- Caribbean Club Championship winner (1)
- CL qualifiers (6)

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2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX2 or MEX3]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2]
6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]

 

As the Clausura seasons get out the gate in Mexico and Central America, it is worth noting that we could have a qualifier sooner rather than later:

Tabla general acumulada#LigaPromerica #Clausura2020 #Unafut #Futbol pic.twitter.com/j4zp5q2n3N

— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) January 13, 2020

Alajuelense built up a healthy lead in the Apertura regular season, and finished runner-up in the league for good measure (although that was unnecessary for our purporses, Costa Rica does not give preferences to runners-up for the last berth). As soon as they claim first place in the full-year table, or are uncatchable for everyone save Herediano, they'll seal their long-overdue return to the continental stage.

 

Concacaf has published the Caribbean Club Championship schedule, with Jamaica hosting the group stage:

 

For anyone interested, Concacaf is showing the Caribbean Championship live on Facebook.

 

We were heading for the dreaded 3-way tie in Group A of the Caribbean Club Championship...but Waterhouse had other ideas, crushing Don Bosco 3-0 to move on to the Finals along with Cibao.

 

Atlético Pantoja cleaned house in their group, dropping Portmore United and Arcahaie FC by a combined 6-0 to reach the Finals...and guarantee that at least one Dominican side will be playing continental ball next season.

 

Arcahaie down Portmore United to reach FCCCC semifinals https://t.co/OFeb4v1D3T
Arcahaie avanza a semifinales de FCCCC derrotando Portmore United https://t.co/zDvzXa3T7a@PortmoreUtdFc | Arcahaie FC | #FCCCC #VivimosLaPasión ⚽

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 10, 2020

So the participants in the Caribbean Club Championship semis are set:

- Waterhouse FC (JAM)
- Cibao FC (DOM)
- Atlético Pantoja (DOM)
- Arcahaie FC (HAI)

 

And at the lower level, Concacaf just completed the draw for the semi-pro Caribbean Club Shield:



The tournament will take place in Curaçao from April 3-12. The group winners move on directly to the semifinals; the champion will take on the fourth-place team from the Caribbean Club Championship for the last Concacaf League berth.

It's worth noting that a Puerto Rican club will participate for the first time in ages...while Trinidad and Tobago has sat out of Caribbean tournaments for the third year running.

 

In addition, the final round of the CFU Club Championship will take place in the Dominican Republic in May. The semifinals:

Friday, May 8

Waterhouse FC (HAM) vs. Arcahaie FC (HAI)
Atlético Pantoja (DOM) vs. Cibao FC (DOM)

The Third-Place Match and the Final will take place on May 10, with the fourth-place/CFU Club Shield playoff three days later.

 

So, it's no surprise that with world football in hiatus, there's little to report here as well...other than two things.

First, with Infantino and FIFA agreeing to move the expanded Club World Cup to let the Euro and Copa América take the summer of 2021, we have no idea if the 2021 CCL winner will have a guaranteed CWC berth or not.

And in the meanwhile, one country has decided to call it a day, i.e. ending their season rather than just suspending it.

El Salvador have declared Once Deportivo the Clausura champs - their first-ever national championship if I'm not mistaken, and certainly their first continental berth in the CCL era. Now the question is if they'll have a playoff for the last CL berth or let the full-year table decide it (in which case FAS would be the beneficiary).

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX2 or MEX3]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Once Deportivo [SLV2]

 

So we actually have an update to report, from the only league in Concacaf still in action: the Nicaragan Clausura regular season has drawn to a close.





So Real Estelí must outperform their archrivals Diriangén as well as Managua FC if they want to grab Nicaragua's top berth in the next Concacaf League (assuming there is one, of course). As for Managua, they'll get the last continental berth if they or Estelí take the Clausura title, as hand-me-down berths go to the runner-up with the best full-year record.

