MIAMI, Florida – This week the 14th edition of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL) kicks off with 16 teams on the hunt to become club champion of the Concacaf region.
Before the ball gets rolling, here are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about the SCCL.
How many teams are in the tournament and how did they qualify?
Sixteen teams participate in the SCCL, ranging from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Four teams hail from Mexico, with the previous year’s finalists from the Apertura and Clausura tournaments qualifying. For example, 2020 Apertura finalists Club Leon and Pumas and 2021 Clausura finalists Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna qualified for the 2022 SCCL.
Four teams from the United States qualify: The winner of MLS Cup (if it is a USA-based team), the U.S. Open Cup champion, the MLS Supporters’ Shield winner and the other regular season conference champion from MLS.
One team qualifies from the Canadian Championship, while the winner of the Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship also qualifies for the tournament.
The remaining six teams qualify via the Scotiabank Concacaf League, a competition involving clubs from Central America, the Caribbean and the champion of the Canadian Premier League. The top six finishers of the SCL qualify for the SCCL.
The clubs participating in the 2022 edition are (qualification methods available here):
Mexico: Cruz Azul, Pumas, Club Leon, Santos Laguna
United States: New York City FC, New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rapids
Canada: CF Montreal, Forge FC
Haiti: Cavaly AS
Guatemala: Comunicaciones, Guastatoya
Honduras: Motagua
Costa Rica: Deportivo Saprissa, Santos de Guapiles
Which edition is the 2022 SCCL?
The 2022 SCCL will be the 14th edition of the competition. Prior to the inaugural edition of the SCCL in 2008-09, the tournament operated as the Concacaf Champions Cup from 1962-2008.
Who is the reigning champion of the SCCL?
Monterrey of Mexico is the reigning champion of the SCCL. The Liga MX club captured their fifth SCCL crown by defeating Club America of Mexico, 1-0, in the 2021 SCCL Final.
Past champions:
2008-09: Atlante
2009-10: Pachuca
2010-11: Monterrey
2011-12: Monterrey
2012-13: Monterrey
2013-14: Cruz Azul
2014-15: Club America
2015-16: Club America
2016-17: Pachuca
2018: Chivas
2019: Monterrey
2020: Tigres
2021: Monterrey
Who is the tournament's all-time leading scorer?
Mexican FW Javier Orozco is the SCCL’s all-time top scorer with 24 goals. Orozco scored 23 goals as a member of Cruz Azul and one goal with Santos Laguna.
Top 5 all-time goal scorers in SCCL:
Javier Orozco: 24
Darwin Quintero: 23
Oribe Peralta: 22
Emanuel Villa: 17
Humberto Suazo/Aldo de Nigris: 16
Which team has appeared in the most SCCLs?
Honduran club Olimpia has appeared in the most SCCLs (12). The Catracho club participated in 12 of the first 13 editions of the tournament.
Most SCCL appearances by club:
Olimpia (HON): 12
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC): 10
Herediano (CRC): 9
Cruz Azul (MEX): 8
Isidro Metapan (SLV): 8
What is the most decorated club Concacaf compettions ?
Club America of Mexico are the most decorated club in Concacaf with seven continental crowns. In the SCCL era, however, Monterrey have the most titles (5).
Most Concacaf club titles (Includes Concacaf Champions Cup and SCCL)
Club America (MEX): 7
Cruz Azul (MEX): 6
Pachuca (MEX): 5
Monterrey (MEX): 5
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)/Pumas (MEX): 3
What is the format of the tournament for 2022?
The 16 teams will play in a single elimination tournament played over two legs with a home and away leg for each team.
The aggregate winner of each series will then advance to the next round.
For the Round of 16, Quarterfinals and Semifinals, should the aggregate score be tied after the two legs, the away-goal tiebreaker will be used. If the away goal tiebreaker is not applicable, the winner of the series will be determined in a penalty shootout that will occur at the conclusion of the second leg.
In the Final, the away goal tiebreaker will not be used and if the aggregate score is tied after two legs, the teams will play 30 minutes of extra time. If still tied after extra time, the tournament champion will be decided in a penalty shootout.
How is the host team of the second leg determined?
For the Round of 16, the clubs from Pot 1 (highest ranked) will play the first leg away and the second leg at home. For the Quarterfinals, the Round of 16 winners of matchups 1, 3, 5, and 7 will play the first leg away and the second leg at home.
For the Semifinals and Finals, the best performing clubs in the earlier rounds of the competition will play the first leg away and the second leg at home (based on wins, draws, and, if required, goal difference).
How is this year’s tournament different than last year’s?
The last two editions of the SCCL were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, despite kicking off in February, the competition was suspended prior to the second leg quarterfinals. The tournament resumed at the quarterfinal stage at a neutral site in Orlando, Florida where Tigres of Mexico defeated Los Angeles FC, 2-1, in a single-game Final.
In 2021, the SCCL had a delayed start, with the tournament beginning in April and concluding in October. The competition also featured a single-game Final, won 1-0 by Monterrey over fellow Mexican side Club America.
The 2022 SCCL will see a return to a two-legged Final and a traditional tournament start date of mid-February, with the Final in early May.
What are the Schedule Windows for the 2022 SCCL?
Round of 16: February 15-17 (first legs) and February 22-24 (second legs)
Quarterfinals: March 8-10 (first legs) and March 15-17 (second legs)
Semifinals: April 5-7 (first legs) and April 12-14 (second legs)
Finals: April 26-28 (first leg) and May 3-5 (second leg)
What else is new for the competition?
The 2022 SCCL will be the first edition of the tournament in which Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be utilized throughout all rounds. This follows the successful implementation of the technology in the Confederation’s centralized competitions in 2021, the latter stages of the 2021 SCCL and FIFA Men’s World Cup Qualifying matches that look place earlier in the year.
Additionally, Concacaf will debut a red card appeals system in which participants will have a post-match opportunity to request a review of a direct red card by newly created Concacaf Independent Panel.
Where can I watch the SCCL?
The 2022 SCCL will be widely available for fans across the region to follow and enjoy through the Confederation’s TV partner networks, including FOX Sports (USA-English), TUDN (USA-Spanish), OneSoccer (Canada), Fox Sports Mexico (Mexico-Spanish), ESPN (Central America-Spanish), Flow Sports (Caribbean-English) and other local partners.
