Qualifying Format Unveiled For 2008-09 Concacaf....

[Karl]

For Immediate Release
www.CONCACAF.com
Contact: Steven Torres, Media Officer


Qualifying Format Unvailed For 2008-09 Concacaf Championship League

NEW YORK (Wednesday, 14 May 2008) - CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) unveiled today the qualification format for the inaugural 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™.

The new CONCACAF Champions League™ will be comprised of 24 teams, representing each of CONCACAF's regions. The CONCACAF Champions League™ will feature four teams from Mexico and USA; two clubs each from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama; and one representative from Canada, Belize, and Nicaragua and three teams from the Caribbean.


The following is the qualification process, which will be completed by mid-July 2008, in preparation for the start of the Preliminary Round of the 2008-09 CONCACAF
Champions League™ this coming August:

NORTH ZONE
CANADA: Impact de Montreal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play a home-and-away round-robin tournament from 27 May to 22 July 2008, with winner advancing as the Canadian representative (CAN1) to the CONCACAF Champions League™.


Canada Qualifier
CAN1: Tournament winner between Impact de Montreal, Toronto FC & Vancouver Whitecaps FC


MEXICO: The tournament champions and runner-ups of the 2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura seasons progress to the CONCACAF Champions League™. If a team occupies more than one of the Mexican slots, then the next highest club in the respective regular season’s overall standings will take the lower seeded spot into the CONCACAF Champions League™. Atlante FC and Pumas UNAM have qualified to the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ as the winner and runner-up, respectively, of the 2007 Torneo Apertura.


Mexico Qualifiers
MEX1: 2007 Torneo Apertura Champion (Atlante FC)
MEX2: 2008 Torneo Clausura Champion (TBD)
MEX3: 2007 Torneo Apertura Runner-up (Pumas UNAM)
MEX4: 2008 Torneo Clausura Runner-up (TBD)
USA: The USA’s representatives will be the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup Champions; the MLS Regular Season Winner; the MLS Cup Runner-up; and the US Open Cup Champion. Results from the 2007 MLS season will be used to qualify teams for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League. Houston Dynamo (USA1), D.C. United (USA2) and New England Revolution (USA3) have qualified in the first three slots. Since New England was also the US Open Cup Champion (USA4), Chivas USA move up to the fourth spot (USA 4), as the team with the next highest point total from the MLS regular season standings.


USA Qualifiers
USA1: 2007 Major League Soccer Champion (Houston Dynamo)
USA2: 2007 Major League Soccer’s Regular Season Winner (D.C. United)
USA3: 2007 MLS Cup Runner-up (New England Revolution)
USA4: 2007 MLS Regular Season Runner-up^ (Chivas USA),
^Slot allocated to the 2007 US Open Cup Champion, but New England Revolution already earned USA3, therefore Chivas USA qualifies as the next highest team (overall points) from 2007 MLS Regular Season


CENTRAL AMERICAN ZONE
BELIZE: The recently crowned 2007-08 RFG Insurance League Champion, Hankook Verdes advance from Belize (BLZ1) to this year’s CONCACAF Champions League™.
Belize Qualifier
BLZ1: 2007-08 BPFL/RFG Insurance Cup Champions (Hankook Verdes)

COSTA RICA: The champions of the Torneos Invierno and Verano qualify to the Champions League. If a team wins both tournaments (Invierno & Verano) they automatically take the CRC1 spot, while the CRC2 place goes to the team with the next best overall record in the regular season standings from the Torneo Verano. If a different champion is crowned in each tournament (Invierno, Verano) then a two-game playoff will determine CRC1 and CRC2. Deportivo Saprissa has secured a spot in the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ after winning the 2007 Torneo de Invierno.


Costa Rica Qualifiers
CRC1: Playoff Winner, champion of Torneo Invierno vs. champion of Torneo Verano, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
CRC2: Playoff Runner-up, champion of Torneo Invierno vs. champion of Torneo Verano, or if applicable, the second place team in the Torneo Verano, if same champion for both Invierno and Verano
(Deportivo Saprissa qualified as Torneo Invierno winner)


EL SALVADOR: The champions of the Liga Mayor Torneos Apertura and Clausura qualify to the Champions League. If a team wins both tournaments (Apertura & Clausura) they automatically take the SLV1 spot, while the SLV2 place goes to the team with the next best overall record in the regular season standings from the Torneo Clausura. If a different champion is crowned in each tournament (Apertura, Clausura) then a two-game playoff will determine SLV1 and SLV2. CD Luis Angel Firpo has secured a place in the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ after winning the Liga Mayor 2007 Apertura.


El Salvador Qualifiers
SLV1: Playoff Winner, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
SLV2: Playoff Runner-up, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura or if applicable, the second place team in the Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura
(CD Luis Angle Firpo qualified as Liga Mayor Apertura Winner)


GUATEMALA: The champions of the Torneos Apertura and Clausura qualify to the Champions League. If a team wins both tournaments (Apertura & Clausura) they automatically take the GUA1 spot, while the GUA2 place goes to the team with the next best overall record in the regular season standings from the Torneo Clausura. If a different champion is crowned in each tournament (Apertura, Clausura) then a two-game playoff will determine GUA1 and GUA2. Deportivo Jalapa qualified for the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ after winning the Torneo Apertura 2007.


