Most interesting question is how Canada's spot will be qualified. Assuming that USL-1 clubs will be called into contention, supposing that TFC wins either the Supporters Sheild or the MLS Cup but loses the Canadien Cup to a Montreal team. Will they then miss out on a chance to go to CONCACAF? If that's the case, they should be awarded one of the 4 US spots.
No they shouldn't. If Toronto FC has the chance to qualify through the Canadian spot, that is the only spot they should be able to get. It wouldn't be fair to any other team in the tournament if Toronto got two different options of entry.
Agreed. We already have it easy enough as it is (us and 2 USL-1 sides for a spot), let's not go overboard. If TFC wins anything in the MLS, the spot will go to the highest USA side. If you did it this way, Canada could get 2 spots in the CL out of 3 pro teams, that seems ridiculous to me.
You're probably right. Anyway it works out rather well, b/c even if MTL and VAN don't get into MLS for a while, TFC can build up a rivalry and still play meaningful games with them. Plus if MTL or VAN win, it'll be like a mini-promotion in that for one year they'll be in the Champion's League playing against Div-1 sides.
Groups Stage Dates: 16-18 September: Group Stage – Match Day 1 23-25 September: Group Stage – Match Day 2 30 September – 2 October: Group Stage – Match Day 3 7-9 October: Group Stage – Match Day 4 21-23 October: Group Stage – Match Day 5 28-30 October: Group Stage – Match Day 6 This practically a game every midweek for 6 out of 7 weeks - This overlaps significantly with the end of Regular season and Supporter Shield race (whose winner qualifies teams for this tourney next year), and also overlaps the beginning of MLS Playoffs (whose winner qualifies as well) Spring 2009 Early Rounds 24-26 February: Quarterfinals, First-legs 3-5 March: Quarterfinals, Second-legs 17-19 March: Semifinals, First-legs 7-9 April: Semifinals, Second-legs We still haven't left the curse of preseason games with CONCACAF - And these will probably be tougher opponents than MLS is paired against now One step forward and two steps backwards I'll wait to see how well the smaller Caribbean clubs finance all those flights to Mexico, US and Canada during group stage