The UEFA Champions League is the most coveted trophy in club soccer. It is watched by fans all around the world and is the competition that players want to win the most.
But is there a Champions League in America? And if so, what is it called, and how does it work? Let’s find out.
Is there an American Champions League?
Yes, the CONCACAF Champions League is the North and Central American version of the UEFA Champions League. Sixteen teams compete for the main prize, and the most successful side in its history is Monterrey, the Mexican side that has won the trophy five times.
In spite of the popularity of the trophy in North America and Mexico, the CONCACAF Champions League is hardly known about in Europe and on other continents. So, let’s take a closer look at how the American Champions League works and what you need to know about its format.
How does the CONCACAF Champions League work?
The American Champions League is competed by sixteen teams. Currently, qualification for the tournament is achieved in the following way:
- Nine clubs from the North American zone (four from Mexico, four from the US, and one from Canada).
- One club from the Caribbean zone.
- Six clubs from the CONCACAF League.
The winners and runners-up of the Liga MX and the top MLS teams usually compete for the prize, as they are typically the strongest entrants into the league.
The current format of the American Champions League sees the tournament begin as a sixteen-team knockout that occurs between February and May of each year. Every round of the tournament features a two-leg, home, and away series between the teams.
If the scores are level after the tie is complete, extra time and penalties are required to see which team progresses through to the next round. Before 2018, the American Champions league consisted of group phases like its European counterpart, but the tournament format was changed to make it more competitive.
Which team has won the CONCACAF Champions League the most times?
Since the start of the American Champions league, only teams from the US, Canada, and Mexico have competed in the finals. No Caribbean team has ever made it to the finals of the competition.
In fact, the first fourteen tournaments were won by Mexican clubs, and it is only recently that American teams have started to offer much more competition in the latter stages of the tournament.
The only American team to win the tournament is the Seattle Sounders, following their impressive victory over UNAM in 2022. Hopefully, the Sounders have bucked a trend, and we might see more American teams compete for the main prize in the coming seasons.
Below are the Mexican teams with the best record in the CONCACAF Champions League at the time of writing:
| Team | # of wins | Years of victory |
| Monterrey | 5 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021 |
| Club America | 2 | 2015, 2016 |
| Pachuca | 2 | 2010, 2017 |
Prior to the establishment of the CONCACAF Champions League in its current format, the competition was known simply as the Champions Cup. Mexican side Club America won the Champions Cup five times, adding to their two American Champions League titles.
What happens if you win the CONCACAF Champions League?
The team that wins the CONCACAF Champions League is awarded a place at the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup. Essentially, the winner of this tournament becomes the best club side in the world, so it’s an extremely prestigious event.
The winner of the Club World Cup is usually the European Champions. The last non-European team to be crowned club World Champions was Corinthians when they defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the final in Japan.
In 2020, CONCACAF’s UANL finished second in the competition, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the final in Qatar. It was the first time that a CONCACAF representative had competed in the final of the competition.
Can you watch the CONCACAF Champions League on TV?
The CONCACAF Champions League is broadcast on FOX Sports and Univision in the US, providing you with English and Spanish coverage of the competition. It is also broadcast throughout Central America and in Canada, where it is live on OneSoccer.
The 2022 CONCACAF final was broadcast in fourteen nations, including Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland in Europe. In spite of this, the competition is practically unheard of in Europe, as fans are much more interested in their continent’s flagship tournament.
Still, we’re super impressed with the progress that soccer is making in the US, and we’re excited about the potential of the game in North America. The MLS & Apple TV deal is big news for the North American game, and only time will tell if the CONCACAF Champions League can appeal to a broader audience in the near future.
Recap: The American Champions League
The CONCACAF is North and Central America’s answer to the incredibly popular UEFA Champions League that has dominated club soccer in Europe for decades.
Although it doesn’t boast anywhere near the same level of coverage, it’s a super fun tournament for soccer fans and sees MLS teams come up against the best clubs in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean.
So, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to tune into the next installment of the CONCACAF Champions League when it kicks off in Spring.