The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup is the premier club competition for teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, returning with an expanded format and greater international stakes. The tournament determines the continental club champion and serves as a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup. Below is the latest overview of the competition, including format, qualified teams, schedule, and format details.
Concacaf has announced the field for round one of the 2026 Champions Cup, the highest level club competition in the confederation. Concacaf divides the field between 22 round one participants and a further five clubs that start in the round of 16. Round one is a home-and-away knockout round. The first-legs of those series are set for February 3-5 and February 17-19. The second-legs play out on February 11-13 and February 25-27.
Updated: 2/11/2026
Round One clubs
| CLUB | WON | PLAYS |
| Vancouver FC | 2025 Canadian Championship | Cruz Azul |
| Atletico Ottawa | 2025 Canadian Premier League | Nashville SC |
| Forge FC | 2025 CPL Shield | Tigres |
| O&M | 2025 Caribbean Cup finalist | FC Cincinnati |
| Defense Force | 2025 Caribbean Cup 3rd-place | Philadelphia |
| Xelaju | 2025 Central American Cup runners-up | Monterrey |
| Real Espana | 2025 Central American Cup semifinalist | LAFC |
| Olimpia | 2025 Central American Cup semifinalist | Club America |
| Cartagines | 2025 Central American Cup play-in | Vancouver Whitecaps |
| San Miguelito | 2025 Central American Cup play-in | LA Galaxy |
| LA Galaxy | 2025 Leagues Cup 3rd-place | San Miguelito |
| Club America | 2024-25 Liga MX Apertura or Clausura lower aggregate points | Olimpia |
| Monterrey | 2024-25 Liga MX Apertura runners-up | Xelaju |
| Cruz Azul | 2024-25 Liga MX combined table | Vancouver FC |
| Tigres | 2024-25 Liga MX combined table | Forge FC |
| UNAM Pumas | 2024-25 Liga MX combined table | San Diego |
| Philadelphia | 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield | Defense Force |
| San Diego | MLS Western Conference winner | UNAM Pumas |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | Supporters’ Shield table | Cartagines |
| FC Cincinnati | Supporters’ Shield table | O&M |
| LAFC | Supporters’ Shield table | Real Espana |
| Nashville SC | 2025 US Open Cup runners-up | Atletico Ottawa |
Round One results
| CLUB A | CLUB B | Leg 1 | Leg 2 | Aggregate Result |
| San Diego | UNAM Pumas | 4-1 | 0-1 | 4-2 |
| San Miguelito | LA Galaxy | 2/19 | 2/25 | |
| Vancouver FC | Cruz Azul | 0-3 | 2/12 | |
| Xelaju | Monterrey | 1-1 | 2-0 | 3-1 |
| Real Espana | LAFC | 2/17 | 2/24 | |
| Atletico Ottawa | Nashville | 2/17 | 2/24 | |
| Olimpia | Club America | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 |
| Defense Force | Philadelphia | 2/18 | 2/26 | |
| Cartagines | Whitecaps | 2/18 | 2/26 | |
| O&M | Cincinnati | 2/18 | 2/26 | |
| Forge | Tigres | 0-0 | 1-4 | 1-4 |
And here are the clubs already in the round of 16, with those games set for March 10-12 and March 17-19:
| CLUB | WON | WILL PLAY |
| Mount Pleasant | 2025 Caribbean Cup | winner of San Miguelito vs LA Galaxy |
| Alajuelense | 2025 Central American Cup | winner of Real Espana vs LAFC |
| Seattle Sounders | 2025 Leagues Cup | winner of Cartignes vs Vancouver Whitecaps |
| Toluca | 2024-25 Liga MX | winner of San Diego vs UNAM Pumas |
| Inter Miami | 2025 MLS Cup | winner of Atletico Ottawa vs Nashville SC |
The winners advance to the quarterfinals set for April 7-9 and April 14-16. The semifinals will be April 28-20 and May 5-7, with the final on May 30, 2026.
2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup FAQs
What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?
The Concacaf Champions Cup is the top club competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, featuring elite professional teams competing for regional supremacy and a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
How many teams compete in the 2026 edition?
27 teams with 22 of them starting in the opening round.
Which leagues advance teams in the Champions Cup?
Teams can advance directly from MLS, Liga MX, and the Canadian Premier League. Other teams advance through domestic and regional cup competitions including the US Open Cup, the Canadian Championship, the Central American Cup, and Leagues Cup.
When does the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup begin and end?
It begins on February 3 and runs through May 30.
Does the winner qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup?
Yes, the winner advances to the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. The winner also represents Concacaf at the 2026 Intercontinental Cup.
The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup
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