Concacaf has officially revealed the procedures to be followed for the highly anticipated draw of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. This live event, designed specifically for television audiences, is set to take place at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, December 10. It will serve to outline the trajectory that each participating club will take en route to the prestigious Final of this elite club competition, promising a thrilling showdown among the best teams.
The upcoming 60th edition of the Concacaf Champions Cup is poised to be one for the record books. Keeping its tradition intact, the tournament will once again utilize a direct elimination knockout stage format, comprised of five distinct rounds featuring a total of 27 clubs from across the region. The first four rounds, which include Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, will feature matches played both at home and away, intensifying the competition. The Final match, where the Champion of the region will be crowned, will be contested as a single-leg affair.
This year’s competition is slated to kick off with eleven Round One series set for February, leading into the Round of 16 in March. The Quarterfinals will take place in the first half of April, followed closely by the semifinals in late April and early May, culminating in an exhilarating Final on Sunday, June 1, marking a significant date in the soccer calendar.
Fans around the globe will have the opportunity to follow and engage with this live event via Concacaf’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/concacaf), as well as through the Confederation’s regional TV partners. This includes major networks like FOX Sports (covering the USA and Mexico in English) and ESPN | Star+ (serving viewers in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America). This extensive accessibility ensures that soccer enthusiasts won’t miss a moment of the action.
For the latest updates, fans can also keep track of developments through the tournament’s official social media platforms—X (@TheChampions), Facebook (facebook.com/TheChampions), Instagram (@TheChampions), and TikTok (@Concachampions)—allowing for real-time engagement and interaction with the event.
COMPETITION BRACKET AND DRAW PROCEDURES
According to the established regulations for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, the qualification criteria and the Concacaf Club Rankings as of December 9, 2024, each of the 27 clubs participating will be methodically pre-seeded into designated bracket positions or categorized into appropriate Pots.
The champions of Concacaf’s three regional cup competitions, along with the Liga MX Champion boasting the most accumulated points and the MLS Cup Champion, will be granted a bye to the Round of 16 as a recognition of their sporting excellence. These five clubs, listed here in alphabetical order per competition, are:
- TBC (2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup champion)
- TBC (2024 Concacaf Central American Cup champion)
- Columbus Crew (2024 Leagues Cup champion)
- Club America (2023/24 Liga MX champion with the most accumulated points)
- TBC (2024 MLS Cup champion)
In addition, these five clubs will be pre-seeded into specific bracket positions for the Round of 16 based on their rankings from the Concacaf Club Rankings as of December 9, 2024, as follows:
- Highest-ranked club: Round of 16 Matchup 1
- Second highest-ranked club: Round of 16 Matchup 5
- Third highest-ranked club: Round of 16 Matchup 8
- Fourth highest-ranked club: Round of 16 Matchup 4
- Fifth highest-ranked club: Round of 16 Matchup 2
For Round One, the three top-ranked clubs will receive a pre-seeded position in the initial matchups, while the remaining 19 clubs will be allocated into two distinct “club pots.” This system aims to ensure that the strongest teams are strategically placed to enhance the competitive balance.
The allocation of the three highest-ranked clubs into the Round One matchups is as follows:
- Highest-ranked club: Round One Matchup 3
- Second highest-ranked club: Round One Matchup 9
- Third highest-ranked club: Round One Matchup 7
The remaining 19 clubs participating in Round One will be divided into two “Club Pots” to further organize the matchups:
- Pot 1: 8 best-ranked clubs
- Pot 2: 11 lowest-ranked clubs
The 19 available Round One bracket positions will be also categorized into two distinct “Position Pots” as follows:
- Pot A: A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A8, A10 and A11
- Pot B: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10 and B11
The official draw will commence with the selection of a sphere from Pot 1, followed by the drawing of a Round One bracket position from Pot A. This process will be repeated for all spheres from Pot 1, continually utilizing the available positions from Pot A.
