New York City FC will kick off their maiden Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League campaign on Monday, December 9 when the competition draw takes place in Mexico City, Mexico.
NYCFC qualified for the Champions League after clinching the top spot in the 2019 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference - and will be one of five MLS teams entered into the 2020 competition alongside MLS Cup winners Seattle Sounders, Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC, U.S. Open Cup champions Atlanta United, and Canadian Championship winners Montreal Impact.
What is the CONCACAF Champions League?
The CONCACAF Champions League is an international club competition featuring the top clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean which qualified by winning domestic league and cup competitions in their respective countries.
The 16 teams are arranged in head-to-head matchups in a bracket-style tournament in which the winner will automatically qualify for the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.
When is the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League draw?
The draw is Monday, December 9 at 6pm EST and will be televised on TUDN in the United States and TSN in Canada.
Any accompanying live stream will be shared on NYCFC.com.
What Pot is NYCFC in?
All five MLS teams have been seeded into Pot 1 alongside three of the Liga MX qualifiers. The second pot includes one more Liga MX team and qualifiers from Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Jamaica.
The clubs in Pot 1 will host the second matchup of the two-legged Round of 16 clashes. Additionally, the teams drawn into positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be the hosts of the quarterfinal second-leg matches.
POT 1
Atlanta United (MLS)
Club América (MEX)
Cruz Azul (MEX)
LAFC (MLS)
Montreal Impact (MLS)
NYCFC (MLS)
Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Tigres UANL (MEX)
POT 2
AD San Carlos (CRC)
Alianza FC (SLV)
Comunicaciones (GUA)
Club Leon (MEX)
Motagua (HON)
Olimpia (HON)
Portmore United (JAM)
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
Who are NYCFC's Possible Opponents?
Club Leon (Mexico)
Location: Leon, Mexico
Stadium: Estadio Leon (Capacity: 31,297)
Qualification method: 2018-2019 Clausura Runners-Up (Playoffs); finished 1st in league
Current League Place: 2019-2020 Apertura 2nd Place League Finish (lost in Quarterfinal of Playoffs to Morelia 5-4 on aggregate)
7-time Liga MX champions; 6 time Liga MX runners up
5-time Copa MX champions; 5 time Copa MX runners up
Top Scorers: Jose Macias, Ismael Sosa, Angel Mena
Former Club of Maxi Moralez
Only Mexican Club we’re able to draw in the Round of 16
Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica)
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Stadium: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Amya (Capacity: 23,112)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League Champions
Current League Place: 2nd place
25-time Costa Rican champion
9 time (Winter or Spring Champion)
3 time Concacaf Champions Cup Winner
Top Scorers: Johan Venegas (CRC national team and former Impact/Minnesota United player), David Ramirez
Top player Randall Leal recently signed for Nashville SC after helping them win Concacaf League
A.D. San Carlos (Costa Rica)
Location: Ciudad Quesada, Costa Rica
Stadium: Estadio Carlos Ugalde Alvarez (Capacity: 5,600)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League best ranked losing quarterfinalist
Current League Place: 4th place
2018/19 Costa Rican champions (Spring)
Promoted to 1st Division in 2017/2018
First Appearance in Concacaf Champions League
Top Scorers: Jairo Arrieta, Marcos Mena, Rachid Chirino
Former CRC national team player Patrick Pemberton (GK) plays for them on loan from Alajuelense
Alianza F.C. (El Salvador)
Location: San Salvador, El Salvador
Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlan (Capacity: 53,400)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League semifinalist
Current League Place: 2019 Apertura 1st Place Finish (11 points clear of 2nd)
Became first Salvadorian team to become “The Invincibles” in 2017
One of the most successful teams in El Salvador
Played in the 2019 Champions League (Lost 1-0 on aggregate to eventual champion C.F. Monterrey)
Roster made up of quite a few El Salvador national team players (7 of 23 on 2019 Gold Cup Roster)
Top scorers: Raul Penaranda, Marvin
Comunicaciones F.C. (Guatemala)
Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Stadium: Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores (Capacity: 26,000)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League 2nd best ranked losing quarterfinalist
Current League Place: 4th (4 points off 1st place)
30-time Guatemala national champion
6th appearance in CCL
Small presence on Guatemala national team
C.D. Olimpia (Honduras)
Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino (Capacity: 35,000)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League semifinalist
Current League Place: 2019-20 Apertura 1st Place
30-time Honduras national champion (none since 2015)
Have played in the Champions League 11 times (most of any team qualified for 2020)
Quarterfinal appearance in 2014/2015
Michaell Chirinos was on loan at Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019—may return to Olimpia for CCL (TBD).
