CONCACAF Champions Cup facts for kids
 |
|
| Organizing body | CONCACAF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Region | North America, Central America, and the Caribbean |
| Number of teams | 27 (2024) |
| Qualifier for | FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Intercontinental Cup |
| Current champion(s) |  Pachuca(6th title) |
| Most successful club(s) | América (7 titles) |
| Television broadcasters | CONCACAF () |
The CONCACAF Champions Cup is a big annual football tournament. It used to be called the CONCACAF Champions League. Football clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean play in it. It is the most important club football competition in the CONCACAF region. The team that wins the Champions Cup gets to play in the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The tournament now uses a knockout format. This means teams play and if they lose, they are out. Before 2018, there was a group stage first. Unlike some other big tournaments, the winner of the CONCACAF Champions Cup does not automatically qualify for next year's competition.
So far, 29 different clubs have won the title. 14 of these clubs have won it more than once. Clubs from Mexico have won the most titles, with 39 wins in total. Costa Rica's Primera División is second with six titles. América from Mexico is the most successful club, with seven titles. The best non-Mexican club is Saprissa from Costa Rica, with three titles. Only Mexican teams have won the trophy two times in a row: América, Cruz Azul, Pachuca, and Monterrey. The current champions are Pachuca. They beat Columbus Crew in the 2024 final.
Contents
How the Tournament Works
Each round of the tournament has two games. Teams play one game at home and one away. The team that scores more goals in total over both games wins. This is called "aggregate goals". If the total goals are tied, the "away goals rule" is used. This means the team that scored more goals in their away game wins. If it's still tied, they play extra time. If it's still tied after extra time, they have a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.
Before 2018, the tournament had two parts. First, there was a group stage from August to October. Then, a knockout stage from March to May of the next year. In the group stage, 24 teams played in eight groups of three. Each team played the other two teams in their group twice. Teams from the United States and Mexico could not be in the same group. The winner of each group went to the quarterfinals. The knockout rounds were also two-game series.
History of the Cup
| Season | Winners |
|---|---|
| CONCACAF Champions' Cup | |
| 1962 |  Guadalajara |
| 1963 |  Racing Club Haïtien |
| 1967 |  Alianza |
| 1968 | Toluca |
| 1969 | Cruz Azul |
| 1970 | Cruz Azul (2) |
| 1971 | Cruz Azul (3) |
| 1972 |  Olimpia |
| 1973 |  Transvaal |
| 1974 |  Municipal |
| 1975 | Atlético Español |
| 1976 | Águila |
| 1977 | América |
| 1978 | Leones Negros UdeG Comunicaciones Defence Force |
| 1979 | FAS |
| 1980 | UNAM |
| 1981 |  Transvaal (2) |
| 1982 | UNAM (2) |
| 1983 | Atlante |
| 1984 |  Violette |
| 1985 | Defence Force (2) |
| 1986 |  Alajuelense |
| 1987 | América (2) |
| 1988 | Olimpia (2) |
| 1989 | UNAM (3) |
| 1990 | América (3) |
| 1991 | Puebla |
| 1992 | América (4) |
| 1993 | Saprissa |
| 1994 | Cartaginés |
| 1995 | Saprissa (2) |
| 1996 | Cruz Azul (4) |
| 1997 | Cruz Azul (5) |
| 1998 |  D.C. United |
| 1999 | Necaxa (2) |
| 2000 | LA Galaxy |
| 2002 | Pachuca |
| 2003 | Toluca (2) |
| 2004 | Alajuelense (2) |
| 2005 | Saprissa (3) |
| 2006 | América (5) |
| 2007 | Pachuca (2) |
| 2008 | Pachuca (3) |
| CONCACAF Champions League | |
| 2008–09 | Atlante (2) |
| 2009–10 | Pachuca (4) |
| 2010–11 | Monterrey |
| 2011–12 | Monterrey (2) |
| 2012–13 | Monterrey (3) |
| 2013–14 | Cruz Azul (6) |
| 2014–15 | América (6) |
| 2015–16 | América (7) |
| 2016–17 | Pachuca (5) |
| 2018 | Guadalajara (2) |
| 2019 | Monterrey (4) |
| 2020 | UANL |
| 2021 | Monterrey (5) |
| 2022 | Seattle Sounders |
| 2023 | León |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | |
| 2024 | Pachuca (6) |
The Early Years (1962–2008)
Before 2008, the tournament was called the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. It was created to help teams from CONCACAF join the South American Copa Libertadores tournament. The competition changed its rules many times. At first, only the champions of North American leagues played. In 1971, more teams joined, and it started to include group stages.
How it Worked (1962–1996)
In the early rounds, teams played within their regions: North America, Central America, or the Caribbean. Often, the winner of one region would go straight to the final. The winners of the other two regions would play in a semifinal. From 1993 to 1996, four clubs (three from North/Central America and one from the Caribbean) played in a final round held in one place.
