2020 CONCACAF League and 2021 Champions League

Around that same time, I remember some guy at a bar in Pasadena telling me that the USMNT was full of foreign players -- for example, they just paid Beckham $250 million to play for the US.

 

Everybody always forgets that there really is a thing called the North American Football Union. The confederation statutes actually say: "CONCACAF shall recognize ... The North American Football Union (NAFU)" .

Therefore they are legally obligated to pretend that it exists even though of course it really doesn't. Also, the NAFU officially gets a seat on the FIFA Council. (Currently Sunil Gulati; what, you thought he died?)

They even have a nifty logo:


Well OK, it's actually a crappy logo, but in fairness they haven't put a lot of work into it in a long time. Or, really, ever.


At one time they even had a Championship. North American Nations Cup, also called the 3 Nations Cup. Played in 1990 and 91. Canada won the first one. No, seriously.

Played at Swangard which probably explains it; all the players spent their time partying with husky Canadian women.

 

You'd think they'd at least get the Canada - Red, USA - Blue, Mexico - Green color scheme right.

 

Somewhere in all that we're missing a United.

 

They joined MLS as there's no limit to the number of Uniteds in the league

 

I await Greenland's entry into the regional soccer scene so we can complicate the naming protocols of the federation, travel and qualification pools, and the like.

 

But it's still North America. Continental North America, Including Central America and the Caribbean plus a bit of South America And French and Dutch Islands technically affiliated to UEFA. Abbreviated to:

CNAICAATCPABOSAAFADITATUEFA.

 

The stage is set for 2021 @TheChampions! 🏆 // #SCCL21 pic.twitter.com/oGUb9USJqK

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 11, 2021

 

Tough first round matchup for the Union.

 

Even tougher matchup for Forge FC.

 

True but we shouldn't forget that big surprises are possible in soccer and that's why underdogs win too sometimes.

 

And even more so if they manage to get past Toronto.

 

Is it a coincidence that a MLS or Liga MX team (or Forge FC) host every second leg? Or was this done on purpose? The only Liga MX/MLS team on the road for the second leg is Leon going to Canada.

 

The matchups are rather competitive, for all teams. I like this draw.

However, what they have served up is a format with 70 days from the Semi Finals to the Cup Final. How CONCACAF is that!

 

As my signature says...

 

I'm guessing it's a draw after every round? Exit the bracket?

 

Let's check out the bracket! (By that I mean someone do the work of putting the whole bracket here).