Taken from SoccerAmerica's daily e-mail FIRST ROUND, FIRST LEG March 4 in San Salvador FAS (El Sal.) vs. Club America (Mex.) March 5 in Kingston Arnett Gardens (Jam.) vs. Necaxa (Mex.) March 12 in Guatemala City Comunicaciones (Guat.) vs. Morelia (Mex.) March 16 in Tegucigalpa Olimpia (Hond.) vs. Los Angeles Galaxy March 16 in Colon Arabe Unido (Pan.) vs. Columbus Crew March 16 in Guatemala City Municipal (Guat.) vs. San Jose Earthquakes March 23 in Alajuela Alajuela (C.R.) vs. New England Revolution TBD W Connection (Trin. & Tob.) vs. Toluca (Mex.) FIRST ROUND, SECOND LEG March 19 in Aguascalientes Necaxa (Mex.) vs. Arnett Gardens (Jam.) March 23 in Fullerton, Calif. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Olimpia (Hond.) March 23 in Columbus, Ohio Columbus Crew vs. Arabe Unido (Pan.) March 26 in San Jose San Jose Earthquakes vs. Municipal March 26 in Dallas Club America (Mex.) vs. FAS (El Sal.) March 26 in Morelia Morelia (Mex.) vs. Comunicaciones (Guat.) March 27 at site TBD New England Revolution vs. Alajuela (C.R.) TBD Toluca (Mex.) vs. W Connection (Trin. & Tob.)
This first round sort of looks like a litmus test of how dominant the MLS and MFL sides SHOULD be over inferior competition - we shall see. It will be fairly embarrassing for any of the teams from either the American or Mexican league to lose their first round home-and-homes. With the possible exception of whoever is unlucky enough from MEX or USA to have to play in Costa Rica, the second round should see some great MLS vs MFL match-ups. Unfortunately these will come to be two home matches for the Mexican teams (especially here in LA), but maybe the Columbus and NE fans will be able to show up - should they all advance. GO MLS !!!
America's playing in Dallas? Those guys must get tired of travelling around so much. I guess America can make more money in Dallas than in El Azteca...
I don't know I think some MEX-USA clubs could go home after the first round. Alajuela, IMHO, should be the favorite over New England. Municipal might be the next best bet for a non-MEX/USA side to advance. San Jose is strong, but they could be taken. Comunicaciones would be my #3 pick over a stronger MEX/USA side. Remember D.C. United last year? Morelia is much better than the 2002 D.C. United squad, however. Next would be Arabe Unido (vs. Columbus), Motagua (vs. Los Angeles), and then FAS (vs. America). BTW, I just noticed the scheduled that I posted above has LA playing Olimpia. I thought Motagua made it through? Arnett Gardens (vs. Necaxa) might be a better bet than W. Connection (vs. Toluca). Regarding attendance & support for the four MLS clubs, I think if LA were to advance and face Necaxa in the quarterfinals, LA would have the home crowd. Last time they played in LA in the Champions Cup (Necaxa won on pk's after LA dominated the 1-1 draw), there were more LA supporters at the Rose Bowl. I don't think New England will lack in support as well - even against America. Columbus wouldn't against Morelia. San Jose might against Toluca. The bigger question would be how they perform in Mexico or in the case of New England v. America in say Los Angeles, San Diego, or Dallas.
Sure they can last year the Mexican clubs were letting in the fans for free. Some clubs had a 2 for 1 special if you went to a league match and kept your stub you could use that to get into the Champions league match.