Eight clubs now qualified for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup as LAFC and Columbus Crew join Liga MX giants

After the conclusion of last night’s 2024 Leagues Cup semifinals where LAFC and Columbus Crew advanced to the final at the expense of Colorado and Philadelphia, the Black & Gold and Crew join the six Liga MX clubs – Chivas, Monterrey, Club America, Cruz Azul, Pumas UNAM, and Tigres UANL – as the eight (out of 27) clubs that have secured a berth in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

For next seasons Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS will be represented by nine teams. Three from Leagues Cup, the US Open Cup winners and the four best-ranked teams at the end of the season along with MLS Cup winner.

The 60th edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup is scheduled to be played between February and June 2025 and is the sole path through which clubs in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean can qualify for the expanded 32-club FIFA Club World Cup. Next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup will continue to be played in a five-round direct elimination knockout stage format.

The first four rounds: Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, all include home and away matches, while the final is played as a single-leg match. Of the 27 participating clubs, 22 will begin play in Round One, and five will receive a bye to the Round of 16.

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The current Concacaf Champions Cup champion is Mexico’s CF Pachuca, who defeated Columbus Crew (USA) in June and they joined Club Leon (2023), Seattle Sounders FC (2022), and CF Monterrey (2021) as Concacaf’s four representatives in next summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

The remaining participants will include teams from: The Canadian Championship (one club): 2024 Champion Canadian Premier League (two clubs): 2024 Champion and Shield Winner, Concacaf Caribbean Cup (three clubs): 2024 champion*, runner-up, and third place. Concacaf Central American Cup (six clubs): 2024 champion, runner-up, two losing semifinalists, and two play-in winners.