February 17 – The Dominican Republic is one of Concacaf’s challenger nations looking to join its elite group of countries that are competitive in qualification for major international tournaments.
Underpinning that is a fast improving and competitive domestic club game that enables its players to develop at home.
The next big test of how fast they are developing is the first round Champions Cup tie between O&M FC (Universidad Organización y Método) and FC Cincinnati.
O&M FC qualified as runners-up in the 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup but the Santo Domingo club only finished fifth in the Liga Dominicana de Fútbol in 2025. They won their last domestic league in 2020 when they finished top of both the regular season table and won the playoff championships.
Managed by Spaniard Jose Aparicio since November 2025, most of the squad under the age of 25. Anyelo Gómez (23) is the main centre-forward, while left winger Frantzety Herard (23) found form at the crucial time with five goals in the Caribbean Cup.
In FC Cincinnati they are taking on a much more seasoned Concacaf Champions Cup opponent who have qualified for the competition for the third time and who on each of their two previous appearances knocked out a club from a smaller nation as favourites.
The winners will face Tigres UANL in the Round of 16.
Brazilian midfielder/striker Evander was Cincinnati’s 2025 Team MVP and top scorer, leading the team in goals, assists, and chances created. Also key up front in 2025 was new arrival from France, Kévin Denkey.
Czech Republic international Pavel Bucha brings a stability and international experience to midfield alongside Nigerian Obinna Nwobodo who is a non-nonsense defensive midfielder.
US national team standout Miles Robinson leads the defensive line up with Roman Celetanon having established himself in goal.
“It’s a new year with a relatively consistent group with some new additions, but it’s a new year. Even with the progress that I think we’ve made…it gets real, and what happens on the 18th and then the quick turnaround on the 21st, so we’ll see what it looks like,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan said of the beginning of the season. “But I know we’re not at the level that we expect to be at, you know, two months down the road, four months down the road, you know, at the end of the season. So we have a long way to go with this group.”
The first step is getting past the relatively unknown and untested O&M in Santo Domingo.
First round, first leg, O&M FC vs FC Cincinnati