 

So the Nicaraguan league is in the semifinal round...and I have to give them kudos, as their website is now a user-friendly source for the latest action there. Only one goal scored in the first legs:

¡Un RT a este golazo! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wdjRNtrKN6

— Real Estelí FC (@realestelifc) April 26, 2020

...and if the home teams win out in midweek, then Managua will lock down a 2020 (?????) CL berth, leaving only the top seed in dispute in the Clausura Final.

 

The Nicaraguan Clausura Final is set:





So the only things left to determine for the time being are 1) who will claim Nicaragua's top seed and 2) if Liga MX will take the Ligue 1 route and declare Cruz Azul the Clausura champs

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX2 or MEX3]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Once Deportivo [SLV2]
9. Managua FC [NCA1 or NCA2]

 

I have to tip my cap to Concacaf for beating me to the scoop: the Belizean Premier League responded to the pandemic by suspending the season and using the last full-year table to declare Verdes FC its continental representative.

On the other hand, in Concacaf's recent article about the Concacaf League qualifiers, they don't acknowledge either Once Deportivo (maybe the Salvadoran league hasn't officially informed Concacaf yet of their decision?) or Forge. I wrote to them for a clarification:

Y qué ha pasado con @ForgeFCHamilton , campeón de la temporada anterior de la @CPLsoccer , no está clasificado también para la SCL? @CanadaSoccerEN

— Paul Calixte (@paulcalixte1) May 5, 2020

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX2 or MEX3]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Once Deportivo [SLV2]
9. Managua FC [NCA1 or NCA2]
10. Verdes FC [BLZ]

 

There must be few things in sports that sting as much as blowing a Final at home



2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX2 or MEX3]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Once Deportivo [SLV2]
9. Managua FC [NCA2]
10. Verdes FC [BLZ]

 

Nothing official from Guatemala...but apparently Concacaf has informed them that if they opt to suspend the Clausura, the three CL qualifiers would be:

GUA1 - Municipal
GUA2 - Comunicaciones
GUA3 - Antigua GFC

 

Liga MX 2020 Clausura canceled. League will begin again at start of the Apertura.

- No 2020 Clausura champions 

- Cruz Azul and Leon to go into CONCACAF Champions League 

- Announcement 1st week of June regarding return to training. No date for Apertura start as yet #ligamxeng https://t.co/1H956ClyJ7

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) May 22, 2020

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX3]
3. Cruz Azul [MEX2]
4. Club León [MEX4]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Once Deportivo [SLV2]
9. Managua FC [NCA2]
10. Verdes FC [BLZ]

 

As you may have heard, the Costa Rican league is the first one in the Americas to resume operations...and with only five matchdays left in the Clausura regular season, we should keep a keen eye here, as Alajuelense have an 8-point lead at the top of the full-year table and are closing in on a Concacaf League berth (unless UNAFUT insists on reserving one of its continental tickets for the Torneo de Copa winner).

 

Damn, we'll have to vacate them too

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX3]
3. Cruz Azul [MEX2]
4. Club León [MEX4]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Managua FC [NCA2]
9. Verdes FC [BLZ]
10. FAS [SLV2]
11. Municipal Limeño [SLV3]

 

Reporting w/@jeffrueter: multiple sources close to the league’s operations have confirmed that the winner of MLS’ Orlando tourney will receive a CONCACAF Champions League berth.

— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) June 4, 2020

 

Over the last week, after Saprissa blew their shot with three straight draws (although it was good enough to win the Clausura regular season table), Alajuelense claimed top spot in the full-year table to guarantee their return to the continental stage.

2021 CCL Qualifiers

1. CF Monterrey [MEX1]
2. Club América [MEX3]
3. Cruz Azul [MEX2]
4. Club León [MEX4]

2020 CL Qualifiers

1. Forge [CAN2]
2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2]
5. Real Estelí [NCA1]
6. Alianza [SLV1]
7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]
8. Managua FC [NCA2]
9. Verdes FC [BLZ]
10. FAS [SLV2]
11. Municipal Limeño [SLV3]
12. LD Alajuelense [CRC1, CRC2 or CRC3]

 

As well as for the Canadian Championship...I'm pleasantly surprised to learn that those two tournaments are still on.