Had 6 players on most recent Honduras national team; four other players with recent call ups to national team in recent months
Top Scorers: Jorge Benguche, Jerry Bengtson
F.C. Motagua (Honduras)
Location: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Stadium: Estadio Nacional (Capacity: 35,000)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf League Runners-Up
Current League Place: 2019-20 Apertura 3rd Place
17-time Honduras national champion
Last league title 2018-19 Apertura
Won playoff double in 2018-19
7 players on most recent Honduras national team; 2 others with recent call ups to national team in recent months
Top scorers: Roberto Moreira
Portmore United F.C. (Jamaica)
Location: Portmore, Jamaica
Stadium: Ferdi Neita Sports Complex (Capacity: 3,000)
Qualification method: 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship champions
Current League Place: 9th (15 points off 1st)
Won the 2018-19 National Premier League title and playoffs
7-time Jamaica national champions
Corey Burke played on loan there in 2019; former club of Alvas Powell
Two international midfielders: Andre Lewis, Lamar Walker
Top scorers: Rondee Smith
Autore: Stefano Bentivogli
Other news - Focus
Other news
- 14:00 Mario Balotelli to MLS? Alessio Sundas Pushes for NYCFC Move in Bold Career Revival Bid
- 12:00 Etihad Player of the Month | Thiago Martins Scoops May Award
- 10:00 Italian Agent Alessio Sundas Aims to Revolutionize MLS with European Talent
- 08:06 Eight City Players Called Up for International Duty in June
- 12:30 Alessio Sundas Eyes MLS Revolution: After Balotelli, Gattuso Could Be Next
- 01:09 Hannes Wolf’s Late Heroics Rescue 2-2 Draw for NYCFC in Thrilling Comeback Against Nashville SC
- 19:00 NYCFC Aim to Reset vs. Nashville: “Time to Show Consistency” Says Jansen
- 18:00 Jansen Eyes Strong Start vs. Nashville: “Scoring First Changes Everything”
- 17:00 NYCFC Aim to Bounce Back Against Nashville SC: Jansen Calls for a Return to Identity
- 16:44 Mario Balotelli Eyes MLS Move: A New American Dream in the Works?
- 06:00 Injury Woes for NYCFC Ahead of Houston Clash: Four Key Players Ruled Out
- 04:00 Jansen Stresses Training Ground Mentality as Key to NYCFC Lineup Choices
- 02:00 NYCFC Gets Injury Boost as Keaton Parks Returns, but Caution Remains for Key Players
- 23:00 Jansen’s NYCFC Looks to Build Momentum With Big Night Under the Lights
- 22:20 Seymour Reid Signs Homegrown Deal With NYCFC – A Star in the Making Joins the First Team
- 14:00 Can NYCFC Ride the Momentum? Quick Turnaround Offers Opportunity Against Houston
- 12:00 NYCFC Extends Unbeaten Streak vs. Chicago Fire with Another Statement Win
- 09:51 Mounsef Bakrar Silences Doubts with Crucial Goal in NYCFC Comeback
- 16:00 NYCFC eye momentum: a pivotal home clash to spark an eastern conference climb
- 14:00 Chaos vs. Control: NYCFC and Chicago Fire Set for Explosive Showdown at Yankee Stadium
- 12:00 NYCFC vs. Chicago Fire: Can the Boys in Blue End Chicago’s Scorching Run at Yankee Stadium?
- 10:54 NYCFC vs. Chicago Fire: Key Absences for Jansen’s Side Ahead of Crucial MLS Clash
- 16:00 NYCFC Trio Named to Preliminary Gold Cup Rosters Ahead of Summer Tournament
- 14:00 NYCFC’s Push for Consistency Could Unlock Top-Four Potential in the East
- 03:00 Donald Trump Reacts to NYCFC's New $780M Stadium in Queens During UAE Visit
- 00:01 Why NYCFC Should Start Managing Maxi Moralez’s Minutes More Carefully
- 22:51 NYCFC Extends James Sands’ Loan to FC St. Pauli Through 2026
- 22:49 Why Pascal Jansen Should Consider Resting Maxi Moralez More Often at NYCFC
- 03:00 Jansen Praises Etihad Player of the Month Keaton Parks: “A Key Piece in Our Midfield”
- 01:00 NYCFC Brace for Cincinnati Clash: Jansen Outlines Plan to Stop Evander
- 23:20 NYCFC Hit with Injury Setbacks Ahead of Cincinnati Clash
- 22:53 Pascal Jansen Ready for Packed May Schedule: “This Is What You Live For”
- 19:00 Jansen Calls for Sharpness After NYCFC's 2-0 Defeat: "We Weren’t Good Enough in the Final Third"
- 18:00 MLS 2025: Market Giants Revealed – Messi and Puig Lead the Pack
- 16:00 NYCFC’s Road Form Is a Disaster. And No One Seems to Have an Answer
- 15:28 NYCFC’s Road Struggles Continue in 2-0 Loss to New England, Pascal Jansen: "The Quality Wasn’t There"
- 15:21 NYCFC Fall to New England for First Time Since 2022: "We Need to Be Better," Says Thiago Martins
- 15:08 Inter Miami Edge Columbus Crew 1-0 as Messi and Co. Shine in Front of 60,000 Fans
- 15:06 NYCFC Signs Forward Zidane Yañez to Short-Term Agreement Amid Rising Trajectory
- 15:05 NYCFC Fall 2-0 to New England Revolution Despite Late Push
- 16:00 Set-Piece Specialists: NYCFC Must Stay Sharp as Revolution Rely on Dead Ball Magic
- 14:00 NYCFC Return to Familiar Foe: Round Two Against Revs Promises Another Fight
- 08:45 NYCFC Aim to Turn the Corner: Road Test at New England Offers Momentum Check
- 15:00 Jansen Challenges NYCFC to Turn Control into Goals: “We Need to Do More with the Ball”
- 08:10 Jansen Rallies NYCFC Ahead of Union Clash: “No Excuses—We Perform, No Matter What”
- 14:19 NYCFC to Host Minnesota United Without Four Key Players
- 13:18 Pascal Jansen Emphasizes Control and Resilience Ahead of NYCFC Clash with Minnesota United
- 14:00 NYCFC Aims for Back-to-Back Wins Against Struggling Revolution
- 12:00 NYCFC vs. New England Revolution: Match Preview & Player Availability
- 10:42 NYCFC Prepares for Milestone Match Against New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium
