MLS performance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup
Major League Soccer teams have participated in the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season since 1997. MLS may send up to ten teams to the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season — up to six from the United States, up to one from Canada, and up to three through the Leagues Cup berths.[1]
The first MLS team to finish first in its group was Real Salt Lake in 2010.[2] The first Champions Cup title won by an MLS side occurred in 2022, when Seattle Sounders FC defeated Mexico's UNAM 5–2 on aggregate in the final.[3] Real Salt Lake, CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Los Angeles FC all also reached the final, with Real Salt Lake losing to Monterrey in 2011, CF Montréal to América in 2015, Toronto FC to Guadalajara in 2018, and Los Angeles FC to UANL in 2020 and León in 2023, respectively.[2] Seattle was therefore the first MLS side to participate at the FIFA Club World Cup.[4]
Performance by round
The following table shows the number of MLS participants in the Champions Cup each season, as well as the number of MLS teams that have reached various stages in the knockout rounds. MLS teams performed poorly during the first two years, as fixture congestion from the Superliga tournament as well as CONCACAF Champions League preliminary rounds meant that MLS teams often fielded teams without their first choice players.
Beginning in 2018, the Champions League format was changed to eliminate group play and the knockout round started with sixteen teams rather than eight.[5] Beginning in 2024, the format was expanded to include five knockout rounds and twenty-seven teams.[6]
| Tournament | Participants | Quarter- finalists |
Semi- finalists |
Finalists | Champions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| 2000 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 2003 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2004 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| 2005 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| 2008–09 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2011–12 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| 2012–13 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 2013–14 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2015–16 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 2018 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | — |
| 2022 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2024 | 10 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Notes:
- MLS sent only four teams to the Champions League in 2008–09 because the Canadian team, the Montreal Impact, played in the USL First Division at the time.
Performance by opposition in knockout series
The following table shows the performance of MLS teams in the knockout rounds for each home-and-away series for opponents from various leagues. During the first nine seasons of the Champions League, MLS teams did not play any foreign teams in knockout stage other than Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. With the change in tournament format in the 2018 season, specifically with the knockout rounds now including a round of 16, MLS teams have played knockout matches against a greater variety of countries.
In the Champions Cup knockout rounds, MLS teams have played Mexican teams more than any other country, in some years facing multiple matchups.[7] Seattle's 2013 quarter-final win over Mexico's UANL was the first time since the Champions League format began in 2008–09 that an MLS team eliminated a Mexican team in the knockout rounds.[8] Montreal repeated the feat in 2015 when they beat Mexico's Pachuca in the quarter-finals.[9] In 2018, Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls both advanced to the semi-finals by beating Mexican teams, the first time that two MLS teams eliminated two Mexican teams in the same tournament.[10] In 2020, Los Angeles FC became the first MLS team to eliminate three Mexican teams in the same tournament — beating Mexican opponents in the Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, before losing in the final to a Mexican team.[11] MLS' improved performance against Mexican teams was attributed to MLS club academies focused on player development, and an increase in player salaries through the league's Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) program.[12]
| Tournament |  Mexico |
 Trinidadand Tobago |
 El Salvador |
 Honduras |
 CostaRica |
 Guatemala |
 Panama |
 Jamaica |
 Dominican Republic |
 Nicaragua |
 Haiti |
 Canada
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 1–3 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | 0–2 | — | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | 0–2 | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 0–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | 0–1 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | 1–3 | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | 0–3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | 1–1 | — | — | — | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | 0–4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | 0–2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | 3–3 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 1–4 | — | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 3–3 | — | — | 1–2 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 1–4 | — | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — | — |
| 2022 | 3–2 | — | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | — | — | — | — | 1–0 | — |
| 2023 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0–1 | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Totals | 17–47 (27%) | 5–0 (100%) | 3–0 (100%) | 11–2 (85%) | 12–9 (57%) | 4–2 (67%) | 3–2 (60%) | 2–0 (100%) | 1–0 (100%) | 1–0 (100%) | 1–1 (50%) |
CONCACAF Club Ranking
In 2023, CONCACAF released a new club ranking system ahead of the revamped Champions Cup and regional competitions. It replaced the former CONCACAF Club Index as the method used to seed clubs in international competitions. A modified Elo rating system, MLS teams receive updated ratings from results in MLS, Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, and Club World Cup matches, with more weight placed on international matches.[13][14]
- As of January 1, 2024[15]
| Rank | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | America
|
1,257 |
| 2 | Monterrey
|
1,243 |
| 3 | Tigres UANL
|
1,232 |
| 4 | León
|
1,219 |
| 5 |  Philadelphia Union
|
1,214 |
| 6 | Toluca
|
1,212 |
| 7 | Pachuca
|
1,207 |
| 8 | Guadalajara
|
1,205 |
| 9 | Columbus Crew
|
1,203 |
| 10 | Los Angeles
|
1,203 |
| 11 | Orlando City
|
1,200 |
| 12 | UNAM
|
1,196 |
| 13 | Nashville
|
1,191 |
| 14 | Cincinnati
|
1,189 |
| 15 | Puebla
|
1,189 |
| 16 | Santos Laguna
|
1,189 |
| 17 | Seattle Sounders
|
1,188 |
| 18 | Atlas
|
1,186 |
| 19 | Cruz Azul
|
1,182 |
| 20 | New York Red Bulls
|
1,182 |
Performance by team
As of 2023, 24 MLS teams have appeared in the CONCACAF Champions Cup since MLS began sending teams to the competition in 1997.
