CONCACAF Champions Cup 2025

I don't agree that the fact that it inconveniences a specific entity is justification to change the format as a whole for the entire region

 

Adding the group stage would have been a big change to the format that needed justification. Instead we got a continuation of the knockout tournament we already had with a few more teams and one more round.

 

It would inconvenience ALL of the leagues in CONCACAF. Adding substantially increased travel costs to Central American and Caribbean teams isn't going to help them improve. The broadcasters and sponsors aren't asking for a group stage either (to our knowledge).

Perhaps CCC should change to the Swiss Model? Hell, Leagues Cup should change to that.

 

The Sounders are the only MLS team of the seven in their final four bracket.
The Whitecaps are the only MLS team of the seven in their final four bracket.
The other two brackets have 3 and 5 MLS teams.

 

I mean we don't have 4 runner-ups to the FA Cup going to Europa over other league's champions even if those runner-ups are obviously stronger. An inclusive continental format help other UEFA and CONMEBOL for that matter to get stronger by having more clubs exposed to to level football.

What you're advocating for is mainly "segregating" the top 2 league and expect everyone else to get better first before they are considered "worth the top 2's time" which is a contradiction to say MLS saying it wants the region to get stronger... Not like that you won't.

 

It was initially a group stage, it should have stayed that way - it was working fine and the qualification to CCL made total sense while being fair.

 

You'd have a point talking about the old group stage although CONMEBOL have the same issues with traveling but the regional group stage was supposed to addressed that and it was still opposed by someone... I don't think that it's about "travel costs" nor schedule congestion due to League Cup being a thing.

 

If it was working fine they would have kept it.

 

No it wasn't. It was initially a knockout tournament.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions_Cup

 

I actually wouldn't mind seeing CPL teams go up against teams in Central America for qualification, I think that would benefit them much more than getting spanked by Liga MX and the better MLS teams in Leagues Cup; the logistics like others have mentioned would be difficult with the travel and costs involved though.

 

It wasn't working for a the few so they changed it for the many

 

I'm talking about the 2008-2017 era which was in line with the other confederations

 

So we're just going to ignore the 30+ year period prior? Also UEFA Euro Cup was a knockout competition until the early 90's. Same applies to Copa Libertadores as well.

 

This was the CONCACAF League and the league did well with wins in Central America

In UEFA and CONMEBOL, exposure to stronger competition has historically contributed to the improvement of leagues and teams over time. Clubs from smaller leagues have often benefited from playing against the giants in UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores improving to the point where a 2nd tier competition made sense.

Exposure to stronger teams often motivated clubs and leagues to invest in better infrastructure, player development, and coaching. Over time, mid-tier clubs in UEFA and CONMEBOL learned to adapt tactically and technically, narrowing the gap with the elite. Consistency in Exposure is important as clubs from smaller leagues face giants regularly, giving them consistent opportunities to learn and grow.

I always thought that MLS and Liga MX should also qualify for a renewed CONCACAF League Cup where their mid-table clubs face upper-level clubs from the top 2 - if we're really serious about improving the game in the region. Status quo doesn't work in my opinion

 

If we were a top confederation, you'd be right but we're far from that at club level. I'd like to think we could learn a few things from the stronger confederations and not the other way around. We're about to find out at the Club World Cup... Status q doesn't help the other tier leagues in the region to improve due to a lack of consistent exposure to higher level of football.

 

It wasn't working for the teams that had to play the games.

 

Teams from all the leagues or a specific league?

 

Liga MX had four chances in a row to stop Colorado and claim one of those spots.

 

I've been saying this for a while. If CPL were in Leagues Cup they'll get absolutely no spots from it. If they qualified along with the Central Americans, as they did before, it would help them more and might get some spots from it too. Just handing them 2 extra spots to CCC where they play 2 months before their season starts and lose in 2 games doesn't help them at all.

 

Forge playing Chivas and Cruz Azul home and away definately helped the club grow ahead of the rest of the league same for Cavalry. Those home and away games prepared and enabled them to beat CF Montréal over 2 legs while TFC needed the away goal rule to advance - same for Vancouver over Cavalry.

Clubs end up learning from those matchups, adapt and adjust just like in UEFA and Conmebol. This is what this region needs, more league improving and being exposed to higher tier football. Their top clubs get stronger and provides better variety and competitive competition to top clubs. We'll see in Club World Cup but I expect Liga MX to be doing the heavy lifting for us for the foreseeable future.

Anyways, I don't think CPL needs to be in League Cup and interrupting their season for several weeks doesn't benefit them. The current formula works just fine

 

Playing 2 games a year against better comp doesn't make you grow. If that were the case MLS playing against Euro teams, even if friendlies, would make them grow. It doesn't work that way. Or saying these upcoming 3 CWC games is going to help Seattle, Miami and overall MLS grow.

 

I can name at least two leagues, which happen to be the two leagues that make the tournament financially viable to even exist.