June 29 – CONCACAF has set the dates for the group stages of the Scotiabank Champions League, its blue riband event for clubs.
Playing in eight groups of three, the 24 teams will be whittled down to a final eight group winners by the end of October. Matches will be played in six designated match weeks with three in August, two in September and one in October.
The winner of each group will qualify for the quarter final knockout round which will be played in February 2017. The finals will be played in April, 2017, though exact date have not been set yet. The winning team will qualify for the FIFA World Club World Cup in 2017.
This edition of the Scotiabank Champions League marks a further development of the competition by CONCACAF who have boosted prize money to $1.2 million for the 2016/17 season and committed to supporting club travel costs in the early tournament stages.
Winners of the 2016/17 Champions League will receive $500,000, the runner-up will receive $300,000 and the two other semifinalists will get $200,000 each. CONCACAF says it is investing more than $5.5 million in this edition of the competition.
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said when announcing the prize fund: “We understand that investment in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League will pay dividends quickly, in further supporting clubs by compensating them for their monumental efforts and success in reaching the Champions League.
“In speaking with and listening to our participating clubs and Member Associations, we understand the importance – in addition to cash prizes for teams reaching the final rounds of the competition – of also supporting the clubs by increasing the travel stipend across the board, to help offset the rising costs of travel across the region.”
Seven of the teams competing in the next edition of the competition are entering the group stages for the first time. They come from 12 countries across the region. Matches begin August 3.
Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League Groups
Group A
W Connection (TRI) – Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
Honduras Progreso (HON) – Estadio Francisco Morazan, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Pumas UNAM (MEX) – Estadio Olimpico Universitario, Mexico City, Mexico
Group B
CD Dragon (SLV) – Estadio Atletico Las Delicias, Santa Tecla, El Salvador
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) – Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Jose, Costa Rica
Portland Timbers (USA) – Providence Park, Portland, OR, USA
Group C
Central FC (TRI) – Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN) – BC Place, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Sporting Kansas City (USA) – Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS, USA
Group D
Don Bosco FC (HAI) – Stade Sylvio Cator, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Arabe Unido (PAN) – Estadio Maracana, Panama City, Panama
CF Monterrey (MEX) – Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Monterrey, Mexico
Group E
Police United (BLZ) – Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan, Belize
CD Olimpia (HON) – Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
CF Pachuca (MEX) – Estadio Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mexico
Group F
Alianza FC (SLV) – Estadio Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador
Antigua GFC (GUA) – TBC
New York Red Bulls (USA) – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ, USA
Group G
CD Plaza Amador (PAN) – Estadio Maracana, Panama City, Panama
CS Herediano (CRC) – Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia, Costa Rica
Tigres UANL (MEX) – Estadio Universitario, Monterrey, Mexico
Group H
Real Esteli (NCA) – Estadio Independencia, Esteli, Nicaragua
CD Suchitepequez (GUA) – Estadio Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala
FC Dallas (USA) – Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX, USA
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1714064416labto1714064416ofdlr1714064416owedi1714064416sni@n1714064416osloh1714064416cin.l1714064416uap1714064416