Cibao FC players (pictured) lift the 2018 Caribbean Club Championship trophy. (Photo: CA-Images)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago -- Tier 1 play in the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship kicks off Wednesday with a Group A doubleheader at Ato Boldon Stadium.
In the opener, Club Atletico Pantoja (Dominican Republic) will take on Arnett Gardens (Jamaica), followed by an encounter between host W Connection and Real Hope Football Academy (Haiti).
2018 CONCACAF CARIBBEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Tier 1, Group A Schedule (all times ET)
Wednesday – January 31, 2018
Club Atletico Pantoja v Arnett Gardens, 18:00
W Connection v Real Hope Football Academy, 21:00
Friday – February 2, 2018
Real Hope Football Academy v Club Atletico Pantoja, 18:00
W Connection v Arnett Gardens, 21:00
Sunday – February 4, 2018
Arnett Gardens v Real Hope Football Academy, 18:00
W Connection v Club Atletico Pantoja, 21:00
“This is an opportunity to prove Haiti is relevant in the Caribbean Club Championship,” Real Hope Football Academy head coach Sonche Pierre told CONCACAF.com. “Our goal is to qualify for Champions League.”
As the doors to international play open wider for Caribbean clubs, the winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship will qualify for the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, while the runner-up and third place finishers will qualify for the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.
The fourth-place side will face the winner of the Tier 2 tournament -- Caribbean Club Shield -- in a playoff to determine the third club that will represent the Caribbean in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League. The Tier 2 champion, however, must comply with the minimum CONCACAF Club Licensing requirements for CONCACAF League participation.
The Caribbean Club Championship has been contested annually since 1997 (with the exception of 1999 and 2008), when Trinidad & Tobago’s United Petrotrin captured the inaugural title. A champion has been crowned 17 times, with W Connection, also of Trinidad & Tobago, lifting the trophy a record three times.
The eight-team, Tier 1 field includes two other former Caribbean champions: Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago: 2015, 2016) and Portmore United (Jamaica, 2005).
Group B – consisting of Atlantico FC (Dominican Republic), Central FC, Portmore United and Racing FC (Haiti) -- will be contested February 7-11, 2018, in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Current champion Cibao FC (Dominican Republic) did not qualify for the 2018 event.
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CARIBBEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
List of Champions
2017: Cibao FC (Dominican Republic)
2016: Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago)
2015: Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago)
2014: no champion
2013: no champion
2012: Caledonia AIA (Trinidad & Tobago)
2011: Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico)
2010: Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico Islanders)
2009: W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago)
2008: no tournament
2007: Harbour View FC (Jamaica)
2006: W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago)
2005: Portmore United (Jamaica)
2004: Harbour View FC (Jamaica)
2003: San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad & Tobago)
2002: W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago)
2001: Defence Force (Trinidad & Tobago)
2000: Joe Public FC (Trinidad & Tobago)
1999: no tournament
1998: Joe Public FC (Trinidad & Tobago)
1997: United Petrotrin (Trinidad & Tobago)
