It's mid-May, and I know that we've still got the final of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup upcoming, but let's take another (way too early) look at the qualification for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Some notes on conventions:

• I use trigrams for clubs on first reference, even when we all know who we're talking about.
• I'm assuming the rules for qualification in 2025 will be the same as in 2024.
• If you see the term "named berth", this means any berth that is not simply given to the next best club in the standings that isn't already qualified.
• Bold indicates a club qualified for Champions Cup; italics indicates a club qualified for one of the regional competitions (Central America Cup, Caribbean Cup.)

#COMPETITIONS THAT HAVE STARTED

##LigaMX

###Qualification Rules

• Six clubs qualify for Champions Cup through LigaMX.
• Both the 2023 Apertura and 2024 Clausura champions qualify; of these two clubs, the one with the most points between the two tournaments qualifies directly to the Round of 16. The other qualifies for the First Round.
  • Note that if either champion wins Leagues Cup, then both champions qualify for the Round of 16.
• Both the 2023 Apertura and 2024 Clausura runners-up qualify for the First Round.
• In addition, the two clubs with the most points between the two tournaments, not already qualified, will qualify for the First Round.
  • If any club qualifies through two or more named berths, then an additional club will qualify through points for each excess named berth so held.

###Results

• América [MEX] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, defeating Tigres [MEX] in the final, 4-1 on aggregate. Both clubs are qualified.
• Note that after the conclusion of the 2024 Clausura regular season, América is on top of the aggregate table. Since they must end up the champion with the best record, they'll be receiving the bye into the Round of 16.
• Monterrey [MEX] and Chivas [MEX] were the next two best clubs in the aggregate table, so they're guaranteed a berth in the First Round.
• The semifinals of the Liguilla are set, with both finalists earning a berth.
  • América plays Chivas in one semifinal; as they've both earned a berth already, this assures Pumas [MEX] will be in the 2025 Champions Cup.
  • The other semifinal sees Monterrey play Cruz Azul [MEX]; should Monterrey advance, this would qualify Toluca [MEX].

##Major League Soccer

###Qualification Rules

• Five clubs qualify for Champions Cup through MLS.
• The 2024 MLS Cup champion qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
  • Note that if the MLS Cup champion also wins Leagues Cup, the MLS Cup runner-up qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
• Both regular season conference champions qualify for the First Round.
• In addition, the two clubs with the most points in the regular season, not already qualified, shall qualify for the First Round.
  • If a club qualifies for Champions Cup through two or more named berths (other than Open Cup champion or Canadian Championship winner), then an additional club with the most points in the regular season, not already qualified, shall qualify for the First Round.
  • Note that ties for points are broken by goal difference and then goals scored for the purposes of Champions Cup. Wins, which is the tiebreaker for the MLS Cup playoffs, is not used by Concacaf.
• Note that these berths are not country-locked; this is a relatively new policy starting with qualification for the 2024 tournament.

##Canadian Premier League

###Qualification Rules

• Two clubs qualify for Champions Cup through the CPL.
• The 2024 CPL champion qualifies for the First Round.
• The 2024 CPL shield winner qualifies for the First Round.
• Should a club win both named berths, the second-place club in the table will take a berth instead.

##Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

###Qualification Rules

• One club qualifies for Champions Cup through the Open Cup.
• This berth goes to the club that wins the Open Cup.
  • Should the Open Cup champion already qualify for Champions Cup by other means, the Open Cup runner-up qualifies for Champions Cup.
  • If both the Open Cup champion and runner-up qualify for Champions Cup by other means, then this berth reverts to the club with the most points in the 2024 MLS season, not already qualified.
  • Concacaf reserves the right to accept or reject this berth; I suspect that if one of the remaining MLS reserve clubs wins MLS Cup, their senior club will advance to Champions Cup in their stead.

##Canadian Championship

###Qualification Rules

• One club qualifies for Champions Cup through the Canadian Championship.
• This berth goes to the club that wins the Canadian Championship.
  • Should the Canadian Championship winner already qualify for Champions Cup by other means, the Canadian Championship runner-up qualifies for Champions Cup.
  • If both the Canadian Championship winner and runner-up qualify for Champions Cup by other means, then this berth goes to the Canadian Championship semifinalist with the most points in their respective league, not already qualified.

#COMPETITIONS YET TO START

##Caribbean Cup

###Qualification Rules

• Three clubs qualify for Champions Cup through the Caribbean Cup.
• The champion of Caribbean Cup qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
• The runner-up and third place club qualify for the First Round.

###Seeding

• Eight berths are reserved for clubs from Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago (two clubs each.)
• Two berths are awarded to the winner and runner-up of the Caribbean Shield, which contains the champions of all other nations in the Caribbean, as well as the next best clubs in the fully-professional countries.

