Groups and schedule set for January kickoff for expanded CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship
Miami (Thursday, 21, 2017) – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) conducted today the draw for the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship, at the CONCACAF Headquarters in Miami, FL.
The draw for the Tier 1 competition, which determined the groups for the tournament that kicks off onWednesday, January 31, in Trinidad & Tobago and February 7 in the Dominican Republic, was executed by CONCACAF Director of Development Jason Roberts, using a double-blind system.
For the official draw, Group A tournament host W Connection FC (TRI) was sorted alongside Club Atletico Pantoja (DOM), Arnett Gardens FC (JAM) and Real Hope FA (HAI).
Atlantico FC (DOM) will host Group B in the Dominican Republic and will face Central FC (TRI), Portmore United FC (JAM) and Racing FC (HAI).
2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship Groups
Group A
W Connection (TRI)
Club Atletico Pantoja (DOM)
Arnett Gardens FC (JAM)
Real Hope FA (HAI)
Group B
Atlantico FC (DOM)
Central FC (TRI)
Portmore United FC (JAM)
Racing FC (HAI)
The full match schedule and kick off times will be announced early January 2018.
Together with the newly launched Caribbean Cup Shield tier 2 competition, which features 12 clubs from Caribbean nations with leagues that are yet to reach standards of full professionalization, the new regional qualifying championships will serve as the Caribbean qualifying tournament for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League and the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, and open the door for wider participation of Caribbean clubs in Confederation championships.
The winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship will qualify directly to the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, while the runner-up and third place finishers will qualify for the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.
The fourth-place finisher of the Caribbean Club Championship will face the winner of the Caribbean Club Shield in a playoff match to determine the third club that will represent the Caribbean in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League, as long as the Tier 2 champion complies with the minimum CONCACAF Club Licensing requirements for the CONCACAF League.