Seattle Sounders FC became champions in 2022, ending Liga MX's winning streak in the competition since 2006. They were the fifth MLS club to make it to the final, following Real Salt Lake in 2011, Montreal Impact in 2015, Toronto FC in 2018 and Los Angeles FC in 2020.[3]
Canadian teams in MLS – CF Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – qualify to the Champions Cup via a separate competition, the Canadian Championship, and they represent the Canadian Soccer Association. Starting in 2024, all three Canadian teams may also qualify through MLS or Leagues Cup.[1] The only times MLS standings were used for Canadian teams qualification were the 2014 season to determine the 2015–16 Champions League representative, as the Canadian Championship format was changed that season, and the 2020 season to determine the 2021 Champions League representative, as the 2020 Canadian Championship was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starting in 2018, the group stage was removed, so MLS teams now started in the Round of 16 (first round). Starting in 2024, one or two MLS teams will receive byes to the round of 16 (second round) while others will enter in the first round of 22 teams.[6]
- As of 2023 tournament[citation needed]
| Team | Apps | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Best Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United FC | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | Quarter-finals |
| Austin FC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | –1 | Round of 16 |
| Chivas USA* | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | –2 | Preliminary round |
| Chicago Fire | 3 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | Third place |
| Colorado Rapids | 4 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 | –6 | Round of 16 |
| Columbus Crew | 4 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 30 | –4 | Quarter-finals |
| FC Dallas | 3 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 25 | +2 | Semi-finals |
| D.C. United | 12 | 52 | 24 | 12 | 16 | 84 | 71 | +13 | Champions |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 7 | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 44 | +1 | Semi-finals |
| LA Galaxy | 10 | 44 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 74 | 57 | +17 | Champions |
| Los Angeles FC | 2 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 12 | +12 | Final |
| CF Montréalǂ | 4 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 26 | +1 | Final |
| New England Revolution | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 15 | –8 | Quarter-finals |
| New York City FC | 2 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 17 | +2 | Semi-finals |
| New York Red Bulls | 5 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 19 | +8 | Semi-finals |
| Orlando City SC | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Round of 16 |
| Philadelphia Union | 2 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | Semi-finals |
| Portland Timbers | 3 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 19 | +12 | Quarter-finals |
| Real Salt Lake | 3 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 34 | 22 | +12 | Final |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 0 | Quarter-finals |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 7 | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 72 | 59 | +13 | Champions |
| Sporting Kansas City | 6 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 40 | 41 | -1 | Semi-finals |
| Toronto FCǂ | 7 | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 46 | 45 | +1 | Final |
| Vancouver Whitecaps FCǂ | 3 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 21 | +2 | Semi-finals |
ǂ – team represents Canada
* – team folded
Apps – CCC appearances
Pld – games played
W, D, L – wins, draws, losses
GF, GA, GD – goals for, goals against, goal difference
| Team (no. of participations) | Apps | 08–09 | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 | 14–15 | 15–16 | 16–17 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders FC | 7 | • | GS | QF | SF | • | QF | • | QF | • | R16 | • | C | • | |||
| Toronto FC | 7 | • | PR | GS | SF | GS | • | F | R16 | • | QF | • | |||||
| Houston Dynamo FC | 6 | QF | GS | • | QF | GS | • | QF | • | Q | |||||||
| LA Galaxy | 5 | • | PR | QF | SF | QF | • | QF | • | ||||||||
| CF Montréal | 5 | QF | • | GS | F | • | QF | • | QF | • | |||||||
| New York Red Bulls | 5 | • | PR | • | GS | • | QF | SF | QF | • | |||||||