####Dominican Republic

• The 2023 champions, Cibao FC [DOM], and 2023 runner-up, Moca FC [DOM], qualify.

####Haiti

• The two championship group winners will qualify.
• The groups are as follows:
  • Group A: Cavaly [HAI], Real Hope [HAI], Tempete [HAI]
  • Group B: América des Cayes [HAI], Baltimore [HAI], Ouanaminthe [HAI]

####Jamaica

• The two finalists, Cavalier [JAM] and Mount Pleasant [JAM], qualify.

####Trinidad and Tobago

• The top two finishers will qualify.
  • Note that Port of Spain [TRI] will be one of the two; the other will be either Police [TRI] or Defence Force [TRI].

##Central American Cup

###Qualification Rules

• Six clubs qualify for Champions Cup through the Central American Cup.
• The champion of Central American Cup qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
• The three remaining semifinalists all qualify for the First Round.
• In addition, two play-in winners (amongst losing quarterfinalists) qualify for the First Round.

###Seeding

• Each of the seven Central American nations are awarded berths in the Central American Cup as follows:
  • Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama - 3 berths each
  • Nicaragua - 2 berths
  • Belize - 1 berth
• In addition, two berths are to be awarded based on sporting merit from last year's competition. Precedent dictates that they go to the countries of the two finalists in last year's Central American Cup (which is what they did for last year's tournament - using the 2022 Concacaf League as the basis). This would mean Costa Rica would get a fourth berth and Nicaragua would get a third berth.
• All countries with multiple berths issue their first two berths to the clubs that win each of their biennial tournaments; any additional berths go to the combined table.
  • Usually this is Apertura and Clausura, in that order; Panama does a calendar year schedule, so they run Clausura and then the following Apertura.

####Costa Rica

• Costa Rica receives four berths.
• Saprissa [CRC] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Herediano [CRC] and Alajuelense [CRC] are guaranteed to be, at worst, the two best clubs that are not champions.
• The 2024 Clausura semifinals are set and all three of the above clubs are qualified. The fourth berth will either go to San Carlos [CRC] if they win the league, or Guanacasteca [CRC] if they don't.

####El Salvador

• El Salvador receives three berths.
• Águila [SLV] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Luis Ángel Firpo [SLV] was the best club that isn't a champion, so they're in too.
• The 2024 Clausura semifinals are set; none of the above clubs are involved, so the last berth goes to the winner.
  • The matchups are:
    • Alianza [SLV] v FAS [SLV]
    • Municipal Limeño [SLV] v Isidro Metapán [SLV]

####Guatemala

• Guatemala receives three berths.
• Comunicaciones [GUA] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Municipal [GUA] was the best club in the combined table - by goal difference - so they will advance.
• The 2024 Clausura final is set; the last berth will go to either Mixco [GUA] if they win, or to Antigua GFC [GUA] if Municipal wins.

####Honduras

• Honduras receives three berths.
• Olimpia [HON] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Marathón [HON] was the next best club in the combined table, so they're safely in.
• Olimpia and Marathón will face each other in the 2024 Clausura final; this ensures that Motagua [HON] will qualify.

####Nicaragua

• Nicaragua receives three berths.
• Diriangén [NCA] won the 2023 Apertura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Real Estelí [NCA] was the next best club in the combined table, so they're safely in.
• Diriangén and Real Estelí will face each other in the 2024 Clausura final; this ensures that Managua [NCA] will qualify.

####Panama

• Panama receives three berths.
• Independiente [PAN] won the 2023 Clausura tournament, so they're guaranteed a berth.
• Tauro [PAN] was the next best club in the combined table, so they're safely in.
• The 2024 Apertura semifinals are set, with the matchups being:
  • San Francisco [PAN] v Tauro [PAN]
  • Costa del Este [PAN] v Plaza Amador [PAN]
• If Tauro wins Apertura, San Francisco gets the last berth; otherwise it's whoever wins the tournament. (Yes, San Francisco has a double chance here, so to speak.)

####Belize

• Belize receives one berth.
• Since there's only one berth to be given out, it goes to the tournament champion that finished higher in the combined table.
• Altitude [BLZ] won the Opening tournament, but unfortunately for them, finished lower in the combined table than either of the Closing tournament finalists.
• Therefore, the winner of the Closing final between Verdes [BLZ] and Port Layola [BLZ] qualifies for the Central American Cup.

##Leagues Cup

###Qualification Rules

• Three clubs qualify for Champions Cup through the Leagues Cup.
• The 2024 Leagues Cup champion qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
• The runner-up and third place club qualifies for the First Round.

