Cruz Azul leads Concacaf Club Rankings prior to FIFA Intercontinental Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – Reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul lead in the latest Concacaf Club Rankings (CCR), ahead of the Mexican club’s participation in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025.

 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.

Cruz Azul close 2025 as the top team in the Club Rankings

 Reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul (1,262) and Liga MX championsDeportivo Toluca FC (1,253) held their place as first and second, respectively, to close out the year. 

Recently crowned MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF (1,249) follow at third overall. Tigres UANL (1,241) jumped to fourth after recently reaching the final of the Apertura 2025, where a clash with Toluca awaits. Club América (1,234) fell one spot to round out the top five.

Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup runners-up, and Canadian Championship winners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1,233) is sixth overall, followed by Columbus Crew (1,224), Los Angeles FC (1,222), Leagues Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC (1,217) and CF Monterrey(1,216).

Nine of the Top 10 clubs will participate in the 2026 Champions Cup

The field of 27 clubs for the 2026 Champions Cup is complete, with nine of the top ten ranked teams qualified, including defending champions Cruz Azul. Columbus Crew, the 2024 runners-up, are the only side in the first ten that did not secure its place in the CCC.

 For a complete list of qualified clubs, click HERE.

 LD Alajuelense lead the Central American Clubs ranking after CAC three-peat 

LD Alajuelense (1,175) retained its place as the top Central American club after a third consecutive Concacaf Central American Cup conquest.

CD Olimpia (1,155), Deportivo Saprissa (1,137), CSD Municipal (1,135) and CS Herediano (1,134) complete the top five.

Mount Pleasant is the best team in the Caribbean after winning the Caribbean Cup

Mount Pleasant FA (1,082) retained the top spot in the Caribbean following its first Concacaf Caribbean Cup title.

 Defence Force FC (1,051) follows second in the Caribbean after winning the Third Place series and securing the final berth available in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Cibao FC (1,049), Cavalier FC (1,037), and SV Robinhood (1,033) complete the Caribbean top five.

Caribbean Cup Third Place and former Champions Cup winner, Defence Force, improved 10 places and earned the biggest upset

The biggest mover of the month was Defence Force FC, moving up ten places to 93rd overall.SV Voorwaarts (963) was the next most improved side, moving up seven spots to 154th. Police FC (1,004) improved six places to 126th. 

Defence Force FC also delivered the biggest upset of the month in the Caribbean Cup Third Place series. The Trinidad and Tobago side, previously ranked 99th, defeated #88 Cibao FC, 3-nil in the first leg as the hosts en route to a 4-2 win on aggregate.