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·1 September 2025

Concacaf Champions Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified?

Article image:Concacaf Champions Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified?

By MLSsoccer staff

Nine (9) MLS clubs will compete in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, the 27-team continental tournament that occurs from February through May 2026.

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The winner secures a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

MLS qualifiers: 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup

  • FC Cincinnati - Supporters' Shield standings
  • Inter Miami CF - MLS Cup pres. by Audi winner
  • LAFC - Supporters' Shield standings
  • LA Galaxy - Leagues Cup third place
  • Nashville SC - US Open Cup winner
  • Philadelphia Union - Supporters' Shield winner
  • San Diego FC - Western Conference regular-season winner
  • Seattle Sounders FC - Leagues Cup winner
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Supporters' Shield standings

NOTES: Miami and Seattle qualify directly to the Round of 16. Vancouver also won the Canadian Championship.

Qualifying pathways: 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup

Canadian Championship (1 slot)

  1. Vancouver FC - 2025 Canadian Championship runner-up

Caribbean Cup (3 slots)

  • Mount Pleasant - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup winner^
  • O&M FC - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup runner-up
  • Defence Force - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup third place

Central American Cup (6 slots)

  • Alajuelense - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup winner^
  • Xelajú MC - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup runner-up
  • Real España - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup semifinals
  • Olimpia - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup semifinals
  • Cartaginés - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup play-in winner
  • Sporting San Miguelito - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup play-in winner

Canadian Premier League (2 slots)

  1. Atlético Ottawa - 2025 Canadian Premier League winner
  2. Forge FC - 2025 Canadian Premier League Shield winner

Leagues Cup (2 slots)

  • Seattle Sounders FC - 2025 Leagues Cup winner^
  • LA Galaxy - 2025 Leagues Cup third place

LIGA MX (6 slots)

  • Club América - 2024 LIGA MX Apertura winner
  • CF Monterrey - 2024 LIGA MX Apertura runner-up
  • Toluca FC - 2025 LIGA MX Clausura winner and highest-ranked champion^
  • Cruz Azul - 2024-25 LIGA MX next best club in overall standings
  • Tigres UANL - 2024-25 LIGA MX next best club in overall standings
  • Pumas UNAM - 2024-25 LIGA MX next best club in overall standings

MLS (6 slots)

  • Inter Miami CF - 2025 MLS Cup pres. by Audi winner^
  • LAFC - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club
  • Philadelphia Union - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield winner
  • San Diego FC - 2025 MLS Western Conference regular-season winner
  • FC Cincinnati - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club
  • Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club

US Open Cup (1 slot)

  1. Nashville SC - 2025 US Open Cup champion

^ Qualifies directly to the Round of 16.

Non-MLS teams

Eighteen (18) non-MLS teams will compete in Concacaf Champions Cup 2026. Altogether, the tournament includes 27 clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

  1. Canada (3): Atlético Ottawa, Forge FC, Vancouver FC
  2. Costa Rica (2): Alajuelense, Cartaginés
  3. Dominican Republic (1): O&M FC
  4. Guatemala (1): Xelajú MC
  5. Honduras (2): Olimpia, Real España
  6. Jamaica (1): Mount Pleasant
  7. Mexico (6): Club América, Cruz Azul, CF Monterrey, Pumas UNAM, Tigres UANL, Toluca FC
  8. Panama (1): Sporting San Miguelito
  9. Trinidad & Tobago (1): Defence Force

Round One bye

Of the 27 participating clubs, 22 begin play in Round One and five receive a bye into the Round of 16.

  • Leagues Cup winner: Seattle Sounders FC
  • MLS Cup presented by Audi winner: Inter Miami CF
  • Best-performing LIGA MX champion: Toluca FC
  • Caribbean Cup champion: Mount Pleasant
  • Central American Cup champion: Alajuelense

2026 format & schedule

The Concacaf Champions Cup has a direct elimination knockout stage format and contains five rounds: Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. The first four stages include home and away play, while the Final is a single-leg match.

  • Round One: February 3-5 (Week 1), February 10-12 (Week 2), February 17-19 (Week 3), February 24-26 (Week 4)
  • Round of 16: March 10-12, March 17-19
  • Quarterfinals: April 7-9, April 14-16
  • Semifinals: April 28-30, May 5-7
  • Final: May 30

The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup draw, which will determine the tournament's bracket and each club's path to the final, will be conducted on December 9.

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