###Seeding

• América [MEX] and Columbus [USA] have been given byes to the knockout stage.
• The rest of the clubs in both LigaMX and MLS are placed in groups of three, and those groups are:
  • Monterrey [MEX], Pumas [MEX], and Austin FC [USA]
  • Cincinnati [USA], NYCFC [USA], and Querétaro [MEX]
  • Orlando [USA], Atlético San Luis [MEX], and CF Montréal [CAN]
  • Chivas [MEX], San Jose [USA], and LA Galaxy [USA]
  • St. Louis [USA], Dallas [USA], and Juárez [MEX]
  • Tigres [MEX], Puebla [MEX], and Inter Miami [USA]
  • Philadelphia [USA], Charlotte [USA], and Cruz Azul [MEX]
  • New England [USA], Nashville [USA], and Mazatlán [MEX]
  • Toluca [MEX], Sporting KC [USA], and Chicago [USA]
  • León [MEX], Portland [USA], and Colorado [USA]
  • Seattle [USA], Minnesota [USA], and Necaxa [MEX]
  • Pachuca [MEX], NY Red Bulls [USA], and Toronto [CAN]
  • Los Angeles FC [USA], Vancouver [CAN], and Tijuana [MEX]
  • Houston [USA], Real Salt Lake [USA], and Atlas [MEX]
  • Atlanta [USA], Santos Laguna [MEX], and DC United [USA]

The probable next update will be after June 6, when the Central American Cup and Caribbean Cup draw will be held. By that point, LigaMX will also be finished; we'll have the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship and the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup in the books.

Overview

♻️ Auto-refreshing reddit comments link

Lineups

| |Portland Timbers|Pos| |Seattle Sounders FC|Pos| |-|:-----------|:--|-|:-----------|:--|Seattle Sounders FC| ||Maxime Crépeau, #16|G||Stefan Frei, #24|G| ||Kamal Miller, #4|CD-L||Jonathan Bell, #15|CD-L| ||Dario Zuparic, #13|CD-R||Jackson Ragen, #25|CD-R| ||Eric Miller, #15|LB||Nouhou Tolo, #5|LB| ||Juan Mosquera, #29|RB||Alex Roldan, #16|RB| ||Santiago Moreno, #30|AM||Albert Rusnák, #11|AM| ||Diego Chará, #21|LM||Cristian Roldan, #7|LM| ||Cristhian Paredes, #22|RM||João Paulo , #6|RM| ||Felipe Mora, #9|F||Raúl Ruidíaz, #9|F| ||Antony , #11|AM-L||Jordan Morris, #13|AM-L| ||Jonathan Rodríguez, #14|AM-R||Obed Vargas, #18|AM-R| ||James Pantemis, #41|SUB||Dylan Teves, #99|SUB| ||David Ayala, #24|SUB||Cody Baker, #33|SUB| ||Larrys Mabiala, #33|SUB||Stuart Hawkins, #39|SUB| ||Evander , #10|SUB||Andy Thomas, #26|SUB| ||Dairon Asprilla, #27|SUB||Léo Chú , #23|SUB| ||Zac McGraw, #18|SUB||Sota Kitahara, #77|SUB| ||Eryk Williamson, #19|SUB||Daniel Leyva, #75|SUB| ||Nathan Fogaça, #99|SUB||Paul Rothrock, #14|SUB| ||||Daniel Musovski, #17|SUB|

Match events via ESPN

• Kickoff

• 15' ⚽ Goal! Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders FC 0. Felipe Mora (Portland Timbers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonathan Rodríguez.

• 19' ⚽ Goal! Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders FC 1. Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Albert Rusnák.

• 45'+6' Halftime

• 45' Start 2nd Half

• 50' ⚽ Goal! Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2. Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Obed Vargas.

• 54' 🟨 Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders FC) is shown the yellow card.

• 55' 🔄 Substitution, Portland Timbers. Evander replaces Antony.

• 66' 🟨 Dario Zuparic (Portland Timbers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

• 67' 🔄 Substitution, Portland Timbers. Eryk Williamson replaces Cristhian Paredes.

• 76' 🔄 Substitution, Seattle Sounders FC. Cody Baker replaces João Paulo.

• 76' 🔄 Substitution, Seattle Sounders FC. Danny Musovski replaces Raúl Ruidíaz.

• 81' 🔄 Substitution, Portland Timbers. Dairon Asprilla replaces Eric Miller.

• 81' 🔄 Substitution, Seattle Sounders FC. Paul Rothrock replaces Jordan Morris.

• 90'+3' 🔄 Substitution, Seattle Sounders FC. Danny Leyva replaces Cristian Roldan.

• 90'+3' 🔄 Substitution, Seattle Sounders FC. Dylan Teves replaces Albert Rusnák.

^(This thread is managed by a bot running on AWS Lambda. All data is sourced from ESPN APIs. The project can be found on GitHub at ) ^( mrundle/mls-reddit-bot.) ^( This post was last updated at 2024-05-12 17:54:15 CDT.)