What is the latest scoop on the FC Champions' Cup? When does it start? Is there a link somewhere? 2003 is supposed to have the Galaxy, Revs, Earthquakes, and Crew compete against the top four Mexican sides along with the eight best remaining clubs from Central America, Canada, and the Carribean in a "Champions League" style format with group play and two-game total goal series. With this fair format, we should really be able to see how MLS clubs fare against Mexican clubs.
who knows... You can try the Concacaf site, but it's not particularly well maintained. There's also a thread over in the Concacaf forum that's more useful. As to the tourney itself, I don't think it'll be quite as useful as we may hope. First, Concacaf will probably change the format a few times between now and when the thing actually starts. Even if they announce a league format, they may change it back to a two-leg knockout format before the tourney begins. That seems to be the custom. Second, there's really no reason for the Mexican clubs to take this tourney very seriously. It probably costs them (and perhaps everyone else) more money than it brings them. They're sensible to focus on their domestic tourneys. No one in Mexico will get fired for losing or glorified for winning the Concacaf CC, but coaches' and players' careers do depend on their performances in the domestic tourneys. It's not arrogance on their part to send junior teams to the Concacaf CC - it's just a recognition of economic and competitive realities. Perhaps if MLS teams could begin to beat Mexican clubs in Mexico on a consistent basis, then the Mexican clubs may start taking all this more seriously just to avoid further embarassment. But it remains to be seen whether MLS teams can do so. Third, even with Mexican clubs fielding weaker teams, the Concacaf CC still has some value for MLS and the US. Playing games in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean will help prepare US players for national team games in WC qualifying. It's obviously not a perfect simulation, but playing a few games in those environments will help. Likewise, it gives US players a good opportunity to learn to deal with different officiating styles. That'll also pay off in WC quals. Finally, having a home game or two against a popular team from Central America or Mexico would at least give some MLS teams a nice draw or two. I'm sure SJ and LA wouldn't mind a pairing with FAS, Comunicaciones, or Municipal.
In todays Boston Globe they mentioned that the Revs would probably have their first game of the Champions Cup in February.
Here are the teams so far that are in the Champions Cup as of 12/26 USA LA Galaxy(MLS Cup champions and Supporter's Shield) Columbus Crew(US Open Cup Champions) NE Revolution(MLS Cup Runner-ups) SJ Earthquakes(2nd best MLS record) CenAM Deportivo Arabe Unido(Panama) CD F.A.S(El Salvador) LD Alajuelense(Costa Rica) CD Motagua(Honduras) CSD Comunicaciones(Guatamala) CSD Municipal(Guatamala) Carribean Arnett Gardens FC(Jamacia) W Connection (T&T) Mexico Toluca Club America ? ? The tournament is a two legged knockout phase all the way through to the final. There will be two brackets each having 2 MLS , 2 MFL, 3 CenAm, and 1 Carribean teams in them. They are still waiting on the Mexican Federation to decide what teams are going to compete in the FC Champions Cup, although I have heard that the announcement should come before the end of December. That Boston Globe article reads that Toluca and Club America are assured spots. Toluca for winning the mexican league final and Club America for points leader.
World Club Cup again? Here's a report out of the recent FIFA meetings in Madrid that may interest those of us who grouse about the Concacaf CC from time to time: http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=813090 Anyway, if there's another FIFA World Club Championship in 05, then presumably the winner of the Concacaf CC in 04 (or perhaps even 05, depending when things are scheduled) would qualify. Then again, Concacaf may contrive some new qualifying tournament that includes previous years' CC winners, the clubs owned by Televisa, and Joe Public.
I was told by someone high up in the Revs organization that the CCC would be a series of 2-leg aggregates. The Revs would likely play their "home" legs away from Gillette Stadium in "auxilliary" home fields around New England, such as Brown University (Providence), New Britain Connecticut (Conn. Wolves) and Ludlow (W.Mass Pioneers). Of course, if the second leg of their first series is in February or March, how many of these places will have a playable surface? At least Gillette has an underground heating system so the field won't be frozen. Then again, the cost of opening Gillette for a non-league game vs an obscure team in a tournament no one but us "soccer-krishna" types even knows about is a recipie for financial disaster. All I hope for is that they don't decide to play the "home" leg in some place like Lockhart Stadium. Tom
From Soccer America about three weeks ago: 1. CUP CONFUSION. As MLS plots out its 2003 team schedules, it will have less conflict with the CONCACAF Champions' Cup than it originally seemed. CONCACAF, which trumpeted last summer it would implement a group phase for the first round of the Champions' Cup -- a la the European competition -- in 2003, has decided not to. It has yet to inform MLS. Instead, the 16-team tournament that will include four MLS teams will be a knockout competition, with each round decided head-to-head over two legs. MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and senior director Brad Pursel confirmed the league has received no official notification of the tournament's format for 2003. Instead of six games in a first-round group phase a team will play only twice. CONCACAF is hoping to start the tournament in March and finish in mid-summer. MLS Cup champion Los Angeles, Open Cup winner Columbus, New England and San Jose will play in the CONCACAF tournament next year.
Of course, if the second leg of their first series is in February or March, how many of these places will have a playable surface?\ If the powers-that-be could pull it off I'd love to see a game on the Fieldturf at Nickerson Field, Boston University. Granted, it's during the school year, but it would be more than a sutiable venue, in Boston, and depending on the opponent, a match that could be a good draw from the local hispanic community. Probably won't happen there. The Magpie
i don't think a frozen field will be a disadvantage... hell, it would probably be the best thing for the revs as for who knows about it, yeah, you are right... no one does... but if mls and their teams get behind this tournament, it can succeed... of course, that is a big if
I think most of us want to see MLS teams take the competition seriously, and market it seriously. But are the teams taking it seriously if they continue to do what the Revs may do this spring? Farming out games to smaller stadiums for various reason$. The casual fan who does happen to find out about the tourney, or even the diehard, what's he going to think when he finds out it's so important to the Revs that they may play it in New Britain? If at all possible, and economically feasible, I'd like to see the teams play these games, and Open Cup games for that matter, in their usual homes. IMO, it just adds to the credibility of the tournaments. If this means the clubs have to put more effort into marketing the games to get people in the stands on a Wed. night, so be it.