Guatemala Qualifiers
GUA1: Playoff Winner, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
GUA2: Playoff Runner-up, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura, or if applicable, the second place team in the Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura
(Deportivo Jalapa qualified as Torneo Apertura Winner)


HONDURAS: The champions of the Torneos Apertura and Clausura qualify to the Champions League. If a team wins both tournaments (Apertura & Clausura) they automatically take the HON1 spot, while the HON2 place goes to the team with the next best overall record in the regular season standings from the Torneo Clausura. If a different champion is crowned in each tournament (Apertura, Clausura) then a two-game playoff will determine HON1 and HON2. CD Marathon has secured their place in the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ after claiming the Torneo de Apertura 2007.


Honduras Qualifiers
HON1: Playoff Winner, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
HON2: Playoff Runner-up, champion of Torneo Apertura vs. champion of Torneo Clausura or if applicable, the second place team in the Torneo Clausura if same champion for both Apertura and Clausura
(CD Marathon qualified as Torneo Apertura Winner)


NICARAGUA: The winner of a two-game playoff between the champion of the Campeonato Nacional Apertura and champion of the Campeonato Nacional Clausura will qualify to the CONCACAF Champions League™. If a team wins both tournaments (Apertura & Clausura) they automatically qualify as NCA1. Real Esteli FC won the 2007 Campeonato Nacional Apertura. Should Real Esteli FC win the 2008 Clausura, then no playoff will be required and they will represent Nicaragua in the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™.


Nicaragua Qualifier
NCA1: Playoff Winner, champion of the Campeonato Nacional Apertura vs. champion of the Campeonato Nacional Clausura, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
(Apertura Winner – Real Estelí FC)


PANAMA: The champions of the Torneos ANAPROF Clausura and Apertura qualify to the Champions League. If a team wins both tournaments (Apertura & Clausura) they automatically take PAN1 spot, while the PAN2 place goes to the team with the next best overall record in the regular season standings from the Torneo Apertura. If a different champion is crowned in each tournament (Apertura, Clausura) then a two-game playoff will determine PAN1 and PAN2. San Francisco FC qualified for the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ after winning the Torneo de Clausura 2007.


Panama Qualifiers
PAN1: Playoff Winner, champion of Torneo Clausura vs. champion of Torneo Apertura, or if applicable, the champion of both season tournaments
PAN2: Playoff Runner-up, champion of Torneo Clausura vs. champion of Torneo Apertura or if applicable, the second place team in the Torneo Apertura if same champion for both Clausura and Apertura
(San Francisco FC qualified as ANAPROF Clausura Winner)


CARIBBEAN ZONE
The three Caribbean representatives will come from the annual CFU (Caribbean Football Union) Club Championship. The Caribbean qualifiers to the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ will come from the 2007 CFU Club Championship. The 2007 Caribbean Champion, Harbour View FC of Jamaica, and Runner-up Trinidad & Tobago’s Joe Public FC have qualified as CFU1 and CFU2, respectively. The third Caribbean qualifier (CFU3) will be determined through a home-and-away playoff between the CFU Club Championship semifinalists, Puerto Rico Islanders and San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago to be held in May 2008.


Caribbean Qualifiers
CFU1: Harbour View FC of Jamaica
CFU2: Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago
CFU3: Playoff Winner – Puerto Rico Islanders vs. San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago (first-leg: 9 may in Puerto Rico; second-leg: 25 May in Trinidad & Tobago)


CONCACAF Champions League™ Format
Eight clubs (MEX1, MEX2, USA1, USA2, CRC1, GUA1, HON1, SLV1) will be seeded directly to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League™. The sixteen remaining teams will be paired in eight home-and-away match-ups in the Preliminary Stage which will take place on 26-28 August 2008 and 2-4 September 2008.

The Preliminary Stage winners will join the eight seeded teams in the Group Stage that consists of four groups of four teams each. The teams in each group will play each other in a round-robin system during six match dates (three home games, three away games) from 16 September 2008 – 30 October 2008.


The top two clubs from each of the four groups will advance to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away match-ups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-away match-ups in March and April 2009 with the two Semifinal winners squaring-off in the home-and-away 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ Final in late April 2009.
The CONCACAF Champions League™ winner will qualify as the CONCACAF representative to the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™ – Calendar of Events
2008
11 June: 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ Draw
26-28 August: Preliminary Round – Game 1
2-4 September: Preliminary Round – Game 2
16-18 September: Group Stage – Game 1
23-25 September: Group Stage – Game 2
30 September – 2 October: Group Stage – Game 3
7-9 October: Group Stage – Game 4
21-23 October: Group Stage – Game 5
28-30 October: Group Stage – Game 6
November: Draw for Stage 3 – Elimination Round

2009
24-26 February: Quarterfinal, Game 1
3-5 March: Quarterfinal, Game 2
17-19 March: Semifinal, Game 1
7-9 April: Semifinal, Game 2
21-23 April: Final, Game 1
28-30 April: Final, Game 2

December: FIFA Club World Cup

[No Mercy]

Where is the chance for Portmore or any other new caribbean

island champion this year in all of this ..

