The finals are set in UEFA and Concacaf: PSG - Arsenal (in Budapest) Toluca - Tigres UANL (in Toluca) Tigres UANL vs Nashville SC | 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup | Semifinals Toluca vs LAFC | 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup | Semifinals LAFC, who managed to sneak into the 2025 CWC via a generous back door, will have to find another way to qualify for 2029. If Arsenal manage to win, they will be the third first time winner in the last four years after ManCity (2023) and PSG (2025). Dates: 17/05 - Mamelodi Sundowns - AS FAR 24/07 - AS FAR - Mamelodi Sundowns 30/05 - PSG - Arsenal 30/05 - Toluca - Tigres UANL
If they can't claim a Champions Cup of their own, the next best bet is benefitting from a Mexican team winning twice during this period... and with Cruz Azul, Toluca, and Tigres all qualified for 2027 already, it's a strong possibility.
This year, given fixture congestion, Toluca and Tigres both sacrificed their Liguilla (playoffs) for the Concacaf Champions Cup. Will they (and Cruz Azul) do so again with CWC participation secured? I expect Club America and Monterrey to push hard for a spot in 2027 and 2028. Of course, Infantino may just expand the CWC to 48 clubs which will guarantee MLS participation. Speaking of, can MLS (in theory) have up to four participating clubs via ranking? Two from the USA and two from Canada? The 2025 regulations said the following: That would seem rather unfair towards clubs in Central America.
Exactly as the quoted regulations state, the limitation on hand-me-down berths is country-specific, so Canadian MLS teams are considered separate from their counterparts south of the 49th parallel... Having said that, the FIFA confederation rankings only take into account results from the continental championship... and Toronto and Montreal haven't played in Champions Cup in a long, long time. As of right now, Alajuelense's got a leg up on them both... give-or-take how the ranking weighs teams' performances by round. As the Central American tricampeón, Alajuelense have yet to play in the Champions Cup first round; in the Round of 16, they have yet to win a game IIRC, while Herediano might have more points to their name after sending Real Salt Lake packing and beating the LA Galaxy at home last year. Either way, both would be considered ahead of any Canadian side not named the Whitecaps (and, sadly, their own continued existence is in serious jeopardy).
Sundowns have taken the first leg 1:0 in the CAF Champions League final. Over in Asia, while not directly relevant but nevertheless interesting, Al Nassr (and Ronaldo) lost the AFC Champions League 2 final at home to Gamba Osaka. Ronaldo has now failed to win 14/14 titles in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr. That said, he can still win the league title for the first time if Al Nassr don't fumble the very last match on Thursday. CHAMPIONS! Gamba Osaka stun Ronaldo's Al Nassr | Al Nassr vs Gamba Osaka | Highlights ACL Two™
The OFC Pro League final is set for Sunday, Auckland FC vs. South Melbourne at New Zealand's national stadium, Eden Park. With South Melbourne being from outside OFC, Auckland will get the OFC slot in the Intercontinental Cup. Auckland use a reserve squad in the OFC league. On Saturday the first team will host the A-League grand final vs. Sydney FC at their regular home ground.
The first team won the A League Championship with a 1-0 victory. It will be interesting which squad they send as OFC Champions.
Auckland FC saved the OFC the embarrassment of having an Aussie/Asian winner and beat South Melbourne 2:1.
UEFA and Concacaf both went to penalties with PSG claiming back-to-back titles and Toluca winning the Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time since 2003 and third time overall. Toluca vs Tigres UANL | 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup | Final UEFA: Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) CONMEBOL: TBD CONCACAF: Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) AFC: Al Ahli Saudi Football Club (Saudi Arabia) CAF: Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (South Africa) OFC: Auckland Football Club (New Zealand)
🏆INTERCONTINENTAL CUP 2026🗓️BRACKET - TEAMS🇲🇽Toluca FC gana la CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 para clasificarse a la Copa Internacional y a la Copa Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA 2029.Se enfrentarán al Campeón de la Libertadores. Clasificados:🇫🇷Paris Saint Germain🇳🇿Auckland… pic.twitter.com/wrvhqnHBQr— CNF Sports (@CNFconcacaf) May 31, 2026