After all selections from Pot 1 have concluded, the draw for Pots 2 and B will ensue. Once every club has been designated a bracket position, the draw will be finalized, marking a significant milestone in the tournament’s progression.
Clubs that qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup do so through three key regional cups in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as through domestic leagues and cups in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This broad qualification process underscores the tournament’s competitive nature and the diverse representation of clubs.
As of now, 25 clubs have successfully secured their spots in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. These clubs are listed below, arranged alphabetically by tournament:
Canadian Championship (one club): Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)
Canadian Premier League (two clubs): Cavalry FC (CAN) and Forge FC (CAN)
Concacaf Caribbean Cup (two clubs): Cavalier FC (JAM), Cibao FC (DOM)
Concacaf Central American Cup (six clubs): Antigua GFC (GUA), CS Herediano (CRC), Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), FC Motagua (HON), LD Alajuelense (CRC), Real Esteli FC (NCA)
Leagues Cup (three clubs): Colorado Rapids (USA), Columbus Crew (USA), Los Angeles FC (USA)
Liga MX (six clubs): CD Guadalajara (MEX), CF Monterrey (MEX), Club America (MEX), Cruz Azul (MEX), Pumas UNAM (MEX), Tigres UANL (MEX)
MLS (four clubs): FC Cincinnati (USA), Inter Miami CF (USA), LA Galaxy (USA), Real Salt Lake (USA)
US Open Cup (one club): Sporting Kansas City (USA)
The final two clubs will be determined ahead of December’s draw, which will include the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Third-Place Finisher and the 2024 MLS Cup Champion, adding further excitement to the composition of the tournament.
For a comprehensive breakdown of how each club qualified for the tournament, click here.
**Interview with Soccer Analyst Alex Thompson on the Upcoming 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Draw**
**Interviewer**: Welcome, Alex! The draw for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup is just around the corner. What are you most excited about regarding this year’s tournament?
**Alex Thompson**: Thanks for having me! I’m really looking forward to the intensity of the knockout format. With 27 clubs participating and a direct elimination system, every match will have high stakes. That’s what makes this competition so thrilling—one slip-up and you’re out.
**Interviewer**: Absolutely! The draw is set for December 10. How do you think the seeding of the teams will impact the matchups?
**Alex Thompson**: The seeding is crucial. The top clubs receiving byes to the Round of 16 can create a significant advantage. It gives them time to prepare while other teams are battling in the earlier rounds. The way teams are placed into pots should lead to some interesting matchups, especially those pitting low-ranked clubs against the stronger ones.
**Interviewer**: Speaking of matchups, with clubs from all over the region, which teams do you see as the favorites this year?
**Alex Thompson**: It’s hard to overlook Liga MX teams like Club America and Columbus Crew, especially after their strong performances in previous tournaments. But don’t underestimate MLS teams either; they’ve become very competitive on the international stage. It all comes down to the draw and how these clubs react under pressure.
**Interviewer**: In terms of accessibility for fans, Concacaf has made it clear that they want everyone to engage with the tournament. How do you think streaming and social media will shape fan experience this year?
**Alex Thompson**: It’s a game-changer! Fans can follow the draw live on platforms like YouTube, which broadens the audience significantly. The use of social media for updates and fan interactions builds a community around the tournament. It allows for real-time engagement, which is essential in today’s sports environment.
**Interviewer**: Lastly, what advice would you give to fans preparing for the tournament?
**Alex Thompson**: I’d say, get familiar with the teams! Start watching the domestic leagues now to see who’s showing promise. Also, mark your calendars for the matches; it’s going to be an exciting ride. And of course, engage with the social media discussions—it’s always fun to see the community’s reactions!
**Interviewer**: Great insights, Alex! Thanks for joining us today. We can’t wait for the draw and the tournament to unfold!
**Alex Thompson**: Thank you! It’s going to be an epic competition, and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
