CONCACAF approves U.S. Soccer’s/MLS request to amend their qualification process to CONCACAF Champions League

MIAMI (Friday, December 13, 2013)- The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today that its Executive Committee reviewed and approved U.S. Soccer’s request to amend the qualification process for the Member Association’s four spots in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The change in qualification, which goes in effect immediately, will see the winner of the conference opposite the MLS Supporters’ Shield winner qualifying to the regional tournament.  The remaining three spots will continue to go to the winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the winner of the MLS Regular Season Supporter’s shield and the winner of MLS Cup.

In the previous format, both teams qualifying to MLS Cup were the ones awarded two of the CONCACAF Champions League spots.

The approved process means that the Portland Timbers have qualified for the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League as the club with the best regular season record in MLS’ Western Conference. They join the MLS Eastern Conference champion New York Red Bulls (2013 MLS Supporters Shield winners), Sporting Kansas City (2013 MLS Cup champion) and D.C. United (2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion) as the four representatives from U.S. Soccer.

Approved qualification process for U.S. Soccer’s four CONCACAF Champions League spots:

a)MLS Cup winner

b)Supporters’ Shield winner (team with best regular-season record)

c)Winner of the conference opposite the MLS Supporters’ Shield winner

d)Lamar Hunt US Open Cup winner

Previous qualification process for U.S. Soccer’s four CONCACAF Champions League Spots

a)MLS Cup winner

b)Supporters’ Shield winner (team with best regular-season record)

c)MLS Cup runner-up

d)Lamar Hunt US Open Cup winner

If a single MLS team occupies more than one of the U.S. slots, or a Canadian team captures any of the above (Canada has one CONCACAF Champions League berth awarded to the Canadian Championship winner), the berth would go to the next best US-based MLS team based on regular-season record.

The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League advances to the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup which takes place every December.