Teams in the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League – including the 2009 MLS Supporters’ Shield-winning Crew – will learn their fate next Wednesday, May 19, when the tournament draw will set the Preliminary Round pairings and Group Stage brackets.
Seventeen of the 24 qualifiers already have been determined, including most recently the three-team Caribbean contingent this past weekend along with Nicaraguan champion Real Esteli and the second teams from Guatemala (Xelaju) and Honduras (Olimpia).
The draw at the confederation’s New York headquarters will determine the eight Preliminary Round knockout matches as well as composition of the four, four-team groups.
The first leg of the Preliminary Round will be July 27-29 with the second leg a week later. The winners will advance to the six-round Group Stage, which will begin August 17-19.
The Crew advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2009/10 edition of the tournament, eventually won by Pachuca of Mexico.
QUALIFIED TEAMS
NORTH AMERICA (9)
United States (4): Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders
Mexico (4): Monterrey, Cruz Azul
Canada (1): TBD
CARIBBEAN (3)
CFU Club Champions Cup (3): Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), Joe Public (TRI), San Juan Jabloteh (TRI)
CENTRAL AMERICA (12)
Belize (1): TBD
Costa Rica (2): Brujas, TBD
El Salvador (2): CD FAS, TBD
Guatemala (2): Municipal, Xelaju
Honduras (2): Olimpia, Marathon
Nicaragua (1): Real Esteli#
Panama (2): Arabe Unido, TBD
*Teams in italics qualified automatically for Group Stage
#Provisional, pending stadium approval
About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.
