The yearly desire for continental glory has started once again at the Concacaf Champions Cup, formerly known as the Concacaf Champions League.
The game commenced as 27 teams qualified via league positions and tournament places from last season. Round 1 started on Feb. 4, kicking off the tournament with the Mexican team, Cruz Azul, traveling to face the Haitian team, Real Hope.
Many of the Central American and Caribbean football clubs were beaten by MLS and Liga MX teams, which was not a shock to anyone. Costa Rican team, C.S. Herediano, ended up winning over MLS team Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, 2-1.
The biggest talking point of Round 1 was Inter Miami facing off against US Open Cup runners-up Sporting Kansas City in Kansas. Even though the game was postponed by a day, weather forecasts stated that the game was going to be played in 7 degree weather.
The record for the coldest soccer game played in the United States is held by the United States Men’s National Team when they hosted Honduras in February 2022, where the temperature for that match was 2 degrees.
Fast forward to Round 16, Herediano faced off against current MLS champions LA Galaxy, where they lost 4-2 on aggregate.
Western Conference champs LAFC faced off against 2024 Leagues Cup champions the Columbus Crew. The Black and Gold swept the Crew aside 3-0 in the first leg and won the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
Inter Miami faced off against the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup winner, Cavaliers Football Club, with the first leg being played in Miami.
The Floridian side took a 2-0 advantage at home. The return leg was played in the National Stadium Independence Park, where “Messi mania” was in full force. The Argentine has never played in Jamaica and the people went in large crowds to watch him play. Messi was substituted in during the 53rd minute.
He scored his goal in additional time at the end of the match, and the stadium crowd went wild as the Herons won 4-0 on aggregate.
El Súper Clásico was on full display as Club America faced off against Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
The rivalry stems from the two Liga MX teams being the two most successful clubs in Mexico. Club America turned the tie at home thanks to a 4-0 thumping.
Mexican clubs Tigres and Cruz Azul made easy work in their respective games over MLS clubs Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders.
Pumas won against the 2024 Central American cup winners Alajuelense 3-1 on aggregate.
Monterrey lost against the Canadian MLS team Vancouver thanks to away goals (3-3 on aggregate).
MLS Conference champions LAFC and Miami will face off against each other for the highly anticipated game in the quarter-finals.
The Galaxy will face off against Tigres, Pumas will play against Vancouver and another all-Mexican affair with Club America hosting Cruz Azul. The quest for glory continues.
