So the 4 spots are listed as: -US Open Cup Winner -MLS Supporters Shield Winner -MLS Cup Winner -MLS Cup Runnerup However, Columbus just qualified to the MLS Cup, so that means they are the Supporters Shield Winner AND one of the MLS Cup spots... So, how do they pick the "new" 4th team?
SS runner up get the fourth spot. In this case, it's going to be Houston. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
That is correct. That was how Chivas got in for this years CCL. New England was the Open Cup winner, and the MLS runner-up, therefore the Suppoters sheild runner-up (chivas) got the fourth spot.
So for the next CCL as of right now, it will be Columbus, DC, and the MLS Winner and Runner Up? Houston is in if Columbus wins the MLS Cup?
No, not quite. The qualification positions, as far as the worked last year was: Code: USA-1 MLS Cup winner Houston Dynamo USA-2 Supporters Shield DC United USA-3 USOC Winner New England Revs USA-4 MLS Cup runner up Chivas USA (SS runner-up) Chivas USA got the 4th slot because Revs qualified for the (slightly) higher 3rd spot. Next year, if that line of thinking carries forward, I would think this is where it's headed so far: Code: USA-1 Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls (MLS Cup winner) USA-2 Columbus Crew or DC United (SS or USOC) USA-3 DC United, Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls (USOC or MLS Cup runner-up) USA-4 Houston Dynamo (SS runner-up) As I see it, Crew has made it to the group stage no matter what. They have access to the first, second or forth slot. I have a feeling they will do no worse then second, in which case DC moves up and either Real or Red Bulls gets third. Dynamo is already fourth, in the second of two play-in spots.
Update after the Dead Bull game. As I said before, if this year carries forward: Code: USA-1 Columbus Crew or New York Red Bulls (either, MLS Cup winner) USA-2 Columbus Crew (SS) or DC United (USOC) USA-3 DC United (USOC) or New York Red Bulls (MLS Cup runner-up) USA-4 Houston Dynamo (SS runner-up) Crew has made it to the group stage no matter what. They should do no worse then second. NYRB will have either the first or third slot depending on the MLS Cup final. United is second or third, again depending on the cup final. Dynamo has the only slot that doesn't depend on the final.
With the Red Bulls in the MLS Cup they have a spot. It is just a matter of if they have a garuntted spot because they win. Or a qullifiction spot if they do not. Houston is in definitly next best season record. Had Columbus done the treble it would have been Dynamo& the Revelution because of regular season records
Maybe. On the other hand they may have let Charleston Battery in. Yeah, right, risk making MLS look bad again next year? I think not... I'm sure they would have found a way to wedge LA or Chicago into it.
Code: USA-1 MLS Cup winner Columbus Crew USA-2 Supporters Shield ???? USA-3 USOC Winner DC United USA-4 MLS Cup runner up New York Red Bulls So the Supporters Shield winner is now __________ ??
Houston Dynamo. yeah baby, yeah! I actually had slots in the wrong order, according to Don Garber (link coming later, after I find it) it should have been: Code: USA-1 MLS Cup winner Columbus Crew USA-2 Supporters Shield Houston Dynamo USA-4 MLS Cup runner up New York Red Bulls USA-3 USOC Winner DC United So we even get the auto-berth in the group stage. NYRB and DCU have to play-in.
I can't imagine that they're going to put the SS runner-up in the group stages over the MLS Cup runner-up. The way I see it...when Columbus claimed both the SS and MLS Cup, that bumped the SS priority (for lack of a better term), to #4. That would put MLS Cup runner-up to #2, and USOC to #3.
Considering MLS calls the playoff champion the Conference champions it could be said that Houston didn't win a damn thing this season, so they shouldn't be ahead of NYRB who are the Western Conference Champions in terms of CCL spots.
Well, yeah, that's why I posted it that way about ten days ago. Moving the slots up would have been the more obvious choice to me, but I'm not running the show so who cares what I think. I'm happy we're in for the group stage again next year.