Jump to content

MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Major League Soccer teams have participated in the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season since 1997. MLS may send up to ten teams to the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season — up to six from the United States, up to one from Canada, and up to three through the Leagues Cup berths.[1]

Under the Champions Cup's updated format starting in 2008–09, the first MLS team to finish first in its group was Real Salt Lake in 2010.[2] The first Champions Cup title won by an MLS side occurred in 2022, when Seattle Sounders FC defeated Mexico's UNAM 5–2 on aggregate in the final.[3] Seattle was therefore the first MLS side to participate at the FIFA Club World Cup.[4] Real Salt Lake, CF Montréal, Toronto FC, Los Angeles FC and Columbus Crew all also reached the final, with Real Salt Lake losing to Monterrey in 2011, CF Montréal to América in 2015, Toronto FC to Guadalajara in 2018, Los Angeles FC to UANL in 2020 and León in 2023, and Columbus Crew to Pachuca in 2024, respectively.[2]

Performance by round

[edit]

The following table shows the number of MLS participants in the Champions Cup each season, as well as the number of MLS teams that have reached various stages in the knockout rounds. MLS teams performed poorly during the first two years, as fixture congestion from the Superliga tournament as well as CONCACAF Champions League preliminary rounds meant that MLS teams often fielded teams without their first choice players.

Beginning in 2018, the Champions League format was changed to eliminate group play and the knockout round started with sixteen teams rather than eight.[5] Beginning in 2024, the format was expanded to include five knockout rounds and twenty-seven teams.[6]

Tournament Participants Quarter-
finalists
Semi-
finalists
Finalists Champions
1997 2 2 2 1
1998 2 1 1 1 1
1999 3 2 2
2000 2 2 2 1 1
2002 4 3 1
2003 4 2
2004 2 2 1
2005 2 2 1
2006 2 2
2007 2 2 2
2008 2 2 2
2008–09 4 1
2009–10 5 1
2010–11 5 2 1 1
2011–12 5 3 1
2012–13 5 3 2
2013–14 5 3
2014–15 5 2 1 1
2015–16 5 4
2016–17 5 3 2
2018 5 3 2 1
2019 5 4 1
2020 5 4 1 1
2021 5 5 1
2022 5 4 2 1 1
2023 5 3 2 1
2024 10 3 1 1

Notes:

  • MLS sent only four teams to the Champions League in 2008–09 because the Canadian team, the Montreal Impact, played in the USL First Division at the time.

Performance by opposition in knockout series

[edit]

The following table shows the performance of MLS teams in the knockout rounds for each home-and-away series for opponents from various leagues. During the first nine seasons of the Champions League, MLS teams did not play any foreign teams in knockout stage other than Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. With the change in tournament format in the 2018 season, specifically with the knockout rounds now including a round of 16, MLS teams have played knockout matches against a greater variety of countries.

In the Champions Cup knockout rounds, MLS teams have played Mexican teams more than any other country, in some years facing multiple matchups.[7] Seattle's 2013 quarter-final win over Mexico's UANL was the first time since the Champions League format began in 2008–09 that an MLS team eliminated a Mexican team in the knockout rounds.[8] Montreal repeated the feat in 2015 when they beat Mexico's Pachuca in the quarter-finals.[9] In 2018, Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls both advanced to the semi-finals by beating Mexican teams, the first time that two MLS teams eliminated two Mexican teams in the same tournament.[10] In 2020, Los Angeles FC became the first MLS team to eliminate three Mexican teams in the same tournament — beating Mexican opponents in the Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, before losing in the final to a Mexican team.[11] MLS' improved performance against Mexican teams was attributed to MLS club academies focused on player development, and an increase in player salaries through the league's Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) program.[12]

Tournament Mexico Mexico Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad
and Tobago
El Salvador El Salvador Honduras Honduras Costa Rica Costa
Rica
Guatemala Guatemala Panama Panama Jamaica Jamaica Dominican Republic Dominican
Republic
Nicaragua Nicaragua Haiti Haiti Canada Canada
1997 0–1 1–0 1–0
1998 2–0 1–0
1999 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–1
2000 2–0 1–0
2002 1–3 1–0 1–0 1–0
2003 0–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 1–0
2004 1–0 0–2
2005 0–1 0–1 1–0
2006 0–2
2007 0–2 1–0 1–0
2008 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–0
Subtotal 3–10 5–0 1–0 6–0 2–8 2–1 1–0 2–0
2008–09 0–1
2009–10 0–1
2010–11 0–1 1–0
2011–12 0–2
2012–13 1–3 1–0
2013–14 0–3
2014–15 1–1 1–1
2015–16 0–4
2016–17 0–2 1–0
Subtotal 2–18 3–1 1–0
2018 3–3 1–0 1–0 0–1
2019 1–4 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
2020 3–3 1–2 2–0
2021 1–4 1–0 2–0 1–0
2022 3–2 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
2023 1–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1
2024 2–7 2–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0
Subtotal 14–25 2–0 5–2 9–0 2–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0
Totals 19–54 (26%) 5–0 (100%) 3–0 (100%) 11–2 (85%) 13–9 (59%) 5–2 (71%) 4–2 (67%) 3–0 (100%) 2–0 (100%) 1–0 (100%) 1–1 (50%) 1–0 (100%)