Knockout Rounds (1997–2008)
After Major League Soccer started in the United States, the tournament became an eight-team knockout competition. Teams qualified from their regions. The first four tournaments were held in one central location. Then, in 2002, they changed to home-and-away games. Since 2005, the winner of the Champions Cup gets to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. This made the tournament even more exciting for clubs and fans.
The Champions League Era (2008–2023)
In 2006, CONCACAF decided to make the Champions' Cup bigger. They wanted it to be more like a "Champions League". In 2007, they shared more details about the new plan.
New Format with Group Stage (2008–2012)
The last eight-team Champions' Cup was in 2008. Then, a new, larger 24-team Champions League began in August 2008. It finished in May 2009. This bigger tournament meant that Central American clubs could qualify directly.
In this new Champions League, 16 clubs played in a preliminary round (two games). The eight winners joined eight other teams in the group stage. These 16 teams were put into four groups of four. Each team played every other team in their group twice. The top two teams from each group moved on to the knockout rounds. The knockout rounds and the final were also two-game series. The away goals rule was used, but not if the game went into extra time.
No More Preliminary Round (2012–2017)
On January 12, 2012, CONCACAF changed the format again. The preliminary round was removed. All 24 qualified teams went straight into the group stage. Teams were put into eight groups of three. Teams from the same country usually couldn't be in the same group. Also, each group had a team from either the United States or Mexico. This meant US and Mexican teams didn't play each other in the group stage. The winner of each group went to the quarterfinals.
The knockout stage was a single-elimination tournament. Each match-up was two games. The away goals rule was used if scores were tied. However, it didn't apply after extra time. So, if it was still tied after extra time, they went to a penalty shoot-out. The teams were ranked based on their group stage performance. The highest-ranked team played the lowest-ranked team, and so on.
Changes with CONCACAF League (2018–2023)
In December 2016, CONCACAF announced another new format. Starting in 2018, the group stage was removed. The Champions League became a 16-team knockout tournament.
A new tournament called CONCACAF League was created. It was played from August to December. The winner of the CONCACAF League would qualify for the Champions League. They were joined by nine North American teams, the Caribbean Club Championship winner, and five Central American league champions. Later, the CONCACAF League was expanded. The top six clubs from it qualified for the Champions League.
This Champions League format had four rounds: Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final. All rounds were two-game series with the away goals rule. But starting in 2019, the away goals rule was not used for the final match.
Back to Champions Cup (2024)
In February 2021, CONCACAF planned a big change for the tournament. It would have included 50 teams and a regional group stage. But this plan was later dropped.
In September 2021, CONCACAF announced a new expansion for 2024. The tournament kept its knockout format. It now has five rounds and 27 teams. Teams qualify from different leagues and cups:
- 6 clubs from Liga MX (Mexico)
- 5 clubs from MLS (United States/Canada)
- 2 clubs from Canadian Premier League
- 1 winner of the U.S. Open Cup
- 1 winner of the Canadian Championship
- 3 clubs from Leagues Cup
- 6 clubs from Central America Cup
- 3 clubs from Caribbean Cup
Twenty-two clubs start in Round One. Five clubs get a "bye" directly to the Round of 16. These are the winners of MLS Cup, Liga MX, Leagues Cup, Central American Cup, and Caribbean Cup. All matches from the first round to the semifinals are two-game series. The final is just one match. The CONCACAF League ended in 2022 with this new format.
On June 6, 2023, CONCACAF announced that the competition was renamed back to CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Stadium Rules
Clubs must have good stadiums to play their home games. If a club's stadium is not good enough, they must find another suitable stadium in their country. If they cannot, they might be replaced by another team. For example, Real Esteli from Nicaragua was replaced in some seasons because their stadium wasn't ready. Their stadium has since been improved.
The CONCACAF Champions League has seen some huge crowds. On May 4, 2022, Seattle Sounders FC set a new attendance record. 68,741 fans watched them play UNAM in the final at Lumen Field.
Prizes
Money Prizes
Starting in 2024, the winning club will receive over $5,000,000 in prize money. The winner also gets to play in the FIFA Club World Cup, which offers even more prize money.
In 2022, the prize money was:
- Winner: $500,000
- Runner-up: $300,000
- Semifinalists: $200,000
Trophy and Medals
Every year, the winning team gets the CONCACAF Champions Cup trophy. The current trophy design was first used in 2018.
Sponsors
The CONCACAF Champions Cup has several company sponsors. These include Scotiabank, Miller Lite, MoneyGram, Maxxis Tires, and Nike. Their names are shown around the field during games. Nike also provides the official game balls and referee uniforms.
American Airlines was a main sponsor for the Champions' Cup in the 1990s.
