Hi everyone, After the field for next year's Champions Cup was settled last week, tonight we'll learn everyone's path to the continentinal crown, with the draw scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (US Eastern); you can watch it on Concacaf's YouTube channel or on FOX Sports 2 in the US. There are no format changes to report; looking over the regulations, the only noteworthy update is the language around the Final now explicitly stating that the default is for the finalist with the better record (Round of 16 through semifinals) to host it, with Concacaf retaining the prerogative to choose a neutral venue. As for the bracket, the five teams with a bye to the Round of 16 and the three highest-ranked sides among the rest are preseeded as follows: The rest will be drawn in this order: Pot 1 - CF Monterrey (MEX), Pumas UNAM (MEX), LA Galaxy (USA), Nashville SC (USA), Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN), Philadelphia Union (USA), FC Cincinnati (USA), LAFC (USA) Pot 2 - Real España (HON), Xelajú MC (GUA), Olimpia (HON), Vancouver FC (CAN), Forge FC (CAN), San Diego FC (USA), Cartaginés (CRC), Sporting San Miguelito (PAN), O&M FC (DOM), Atlético Ottawa (CAN), Defence Force FC (TRI)
The draw: Champions Cup Round One Matchups are set 🤩Official Draw results are confirmed ✅ pic.twitter.com/rCfmK11eZW— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) December 10, 2025 The 2026 Champions Cup bracket is set! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0mFgCTbXgD— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) December 10, 2025 Pretty evenly spread out IMO, with no part of the bracket significantly stronger than the rest. OTOH, there isn't a first-round series that really catches my eye... except one: América will not relish having to square up with Olimpia again @jared9999
Don't know how TV rights in Mexico have been settled; as for the US, TUDN will show all the matches next week, while FOX Sports has gone to the dogs - no, literally! With the Westminster Dog Show getting pride of place, FOX Sports 2 will only show three matches (Olimpia/América, San Diego/Pumas and Xelajú/Monterrey).
Fun and surprising night in San Diego. Didn't expect SDFC to win 4-1 in their first competitive match of the season. Hopefully can advance in the Olympic Stadium next week.
@Paul Calixte is the away goal rule still in effect? And is the team that wins the most still get to host the 2nd leg and the final??
Yes (but it "turns off" if the series goes to extra time) Yes (quarterfinals and semifinals), and Maybe (the finalist with the higher record gets preference, but Concacaf reserves the right to book a neutral venue)
For this week, here in the US, TUDN will show all the games; FOX Sports 2 has Pumas-San Diego along with Wednesday's matches.
The Liga MX-centric first couple weeks produced no real surprise, if we now take Pumas stepping on a rake in Concacaf as par for the course The first round continues with the following TV schedule for those of us in the States (home team first, all times Eastern): Tuesday, February 17 Atlético Ottawa (CAN) vs. Nashville SC (USA), 8:00 p.m., FOX Sports 2 Real España (HON) vs. LAFC (USA), 10:00 p.m., FOX Sports 2/TUDN Wednesday, February 18 Defence Force (TRI) vs. Philadelphia Union (USA), 6:00 p.m., FOX Sports 2 O&M FC (DOM) vs. FC Cincinnati (USA), 8:00 p.m., FOX Sports 2/TUDN Cartaginés (CRC) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN), 10:00 p.m., TUDN Thursday, February 19 Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8:00 p.m., FOX Sports 1/TUDN
With many thanks to Cartago and San Miguelito for reminding the rest of Central America of how standing up to North American teams is done... The US TV landscape for this week is a bit simpler: FOX Sports will show all the games in English (give or take getting bumped for college basketball ) on FS2, with the exception of Philly-Defence Force on Thursday getting promoted to FS1. In Spanish, Wednesday's slate takes second fiddle to el Tri's friendly, but Tuesday's and Thursday's matches will be on TUDN.
The Round of 16 schedule (TV TBA): The Round of 16 dates and kickoff times are here! 🗓️✅ pic.twitter.com/UfMyE4fulU— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 28, 2026
Here in the States, every game will be televised this week: - TUDN will carry all the matches in Spanish; - FOX Sports 1 will show Philly/América, while the rest of the matches will be on FS2.
At this point, it's on us if we're surprised at San Diego pulling off comebacks But Toluca have a much less monumental task ahead of them than Pumas... For watching Champions Cup in the US this week, FOX is all-in on the World Baseball Classic Final today... so TUDN's your only option for Alajuelense/LAFC and Cruz Azul/Monterrey. Tomorrow (Wednesday), TUDN will also be the only channel showing Inter Miami/Nashville; América/Philly will be on FOX Sports 1 as well. Then, in a rarity, we have options for the nightcap: Toluca/San Diego on FS1 and TUDN, or Seattle/Vancouver on FS2. Finally, both of Thursday's matches will be on FS1 and TUDN.
As much as Tigres are coperos, that was entirely on Cincinnati for not knowing how to ice the series. What was the point of that wasteful shot near the end? Now, following the international break, the quarterfinals start in midweek. For those Stateside: In English, all the matches will be on FOX Sports 2 except for Toluca-LA Galaxy; that match, and all the return legs next week, will be on FS1. In Spanish, the coverage is much more straightforward: TUDN will carry all the games.