...so yeah, we already started Unless someone is aware of the CanPL planning to continue its 2020 season after the Island Games (paging @Robert Borden ), Forge's 2-0 victory over Halifax Wanderers in today's Final means that the defending champions will play in their third Concacaf League in a row. 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2]
That's the end of the season. Forge have indeed qualified for the 2021 Concacaf League, in addition to the 2020 Concacaf League. They are also playing in the final of the Canadian Championship against Toronto FC later this year (hard to see how it fits in the schedule until December), and in the relatively unlikely event they win that, they'd also qualify directly for the 2021 Champions League. In the unlikely event that all those competitions actually happen.
We have our first participant for the 2022 Concacaf Champions League... and it's a familiar face, as this is the third time in a row that they've made the continental stage. León held out for a 2-1 aggregate win over Chivas to reach the Mexican Apertura Final. 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3]
As for Concacaf League qualification at the moment: Football in Central America is as much of a mess as the rest of the world, with the majority of leagues having switched to extraordinary regional and/or group formats. To start, I have yet to find proof that the Premier League of Belize has even played an Opening Season Only the Nicaraguan Apertura has reached the knockout phase, while the Panamanian Apertura regular season ends on Monday.
Saprissa up 3-0. The semifinals in Costa Rica virtually set.#Alajuelense 🆚 #Cartagines #Saprissa 🆚 #HeredianoThis is going to be fire.— CRCFutbol is Back (@crcfutbol) December 6, 2020
So, what do you get when a heroic comeback meets an epic meltdown? The second leg of Pumas-Cruz Azul this evening The universitarios erased a 4-goal deficit to tie the series and ride their higher seed (coincidentally, also earned thanks to a late comeback against Cruz Azul to end the regular season) to the Apertura Final and next season's CCL. 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2]
León crowned off a dominant campaign by beating Pumas for the Apertura title. Meanwhile, in Central America: Belize - Looks like they'll just skip the Opening Season entirely and play the Closing Season next semester. Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - All still in the regular season/regional group phase. Further south... #FinalNica| FINAL (Ida)| Diriangén FC 0-0 Real Estelí pic.twitter.com/CMaB3w7kyw— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 14, 2020 Fase Final Ida Liga Promerica 🔥⚽️Programación oficial Apertura 2020 #LigaPromerica #Apertura2020 #Unafut #FaseFinal pic.twitter.com/f8Wy9oISUi— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 14, 2020 ✍️ ¡ANOTEN! 🗓⚽️Este es el calendario y las transmisiones de los partidos de ida de semifinales.#VuelveMiLPF pic.twitter.com/uL5eqXO0YP— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) December 12, 2020 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2]
'bout time for another qualifying trip around our region: NORTH AMERICA Canada - here's hoping the full Canadian Championship returns in May. USA - Ditto the US Open Cup, while the 2021 MLS season will supply the other entrants. Mexico - Two more qualifiers will emerge from the Clausura next semester. CENTRAL AMERICA Belize - No evidence that an Opening Season occurred, so the Closing Season winner will likely be the CL qualifier. Guatemala - Gonna have to page an expert: @edcalvi what's the new format for this year? 'cause the regular season is still going El Salvador - Same q to you @slaminsams Honduras - Motagua eliminated Platense to make the semifinal against Marathón, while Olimpia awaits the winner between Vida and UPNFM. Nicaragua - FINAL| Real Estelí 1-0 Diriangén| Global: RE 1-0 pic.twitter.com/ncDscnKkvU— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 21, 2020 ¡¡REAL ESTELÍ ES CAMPEÓN DEL APERTURA 2020!!! pic.twitter.com/sMU1izuF03— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 21, 2020 Costa Rica - Final del partido@ldacr vs @csherediano1921 Estadio Alejandro Morera SotoFase Final Vuelta Liga Promerica Apertura 2020#LigaPromerica #Apertura2020 #Unafut #Oficial pic.twitter.com/zawXOlMhJ6— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 21, 2020 Por lo que tanto luchamos y tanto quisimos.¡Somos CAMP3ONES!Somos #LaLigaDelFuturo y en esta nueva era los fantasmas no existen. pic.twitter.com/aVy10lyJ3p— Alajuelense Oficial (@ldacr) December 21, 2020 Panama - 🏆⚽️¡El @CAIPanama es el campeón del Torneo Clausura 2020 LPF TIGO🟡⚫️!Goles: Azmahar Ariano, Alfredo Stephens (x2) (CAI) - Isidoro Hinestroza (SFC).#CAISFC #VuelveMiLPF pic.twitter.com/iLiugZpjaH— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) December 20, 2020 https://twitter.com/LPFpanama/status/1340797044441698305 CARIBBEAN We'll have to wait for an update from Concacaf on when/if the Caribbean Club Championship and Shield will occur. 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2] 2. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 3. LD Alajuelense [CRC1 or CRC2] 4. CA Independiente [PAN1 or PAN2]
In El Salvador the closing season is divided into two groups that were made up based on how they placed in the regional groups of the first phase of the season. The top 4 teams from each group advance to knockout round where they will do a home and away based on their rankings in their group so the winner of group A will face the 4th place team in group B. The plan is to have a quarterfinal, semi and final to determine a winner.