Where to Watch
| Region | Broadcaster | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | ESPN | English |
 Brunei |
Astro SuperSport | English |
 Malaysia |
||
 Canada |
OneSoccer | English/French |
 Caribbean |
Flow Sports | English |
 Costa Rica |
|
Spanish |
 El Salvador |
|
Spanish |
 France |
RMC Sport | French |
 Guatemala |
|
Spanish |
 Honduras |
|
Spanish |
| Indian subcontinent | Fancode | English |
 Israel |
Charlton | Hebrew |
 Mexico |
Fox Sports | Spanish |
 Middle East and North Africa |
|
Arabic |
 Netherlands |
ESPN | Dutch |
 Panama |
|
Spanish |
 Spain |
Movistar Plus+ | Spanish |
 United States |
Fox Sports | English |
| Univision • TUDN | Spanish |
You can also watch the CONCACAF Champions Cup in South America on ESPN (Star+). It's also available globally in English through Concacaf GO.
The Finals
Since the tournament started, only clubs from Mexico, the United States, or Canada have played in the finals. Mexican clubs won the first 14 finals in a row. The most recent final was between Pachuca and Columbus Crew. Pachuca won 3–0.
Records and Stats
Club Wins
| Club | Titles | Runners-up | Years won | Years runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| América |
7 | 1 | 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2015, 2016 | 2021 |
| Cruz Azul |
6 | 2 | 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2014 | 2009, 2010 |
| Pachuca |
6 | 0 | 2002, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2024 | |
| Monterrey |
5 | 0 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021 | |
| Saprissa |
3 | 2 | 1993, 1995, 2005 | 2004, 2008 |
| UNAM |
3 | 2 | 1980, 1982, 1989 | 2005, 2022 |
| Transvaal |
2 | 3 | 1973, 1981 | 1974, 1975, 1986 |
| Toluca |
2 | 3 | 1968, 2003 | 1998, 2006, 2014 |
| Alajuelense |
2 | 3 | 1986, 2004 | 1971, 1992, 1999 |
| Defence Force |
2 | 2 | 1978†, 1985 | 1987, 1988 |
 Olimpia |
2 | 2 | 1972, 1988 | 1985, 2000 |
| Guadalajara |
2 | 2 | 1962, 2018 | 1963, 2007 |
| Atlante |
2 | 1 | 1983, 2009 | 1994 |
| Necaxa / Atlético Español |
2 | 1 | 1975, 1999 | 1996 |
| UANL |
1 | 3 | 2020 | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| Comunicaciones |
1 | 2 | 1978† | 1962, 1969 |
| Municipal |
1 | 1 | 1974 | 1995 |
| León |
1 | 1 | 2023 | 1993 |
| LA Galaxy |
1 | 1 | 2000 | 1997 |
 Racing |
1 | 0 | 1963 | |
| Alianza |
1 | 0 | 1967 | |
| Águila |
1 | 0 | 1976 | |
| Leones Negros UdeG |
1 | 0 | 1978† | |
| FAS |
1 | 0 | 1979 | |
| Violette |
1 | 0 | 1984 | |
| Puebla |
1 | 0 | 1991 | |
| Cartaginés |
1 | 0 | 1994 | |
| D.C. United |
1 | 0 | 1998 | |
| Seattle Sounders FC |
1 | 0 | 2022 | |
| Robinhood |
0 | 5 | 1972, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983 | |
 Jong Colombia |
0 | 2 | 1967, 1979 | |
 Pinar del Río |
0 | 2 | 1989, 1990 | |
| Morelia |
0 | 2 | 2002, 2003 | |
| Santos Laguna |
0 | 2 | 2012, 2013 | |
| Los Angeles FC |
0 | 2 | 2020, 2023 | |
| Universidad |
0 | 1 | 1980 | |
| Atlético Marte |
0 | 1 | 1981 | |
| Police |
0 | 1 | 1991 | |
| Real Salt Lake |
0 | 1 | 2011 | |
 Montreal Impact |
0 | 1 | 2015 | |
| Toronto FC |
0 | 1 | 2018 | |
| Columbus Crew |
0 | 1 | 2024 |
†Title shared.
* When sorted by years won or lost, the table is sorted by the year of each team's most recent inaugural win or loss.
Wins by Country
| Nation | Titles | Runners-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico |
39† | 20 | 59 |
| Costa Rica |
6 | 5 | 11 |
| United States |
3 | 5 | 8 |
| El Salvador |
3 | 1 | 4 |
| Suriname |
2 | 8 | 10 |
| Honduras |
2 | 3 | 5 |
| Trinidad and Tobago |
2† | 3 | 5 |
| Guatemala |
2† | 3 | 5 |
| Haiti |
2 | 0 | 2 |
| Cuba |
0 | 2 | 2 |
 Netherlands Antilles |
0 | 2 | 2 |
| Canada |
0 | 2 | 2 |
†Including one title shared.
See also
- FIFA Club World Cup
- CONCACAF Champions League U13
- CONCACAF Cup Winners' Cup
- CONCACAF Giants Cup
- CONCACAF League
- Continental football championships
- Interamerican Cup
- Leagues Cup
- North American SuperLiga
- List of association football competitions
