CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage: Now With Less LA Galaxy, More Toronto and Seattle

By: Daryl | August 6th, 2010

concacaf trophy Here’s something you can’t say too often: The CONCACAF Champions League is a step ahead of the UEFA Champions League. While the more famous Champions League is still preparing for its Playoff Round, its CONCACAF cousin has already done the draw for the group stage.

The Preliminary Round concluded this week, and bad news for LA Galaxy (of Landon Donovan and – once his Achilles’ tendon is reconnected – David Beckham fame) fans is that the 2000 champions are out. You may recall that Galaxy lost 4-1 at home to in the first leg, and on Wednesday night they were only able to win 2-1 in Puerto Rico. Read the joyous report of LA Galaxy’s “suicide win” on Jose’s Puerto Rico Islanders blog.

So that’s one MLS team with a CONCACAF Champions League history out, but two more now set to make their Champions League group stage debut. Both the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC secured away draws this week, following 1-0 home wins last week, so both will join the Puerto Rico Islanders in the group stage. CONCACAF Champions League groups below, followed by a short and sweet explanation of how the tournament works:

Group A
Real Salt Lake (USA)
Árabe Unido (Panama)
Cruz Azul (Mexico)
Toronto FC (Canada)

Group B
Columbus Crew (USA)
Municipal (Guatemala)
Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Joe Public (Trinidad & Tobago)

Group C
Monterrey (Mexico)
Saprissa (Costa Rica)
Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Marathón (Honduras)

Group D
Toluca (Mexico)
Olimpia (Honduras)
Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico, obviously)
F.A.S. (El Salvador)

Four groups of four, obviously. Of which either Group A or C looks the most competitive to my CONCACAF untrained eye. Beginning August 17th, teams in each group play each other home and away, and then top two in each group move on to the quarterfinals in February. Quarters, semis and final will be played over two legs until we have a winner. Now the big question: Will you be watching?

- If you plan to not only watch but also attend these games, then keep an eye on our CONCACAF tickets page.

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Category: CONCACAF

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champion league tickets

I think GOL TV Canada or Rogers Sportsnet will probably show the Toronto FC games.
Emigre

GOL tv canada will show games.
Also will be in stands, here in Toronto. History is being made and I want to be part of it :)
brenton

Will any of it be televised in Canada? Specifically Vancouver? I'm skeptical.
Mark

I think GOL TV Canada or Rogers Sportsnet will probably show the Toronto FC games. Not sure if that will be shown in Vancouver, but probably if you can get Sportsnet East. As far as the other games go, you might have a chance to see the ones with MLS teams, but other than that I doubt it.
Guest

If you can pick up Seattle channels, then I bet KONG will be televising the home CL games.
Guest

Will I be watching? You know it! I have my tickets for the Sounders home games already. I am so excited that my little MLS club is playing big-boy international football. Even if we bomb out, it is great to get this kind of exposure and experience.
Jobob

Yeah, I'm not so sure that the CONCACAF Champions League really qualifies as big-boy international football. Should be some good matches but let's not get ahead of ourselves.