While the 2020 Concacaf Champions League is down to its last four, the field for the 2021 competition is nearly finalized with 15 of the 16 berths claimed.
The lone outstanding spot remaining is Canada’s lone berth, which will be decided when Toronto FC meet Forge in the Canadian Championship on a date to be determined early in 2021.
Six different countries will be represented in the 2021 tournament, with six teams qualifying via the 2020 Concacaf League.
There’s plenty of familiarity with the four teams Mexico, which has long dominated the competition. Club America, which meet LAFC in one of two 2020 CCL semifinals Saturday (10:30 pm ET | FS2, Univision), will be making their seventh appearance after finishing as the runners-up in the 2019 Liga MX Apertura.
CF Monterrey, who are four-time CCL champions, clinched as 2019 Liga MX Apertura champions, joining Cruz Azul (first place in the 2020 Clausura table when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic) and Club Leon, who were second in the 2020 Clausura.
They join MLS clubs Atlanta United (2019 US Open Cup winners), Columbus Crew SC (2020 MLS Cup champions), Philadelphia Union (2020 Supporters’ Shield winners) and the Portland Timbers (MLS is Back Tournament champions).
Also in the field are traditional powerhouses from Costa Rica (Deportivo Saprissa and Alajuelense) and Honduras (CD Olimpia and CD Marathon), Real Esteli from Nicaragua and Haiti’s Arcahaie, all qualifying through the Concacaf League, as well as Atletico Pantoja from the Dominican Republic, who had the best record in the group stage of the 2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship.