Some more updates out of Central America: Belize - The good news is that the league and clubs are still active on Facebook, at least... waiting for news on the Closing Season. Guatemala - They're playing out Apertura and Clausura tournaments after all. The Apertura playoffs are currently afoot... and Municipal, Xejalú and Guastatoya are in the semifinals, while the return leg between Comunicaciones and Antigua had to be rescheduled due to a COVID-19 outbreak. It's worth noting that Guatemala has adopted Liga MX's playoff tiebreakers: aggregate score, away goals, and then the superior regular-season record. El Salvador - Turns out they're planning on Apertura and Clausura tournaments as well, at least as reported by El Gráfico. Honduras - After Olimpia pantsed their archrival Motagua on the continental stage, they'll play each other for the Apertura title this week (first leg on Wednesday, second on Sunday). Costa Rica - Only thing to report is a format change for the Clausura: no more "Gran Final". Just the regular season with everyone playing everyone else, and the top four teams making the playoffs, the winner of which is the league champ.
@Paul Calixte In Guatemala they're still deciding if there's going to be a champion for the Apertura tournament, some clubs are supporting the idea of having only ONE champion for both Apertura/Clausura. It's a mess.
Catching up from a long weekend... Guatemala - looks like the Apertura (?) playoffs got put on hold until the return lega of Comunicaciones vs. Antigua is played this Sunday, probably because it will affect the semifinal matchups. El Salvador - just now starting with the Apertura quarterfinals. Honduras - Olimpia topped Motagua 3-1 on aggregate in the Apertura Final, so they're the champ- But wait, there's more! If you remember the "Gran Final" format that Costa Rica has discontinued for their Clausura, it looks like Honduras has adapted it and renamed it the "Finalísima". In this case, Olimpia and Marathón won their regular-season groups and guaranteed the Monstruo Verde a second shot if they didn't win the Round 2 playoffs, so they will face off with Olimpia for the actual title. Panama - ¡Fanáticos cara a cara defendiendo sus colores! ¿Sabías que así se dividirán las dos conferencias en la primera división de la nueva #LPF?Pronto estaremos presentando el formato de competencia y el calendario para que empieces a agendar los partidos de tu equipo.#LaNuevaEra pic.twitter.com/6h1z0L53av— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) January 14, 2021 Nothing on the immediate horizon as far as continental berths are concerned, but the league will debut a regular-season format with two groups determined by geography.