[Mosiah]

Harbour View is in, and the runners up from the CFU competition. Portmore is not one of them.

[No Mercy]

That is my point..this format doesnot allowed for present fo

rm teams to participate immediately. Suppose mi want to form a better team in trinidad than warner...mi haffi wait about 4 years before my team can reach this stage of the competition even if i win in trinidad this year and next year.

[Diesel]

rm teams to participate immediately. Suppose mi want to form a better team in trinidad than warner...mi haffi wait about 4 years before my team can reach this stage of the competition even if i win in trinidad this year and next year.

No you will have to wait two seasons...cause if you win (or finish runner up) in 2008 then you would compete at the Caribbean Club Championships in 2009 and if you finish top three at that competition... then you would progress to the Concacaf Chapions Cup in 2010.....Keep in mind some Concacaf countries football league calenders are different from other Concacaf countries football league calenders

[Jamaica2099]

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE on FSC


NEW CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™ COMES TO FOX SOCCER CHANNEL IN AUGUST
Leading Soccer Network Acquires Exclusive English-language Media Rights in
Four-Year Deal
Los Angeles, CA - May 20, 2008 - Fox Soccer Channel has acquired the exclusive English-language broadcast rights in the United States to the new continental club championship, the CONCACAF Champions League™, for four seasons beginning in 2008/2009.
The CONCACAF Champions League™, modeled after the popular European club championship, commences in August 2008 with a preliminary round of sixteen matches and concludes in April 2009 with the Finals. Under its agreement with CONCACAF, the governing body of soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, Fox Soccer Channel will air approximately 56 games from the competition, including all Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final matches and all group-stage matches featuring clubs from Major League Soccer. The agreement also gives Fox Soccer Channel the right to distribute CONCACAF Champions League™ content as part of its Internet, broadband and mobile media platforms.
The CONCACAF Champions League™ will be comprised of 24 teams drawn from across CONCACAF’s region. The 24 participating teams include four teams each from the United States and Mexico; three Caribbean teams, the most in any CONCACAF international club competition to date; two clubs each from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama; and one representative each from Canada, Belize, and Nicaragua. The winning team will gain a berth to the December 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament also carried live on Fox Soccer Channel.
“We are pleased to join together with CONCACAF to bring this new club championship to Fox Soccer Channel and its interactive media platforms,” said David Sternberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “The CONCACAF Champions League™ will be an important addition to the global soccer calendar and will complement perfectly our network’s coverage of Major League Soccer, the FIFA Club World Cup and other major domestic and international competitions.”
“We are very excited about the launch of the CONCACAF Champions League™ and are confident that Fox Soccer Channel is an excellent partner to help deliver all the action to soccer fans in the United States,” said Chuck Blazer, General Secretary of CONCACAF. The new tournament will replace the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup™, an event that has been televised on Fox Soccer Channel since 2005. Under the new event structure, eight clubs (two from each of the United States and Mexico and one each from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama) will be seeded directly to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League™, while 16 other teams will be paired in eight home-and-away matchups in the Preliminary Round.
The Preliminary Round winners will join the eight seeded teams in the Group Stage, encompassing four groups of four teams each. Each team will play two matches (one home, one away) against each of the other teams in its group in a round-robin system during September and October.
- More –
New CONCACAF Champions League™ Comes to Fox Soccer Channel, page two of two
The top two clubs from each of the four groups will advance to the Elimination Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League™. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away matchups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-
away matchups in March and April 2009, with the two Semifinal winners squaring off in the home-and-away CONCACAF Champions League™ Final in late April 2009.
2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™ ON FOX SOCCER CHANNEL*
2008 – 42 Matches1
August 26 – 28: First leg preliminary round - 6 matches
September 2 – 4: Second leg preliminary round - 6 matches
September 16 – 18: Group stage day one - 5 matches
September 23 – 25: Group stage day two - 4 matches
September 30 - October 2: Group stage day three - 5 matches
October 7 – 9: Group stage day four - 6 matches
October 21 – 23: Group stage day five - 4 matches
October 28 – 30: Group stage day six - 6 matches
2009: Quarters, Semis and Final - 14 Matches
February 24 - 26: Quarterfinal, First legs
March 3 - 5: Quarterfinal, Second legs
March 17 - 19: Semifinal, First legs
April 7 - 9: Semifinal, Second legs
April 21 - 23: Final, First leg
April 28 - 30: Final, Second leg
1 Actual quantity of matches may vary depending on the 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ draw and match results. * Schedule subject to change. Please visit Foxsoccer.com for an updated broadcast schedule.