Concacaf announced that from 2023-2024 the Champions League will have a new format at club level.
A regionalized group stage will be played as part of a revamp of the tournament, which aims to promote club football across the confederation.
The new group stage is played in the fall of each year and includes four groups of North American, four Central American and two Caribbean clubs.
After the group stage, there is a knockout stage with 16 clubs, which will be played in the spring.
This new format concludes with a one-match final to crown a regional club champion. The winner of the competition also qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup.
North American Clubs
A total of 20 clubs from Canada, the United States and Mexico qualify for the competition through their performance in national leagues and cups, including a place through the Leagues Cup, Concacaf reported.
The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five. Each plays a total of four games in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of this phase, the four winners and the four second places will advance to the knockout phase. These eight teams will be joined by three other North Americans, who will qualify through a play-off played after the group stage.
Central American Clubs
A total of 20 clubs from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama qualify for the tournament through their performance in their national competitions and a new Central American Cup.
The 20 teams are divided into four groups of five. Each club plays a total of four matches in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of the group stage, the four winners and the four second places will advance to a playoff. The four playoff winners will advance to the knockout stages of the Concacaf Champions League.
Caribbean clubs
10 Caribbean teams qualify for the group stage of the competition. Of those 10, eight will do so through professional competitions in the Caribbean and two through a new Caribbean Cup, which includes representation from across the Caribbean.
The 10 clubs are divided into two groups of five. Each club plays a total of four matches in the group stage, two at home and two away.
At the end of the group stage, the first two places will advance to a playoff. The winner of the playoff will advance to the knockout stages of the Concacaf Champions League.
Increase
“This is a very important development for Concacaf and for club football in our region. The Concacaf Champions League has grown impressively in recent years, but this new format will transform the competition and significantly increase its relevance across our Confederation and globally, ”said Victor Montagliani, President of Concacaf and Vice President of FIFA.
“It will raise the bar for Concacaf clubs and leagues with more regional matchups that we know fans want to see. It will also provide a competitive path to the FIFA Club World Cup as clubs in our region strive to triumph on the world stage, ”added Montagliani.
The current format of the Concacaf Champions League will remain for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions.2023 will be a transition year.