Some updates from the Northern Triangle: Guatemala - Comunicaciones fell flat on their face, losing 0-3 at home to Antigua So the Apertura semifinals are: Municipal vs. Antigua GFC Xelajú MC vs. CD Guastatoya Mind you, they'll take place in the last week of the month, as the league goes on break for Guatemala to get in a couple non-FIFA-date friendlies against Puerto Rico. El Salvador - Así se jugarán las semifinales del Torneo Apertura 2020 de la Primera División del fútbol de El Salvador @primerafutboles pic.twitter.com/WCHfNKMfpa— UNCAF / Oficial (@uncaf) January 18, 2021 Honduras - "Dog bites man." "Sun rises in the East." "Olimpia wins league title." 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2] 2. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 3. LD Alajuelense [CRC1 or CRC2] 4. CA Independiente [PAN1 or PAN2] 5. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
We now have dates and it looks they will proceed MLS lockout or not The road to the final 🏆 #SCCL2021 pic.twitter.com/pzCm1a7nVS— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) January 22, 2021
The big issue as far as next season's tournaments are concerned (particularly the 2021 Concacaf League) is: what happens if a CL participant makes a deep run in the 2021 CCL like Olimpia did last year? I guess they could just work around it by playing the first rounds of the CL in September... Back to the present: the Salvadoran Apertura Final is set. Sunday, January 31: Alianza vs. Águila, 4:00 p.m. (US Eastern) And they'll have partial attendance!
In one of the more entertaining Salvadoran league finals I have ever seen (they normally get slowed down by the Sunday afternoon heat), Alianza stampeded Águila 3-0 to claim the Apertura title. And in Guatemala, the Apertura Final will be played out over the next week (home-and-away, home team for 2nd leg listed first): Municipal vs. CD Guastatoya 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2] 2. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 3. LD Alajuelense [CRC1 or CRC2] 4. CA Independiente [PAN1 or PAN2] 5. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2]
Over the last week, Guastatoya beat Municipal 2-1 at home and held on for a 1-1 draw in the return leg to claim the Guatemalan Apertura title. So that does it for all the fall semester (CL) qualifiers! Now we await the Clausura tournaments, Caribbean championships, the 2021 MLS season, the US Open Cup and the Voyageurs' Cup to round out the continental field for 2021-22. 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2] 2. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 3. LD Alajuelense [CRC1 or CRC2] 4. CA Independiente [PAN1 or PAN2] 5. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2] 7. CD Guastatoya [GUA1 or GUA2]
The Caribbean Club Shield (semi-pro circuit) draw will take place tomorrow. A couple of curiosities: Concacaf announces details for 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Competitions https://t.co/mhnUZudWBV— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 23, 2021 On one hand, for the first time ever, we'll have five teams from non-FIFA-affiliated Concacaf members playing in a regional tournament (the champions from Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Bonaire and Sint-Maarten); and a Puerto Rican club is back. On the other, no Cuban sides will participate; and Trinidad and Tobago are sitting out club tournaments entirely
Caribbean Club Championship and Shield have been merged (probably only for this season) into a single competition in mid-May. The draw: https://www.concacaf.com/en/caribbe...21-flow-concacaf-caribbean-club-championship/ Absent from the original draws are both Jamaica teams and representives from Guyana, St Vincent and St Kitts.
So no Jamaicans or Trinis in this tournament? This may be the most wide-open Caribbean club tournament ever - although the Dominican sides are prohibitive favorites. Meanwhile, in Costa Rica: Comunicado de prensa #Unafut #Oficial #Comunicado pic.twitter.com/ehDdA4Ra3c— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) April 26, 2021 The tl;dr is that: - After the Clausura season ends, there'll be a Champions Cup b/w the Apertura and Clausura champs (unless Alajuelense win both); the winner will get the CRC1 berth in the Concacaf League, and the runner-up CRC2. - All other berths will be distributed based on the Clausura table (the Apertura one being dropped from consideration b/c screw 2020 ). And yes, that's berths with an s, as UNAFUT apparently has reason to believe that a wild card berth could be available... which might be related to the complete radio silence from the Premier League of Belize As a Twitter commenter helpfully noted, this means that a former Concacaf League finalist is now guaranteed to return... 2022 CCL Qualifiers 1. Club León [MEX1] 2. Pumas UNAM [MEX2 or MEX3] 2021 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN2] 2. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 3. LD Alajuelense [CRC1 or CRC2] 4. CA Independiente [PAN1 or PAN2] 5. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2] 7. CD Guastatoya [GUA1 or GUA2] 8. Santos de Guápiles [CRC1, CRC2 or CRC3]