Academy

DC United, Montreal Impact academies competing in inaugural CONCACAF U-13 Champions League

Montreal Impact Academy's Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare

Players from two MLS academies will take part in a new tournament this week in Mexico City.


CONCACAF announced on Monday an invitational tournament, the U-13 CONCACAF Champions League, which began on Tuesday and will conclude on Saturday.


The Montreal Impact and D.C. United academies were among the eight invitees for the inaugural competition, taking place at Cruz Azul's training grounds in Mexico's capital. CONCACAF announced that selection criteria included recent CONCACAF Champions League results at the senior level.



Both teams were drawn into Group B, where, in addition to playing each other, both MLS academies willf ace Jamaica's Harbour View and Mexico-based Aguilas UAS in the group stage. The top two teams in each group will move to the knockout stage, with the semifinals to be played on Friday and the final on Saturday.


The Impact have already clinched a berth in the semifinals:

Teams participating in Group A of the tournament are Costa Rica's Herediano, El Salvador's Chalatenango, Mexican side Toluca, and Panamanian team Chepo FC.