Club America rises to first place in latest Concacaf Club Rankings | OneFootball

MIAMI – Club América and Cruz Azul lead in the latest Concacaf Club Rankings (CCR), setting up a meeting between first and second in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.

The Concacaf Club Rankings Index grades all clubs and leagues across the confederation. Teams gain points for results in official domestic league matches, regional cup matches, and Concacaf Champions Cup play.

Further details explaining the rankings and how clubs earn points can be found here: Concacaf launches new ranking system for region’s clubs and leagues.

Here are the top stories from the recent moves.

Club América claims the top spot after Champions Cup Round of 16 victories

Club América (1,252) and Cruz Azul (1,238) rose to first and second place, respectively, following their Champions Cup victories in the Round of 16.

Columbus Crew (1,235), the former top team, fell to third place following its elimination from the Champions Cup. Inter Miami CF (1,232) and LAFC (1,230), who will also meet in the CCC quarterfinals, occupy the fourth and fifth spots.

Tigres UANL (1,230), Deportivo Toluca (1,221), CF Pachuca (1,220), and Club León (1,206) and CF Monterrey (1,205) round out the top ten.

Top two clubs will face off in Champions Cup Quarterfinals

A matchup between the top two teams in the rankings awaits in the Champions Cup quarterfinals when Club América meets Cruz Azul. The series will also feature one of Mexico’s top rivalries between the two Mexico City sides, known as the Clásico Joven.

The first leg will take place at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on April 1 and the return leg is scheduled for April 8 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. The winner on aggregate will advance to the semifinals.

For Champions Cup kickoff times and additional match information click HERE.

Herediano keeps on top of Central American ranking

CS Herediano (1,157) retained the top spot among Central American teams and occupies 40th overall in the CCR.

Reigning Concacaf Central American Cup champion LD Alajuelense (1,143) follows at 45th overall. CD Olimpia (1,140) at 46th overall, Deportivo Saprissa (1,127) at 52nd, and CSD Municipal (1,116) at 54th round out the top five in Central America.

Cibao FC maintains lead in the Caribbean, Baltimore (HAI) and Portmore United (JAM) jump into Top 10

Dominican Republic side Cibao FC (1,064) remained the leader among Caribbean clubs at 81st overall.

Jamaican clubs Mount Pleasant FA (1,052) at 90th and defending Concacaf Caribbean Cup champion Cavalier FC (1,042) at 100th overall are second and third, respectively, while SV Robinhood (1,042) of Suriname follows at 101st, and Trinidad and Tobago side Defence Force FC (1,038) at 104th, complete the top five.

Arnett Gardens FC (1,030) of Jamaica at 111th is sixth in the subregion, followed by three Haitian club at AS Capoise (1,021) at 116th, Real Hope FA (1,020) at 117th, and Baltimore SC (1,013) at 118th. Jamaica’s Portmore United FC (1,011) at 119th.

Vancouver Whitecaps jumps 7 places and provided the biggest upset in Champions Cup R16

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1,198) continued to climb the rankings and was the month's biggest mover, moving up seven spots, to 13th overall. The Caps were also one of the biggest movers, moving up eight spots, in last month’s update.

Pumas UNAM (1,199) of Mexico at 12th overall, U.S. side Chicago Fire (1,149) at 43rd, Tivoli Gardens (993) of Jamaica at 135th, and Delfines del Este (976) of the Dominican Republic at 144th, all improved six spots.

Whitecaps FC also provided the most significant upset with its 3-3 aggregate win on away goals against CF Monterrey in the Round of 16 of the Champions Cup, seeing the then no. 20 overall team eliminate the club listed sixth overall.