The time is upon us once more to kick off one of the most underrated soccer tournaments in the Americas. That tournament is the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, whose group stage kicked off August 4th, and runs until October 22nd. The champions of North and Central America and the three best finishers in the CFU Carribean Championship will face off to determine who gets to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup. This quick preview marks the start of our CONCACAF Champions League coverage at Last Word on Sports, so stay tuned throughout the whole tournament for analysis, previews, and other CCL stories.
There are eight groups of three teams in this year’s tournament. The top team from each group advances to the knockout stage. The seeding of the groups prevents Mexican and American teams from facing each other in groups. It also prevents Carribean teams from being drawn into the same group. Mexico and the United States each get four berths, and Canada gets one. This means that MLS has more teams in the tournament than any other league. The knockout stages are where CCL becomes must-see TV. But, in the past, the group stage has also delivered big upsets and spectacular moments. There is also something to be said for the guided tour of CONCACAF this tournament can provide to a new viewer. From cricket fields in the Carribean, to the passionate sellout crowds and artificial turf of Costa Rica, the CCL is a great way to get familiar with soccer culture and style of play in the region.
So without further ado, here are your 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League Groups!
Group A: W Connection (TRI), Saprissa (CRC), Santos Laguna (MEX)
This is a hard group. Saprissa made a run to the semifinals in last year’s tournament, and the Purple Monster have one of the best home field advantages in the region. The 2014 Costa Rican Invierno champions will have to get through W Connection, the runners-up in this year’s CFU Club Championship. Santos Laguna are the toughest test for Saprissa, having just won the 2015 Clausura in Liga MX. The edge in this group probably goes to Santos, but it could go either way. W Connection should finish last.
Group B: Isidro Metapan (SLV), Herediano (CRC) Tigres UANL (MEX)
The big rule of CCL group play is, don’t draw the Costa Rican teams in the group stage. Herediano made the semifinals of the last CCL, and then won the 2015 Verano in Costa Rica. They will be confident and should easily beat Metapan in their meetings. Tigres are a solid team who can easily win this group if they are on their game. Jurgen Damm helped Pachuca get to the knockout round of CCL last year, and with veterans like Andre-Pierre Gignac, Arevalo Rios, and Hugo Ayala, Tigres should finish first in this group. If they do that, the Mexican squad will be one of the favorites to reach the final.
Group C: Verdes (BEL), San Francisco (PAN), Queretaro (MEX)
Queretaro are lucky to have one of the weakest groups in the tournament in their first ever CCL appearance. Still, San Francisco are the 2014 Panamanian Apertura champions and have been to this tournament before. Verdes should not pose much of a threat to either team. At the end of the group stage, Los Gallos Blancos should be on top. MLS fans will enjoy seeing Camilo Sanvezzo and Jonathan Bornstein suit up for Queretaro.
Group D: Central (TRI), Comunicaciones (GUA), LA Galaxy (USA)
This group is not as easy as it looks. Comunicaciones will be a tough test, having won both the Apertura and Clausura in Guatemela. Central FC won the TT Pro League as well as the CFU Carribean Championship, so they are on quite a roll coming into the CCL. The 2014 MLS Cup winning Galaxy cannot afford to take these teams lightly, especially on the road. Los Angeles are favorites to advance, and should be in the conversation to win the whole tournament – but don’t be surprised if one of their group-mates makes it a close finish in October.
Group E: America (MEX) Motagua (HON), Walter Ferretti (NIC)
Club America are defending CCL Champions, and will begin their title defense against the always tricky Honduran champions, Motagua. America’s roster is stacked and they will be in the running to defend their title with players like Rubens Sambueza, Oribe Peralta, and Dario Benedetto in the attack. America should have no problem getting through this group. Walter Ferretti and Motagua will struggle to contain the sheer firepower and speed of Las Aguilas. Trivia for New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC fans: Amado Guevara scored 70 goals for Motagua in his career, and is the only player to have his number retired for the 86 year old club.
Group F: Olimpia (HON), Seattle Sounders (USA), Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN)
This may just be the Group of Death in the CCL. While it does not include a Costa Rican or Mexican team, any of these three teams could win the group. Olimpia was in the quarterfinals last year, and won the Clausura in Honduras. They feature Johnny Palacios in defense and Anthony Lozano up top, as well as a handful of other Honduran national team players. Los Albos will be comfortable playing on turf in Cascadia, having beaten Portland last year in the group stage. Seattle and Vancouver will have the honor of bringing the Cascadia derby to the CCL for the first time. Seattle’s squad depth will be a concern in this group, and they may be the weakest team right now. Vancouver’s speed and league form are promising, and they have the upper hand to advance in this group if they can get a result in Honduras. Watch these games if you can.
Group G: Municipal (GUA), Real Salt Lake (USA), Santa Tecla (SLV)
Comunicaciones won both the Apertura and Clausura in Guatemala, but Municipal were runners up both times. Therefore they get a berth in this tournament. They will be a tough test for Real Salt Lake, a team who are in flux in MLS play. This is a very different RSL team than the one who made a finals run in 2011. A new coach with a new system, and a different strike force will try their hand at CCL this year. Alvaro Saborio is gone, but RSL still have Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, and the seemingly immortal Javier Morales. Look for Sebastian Jaime to be their X-factor in this group, If he plays well, they should be able to advance. Still, as the weakest MLS team in the CCL, Salt Lake will need to stay organized away from home. Santa Tecla is a relatively new team, founded in 2007, but feature several players with international experience. RSL are still favorites here.
Group H: Arabe Unido (PAN), D.C. United (USA), Montego Bay United (JAM)
D.C. United are the best team in MLS so far, sitting first in the East. They will look to take that form into CCL play, and avenge their loss in last year’s knockout round. First stop will be this group, which is very winnable. Arabe Unido are a solid team, but lack star power. Montego Bay are the weakest Carribean team in the tournament. With the addition of Alvaro Saborio, D.C. signaled that they are serious about competing on all fronts, and they have the roster to compete in this tournament. Expect DCU to take Group H.
So there you have it: A quick and dirty run down of each CONCACAF Champions League group. The first games are August 4th, 5th, and 6th. Games are broadcast on Fox Sports and Univision Deportes in the United States. All things considered, this could be the year a MLS team wins the title. Two Mexican teams must go through Costa Rica in the group stage. LA, D.C., and Vancouver are all capable of beating the best teams in this tournament on their day, and LA has one of the strongest rosters in the tournament – perhaps ranked third after America and Tigres. Time will tell who rises to the top, but if there’s any guarantee in this tournament, it’s that there will be upsets. For now, at least, every team thinks they can win it all.