CONCACAF Club Ranking

[edit]

In 2023, CONCACAF released a new club ranking system ahead of the revamped Champions Cup and regional competitions. It replaced the former CONCACAF Club Index as the method used to seed clubs in international competitions. A modified Elo rating system, MLS teams receive updated ratings from results in MLS, Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, and Club World Cup matches, with more weight placed on international matches.[13][14]

As of February 26, 2024[15]
Rank Club Points
1 Mexico Monterrey 1,249
2 Mexico America 1,246
3 Mexico Tigres UANL 1,236
4 United States Philadelphia Union 1,218
5 Mexico Pachuca 1,214
6 Mexico Guadalajara 1,210
7 Mexico León 1,209
8 United States Columbus Crew 1,206
9 United States Los Angeles 1,205
10 United States Orlando City SC 1,203
11 Mexico UNAM 1,197
12 United States Nashville 1,193
13 Mexico Toluca 1,191
14 Mexico Cruz Azul 1,191
15 United States Cincinnati 1,190
16 United States Seattle Sounders FC 1,187
17 United States Inter Miami CF 1,185
18 United States New York Red Bulls 1,183
19 United States New England Revolution 1,181
20 United States Sporting Kansas City 1,180

Performance by team

[edit]

As of 2024, 27 MLS teams have appeared in the CONCACAF Champions Cup since MLS began sending teams to the competition in 1997.

Seattle Sounders FC became champions in 2022, ending Liga MX's winning streak in the competition since 2006. They were the fifth MLS club to make it to the final, following Real Salt Lake in 2011, Montreal Impact in 2015, Toronto FC in 2018 and Los Angeles FC in 2020.[3]

Canadian teams in MLS – CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – qualify to the Champions Cup via a separate competition, the Canadian Championship, and they represent the Canadian Soccer Association. Starting in 2024, all three Canadian teams may also qualify through MLS or Leagues Cup.[1] The only times MLS standings were used for Canadian teams qualification were the 2014 season to determine the 2015–16 Champions League representative, as the Canadian Championship format was changed that season, and the 2020 season to determine the 2021 Champions League representative, as the 2020 Canadian Championship was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting in 2018, the group stage was removed, so MLS teams now started in the Round of 16 (first round). Starting in 2024, one or two MLS teams receive byes to the round of 16 (second round) while others enter in the first round of 22 teams.[6]

As of 2023 tournament[citation needed]
Team Apps Pld W D L GF GA GD Best Result
Atlanta United FC 3 8 4 1 3 11 10 +1 Quarter-finals
Austin FC 1 2 1 0 1 2 3 –1 Round of 16
Chivas USA* 1 2 0 1 1 1 3 –2 Preliminary round
Chicago Fire 3 11 6 2 3 18 14 +4 Third place
Colorado Rapids 4 12 4 2 6 13 19 –6 Round of 16
Columbus Crew 4 20 8 4 8 26 30 –4 Final
FC Dallas 3 18 9 3 6 27 25 +2 Semi-finals
D.C. United 12 52 24 12 16 84 71 +13 Champions
Houston Dynamo FC 7 36 14 10 12 45 44 +1 Semi-finals
LA Galaxy 10 44 20 11 13 74 57 +17 Champions
Los Angeles FC 2 13 7 1 5 24 12 +12 Final
CF Montréalǂ 4 22 8 7 7 27 26 +1 Final
New England Revolution 4 8 2 1 5 7 15 –8 Quarter-finals
New York City FC 2 10 5 1 4 19 17 +2 Semi-finals
New York Red Bulls 5 22 8 8 6 27 19 +8 Semi-finals
Orlando City SC 1 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 Round of 16
Philadelphia Union 2 12 5 4 3 17 11 +6 Semi-finals
Portland Timbers 3 12 6 3 3 31 19 +12 Quarter-finals
Real Salt Lake 3 22 11 6 5 34 22 +12 Final
San Jose Earthquakes 4 14 7 2 5 16 16 0 Quarter-finals
Seattle Sounders FC 7 46 20 11 15 72 59 +13 Champions
Sporting Kansas City 6 30 12 6 10 40 41 –1 Semi-finals
Toronto FCǂ 7 34 14 10 10 46 45 +1 Final
Vancouver Whitecaps FCǂ 3 16 7 2 7 23 21 +2 Semi-finals

ǂ – team represents Canada
* – team folded
Apps – CCC appearances
Pld – games played
W, D, L – wins, draws, losses

GF, GA, GD – goals for, goals against, goal difference

Team (no. of participations) Apps 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Seattle Sounders FC 7 GS QF SF QF QF R16 C
Toronto FC 7 PR GS SF GS F R16 QF
Houston Dynamo FC 6 QF GS QF GS QF R16
LA Galaxy 5 PR QF SF QF QF
CF Montréal 5 QF GS F QF QF
New York Red Bulls 5 PR GS QF SF QF
Columbus Crew 4 QF QF QF F
D.C. United 4 GS GS QF QF
Sporting Kansas City 4 QF GS GS SF
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 GS SF QF R1
Atlanta United FC 3 did not exist QF QF QF
Colorado Rapids 3 GS R16 R16
FC Dallas 3 GS SF R16
New England Revolution 3 PR QF QF
Philadelphia Union 3 did not exist SF SF R16
Portland Timbers 3 GS GS QF
Real Salt Lake 3 F GS QF
Los Angeles FC 2 did not exist F F
New York City FC 2 did not exist QF SF
Orlando City SC 2 did not exist R16 R16
Austin FC 1 did not exist R16
Chivas USA 1 PR Team dissolved
FC Cincinnati 1 did not exist R16
Inter Miami CF 1 did not exist QF
Nashville SC 1 did not exist R16
San Jose Earthquakes 1 QF
St. Louis City SC 1 did not exist R1

Records

[edit]

Biggest win: 8 goal margin
D.C. United 8–0 Trinidad and Tobago Joe Public (1998 Quarter-finals)

Biggest defeat: 6 goal margin
Mexico Atlético Morelia 6–0 Columbus Crew (2003 Quarter-finals, first leg)
Mexico Pachuca 6–0 Philadelphia Union (2024 Round of 16, second leg)

Other continental competitions

[edit]

MLS teams have participated in other continental competitions.

Copa Sudamericana

[edit]
  • 2005 — D.C. United played in the Round of 16, where they lost 3–4 in aggregate over two legs (1–1, 2–3) to Chile's Universidad Católica.
  • 2007 — D.C. United played in the Round of 16, where they lost 2–2 on aggregate on away goals (2–1, 0–1) to Mexico's Guadalajara.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "How clubs can qualify for the expanded 2024 Concacaf Champions League". MLSSoccer.com. June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "The Throw-In: Real Salt Lake's Champions League run? For MLS' sake, forget it ever happened". MLS Soccer. March 20, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Booth, Tim (May 4, 2022). "Seattle Sounders are the 1st MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League, beating Pumas 5-2 on aggregate". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Mather, Victor (May 5, 2022). "The Sounders Qualified for the Club World Cup. No One Knows When It Is". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "CONCACAF Champions League is Different, but Will MLS's Fortunes Change at All?". Sports Illustrated. February 20, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Concacaf announces expanded Champions League starting in 2024". MLSSoccer.com. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Goff, Steven (October 22, 2015). "It's MLS vs. Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "CCL Match Recap: Seattle Sounders 3, Tigres UANL 1". MLS Soccer. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013.
  9. ^ Bell, Arch (March 6, 2015). "Montreal's epic moment caps CONCACAF Champions League QFs". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015.
  10. ^ Baxter, Kevin (March 17, 2018). "There's no longer a big gap in the level of play between Mexico's Liga MX and MLS, Donovan says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Serrano, Rodrigo (December 20, 2020). "LAFC, first team to eliminate three Liga MX clubs". Diario AS. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Marshall, Tom (March 15, 2018). "CONCACAF Champions League will benefit from MLS wins over Liga MX". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018.
  13. ^ "Concacaf launches new ranking system for region's clubs and leagues". www.concacaf.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "How does the Concacaf Club Ranking system work?". www.concacaf.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "CONCACAF CLUB RANKING INDEX". www.concacaf.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.