2026 Concacaf Champions Cup: New Format and Dates Announced, First Teams Qualify

The 61st Concacaf Champions Cup will take place from February to May 2026. This tournament will determine the top club in the region, with the winner earning a direct entry into the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. The official draw for the event is scheduled for December 9, 2025.

Some teams have already qualified. Six clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX are confirmed: América, Toluca, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, Tigres, and Pumas. From the 2025 Leagues Cup, Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, and one of LA Galaxy or Orlando City will also participate. Other teams will qualify through events like the Concacaf Central American Cup, the Caribbean Cup, and various national leagues and cups in Canada and the United States, making a total of 27 clubs.

The competition will use a knockout format with five rounds. While 22 teams will begin in the first round, five clubs will receive a bye directly to the Round of 16. All matchups until the semifinals will consist of two games. The champion will be decided in a single final match on May 30, 2026.

The tournament began in 1962 and has seen 30 different clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean win the title. In 2025, Cruz Azul secured its seventh championship by defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps, matching Club América for the most titles in the competition’s history.

The winner of the 2026 cup will not only be named the regional champion but will also qualify for two global tournaments: the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, competing against champions from other parts of the world.