| Columbus Crew | 4 | • | QF | QF | • | QF | • | Q | |||||||||
| D.C. United | 4 | GS | GS | • | QF | QF | • | ||||||||||
| Sporting Kansas City | 4 | • | QF | GS | • | GS | • | SF | • | ||||||||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 4 | • | GS | SF | • | QF | Q | ||||||||||
| Atlanta United FC | 3 | did not exist | • | QF | QF | QF | • | ||||||||||
| Colorado Rapids | 3 | • | GS | • | R16 | • | R16 | • | |||||||||
| FC Dallas | 3 | • | GS | • | SF | R16 | • | ||||||||||
| New England Revolution | 3 | PR | • | QF | • | Q | |||||||||||
| Philadelphia Union | 3 | did not exist | • | SF | • | SF | Q | ||||||||||
| Portland Timbers | 3 | • | GS | • | GS | • | QF | • | |||||||||
| Real Salt Lake | 3 | • | F | • | GS | • | QF | • | |||||||||
| Los Angeles FC | 2 | did not exist | • | F | • | F | • | ||||||||||
| New York City FC | 2 | did not exist | • | QF | • | SF | • | ||||||||||
| Orlando City SC | 2 | did not exist | • | R16 | Q | ||||||||||||
| Austin FC | 1 | did not exist | • | R16 | • | ||||||||||||
| Chivas USA | 1 | PR | • | Team dissolved | |||||||||||||
| FC Cincinnati | 1 | did not exist | • | Q | |||||||||||||
| Inter Miami CF | 1 | did not exist | • | Q | |||||||||||||
| Nashville SC | 1 | did not exist | • | Q | |||||||||||||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 1 | • | QF | • | |||||||||||||
| St. Louis City SC | 1 | did not exist | Q | ||||||||||||||
Records
Biggest win: 8 goal margin
D.C. United 8–0 Joe Public (1998 Quarter-finals)
Biggest defeat: 6 goal margin
Atlético Morelia 6–0 Columbus Crew (2003 Quarter-finals, first leg)
Other continental competitions
MLS teams have participated in other continental competitions.
Copa Sudamericana
- 2005 — D.C. United played in the Round of 16, where they lost 3–4 in aggregate over two legs (1–1, 2–3) to Chile's Universidad Católica.
- 2007 — D.C. United played in the Round of 16, where they lost 2–2 on aggregate on away goals (2–1, 0–1) to Mexico's Guadalajara.
See also
- American soccer clubs in international competitions
- Canadian soccer clubs in international competitions
References
- ^ a b "How clubs can qualify for the expanded 2024 Concacaf Champions League". MLSSoccer.com. June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Throw-In: Real Salt Lake's Champions League run? For MLS' sake, forget it ever happened". MLS Soccer. March 20, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014.
- ^ a b Booth, Tim (May 4, 2022). "Seattle Sounders are the 1st MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League, beating Pumas 5-2 on aggregate". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Mather, Victor (May 5, 2022). "The Sounders Qualified for the Club World Cup. No One Knows When It Is". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ "CONCACAF Champions League is Different, but Will MLS's Fortunes Change at All?". Sports Illustrated. February 20, 2018. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "Concacaf announces expanded Champions League starting in 2024". MLSSoccer.com. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021.
- ^ Goff, Steven (October 22, 2015). "It's MLS vs. Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015.
- ^ "CCL Match Recap: Seattle Sounders 3, Tigres UANL 1". MLS Soccer. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013.
- ^ Bell, Arch (March 6, 2015). "Montreal's epic moment caps CONCACAF Champions League QFs". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on March 9, 2015.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (March 17, 2018). "There's no longer a big gap in the level of play between Mexico's Liga MX and MLS, Donovan says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018.
- ^ Serrano, Rodrigo (December 20, 2020). "LAFC, first team to eliminate three Liga MX clubs". Diario AS. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
- ^ Marshall, Tom (March 15, 2018). "CONCACAF Champions League will benefit from MLS wins over Liga MX". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018.
- ^ "Concacaf launches new ranking system for region's clubs and leagues". www.concacaf.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ "How does the Concacaf Club Ranking system work?". www.concacaf.com. May 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
- ^ "CONCACAF CLUB RANKING INDEX". www.concacaf.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
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