What’s at stake in Round One of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup begins on February 4 as the pathway to crowning the next champion of the confederation’s premier club championship begins.

Twenty-two teams will kick off the opening stage of the competition before five champions, awaiting in the next round on byes, join the competition in the Round of 16. The teams will progress until a new champion is crowned in the June 1 Final.

The 2025 champion will earn a berth in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

Tournament Format 

Here are the dates for each round of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup:

Round One: February 4-6 (Week 1), 11-13 (Week 2), 18-20 (Week 3) and 25-27 (Week 4)

Round of 16: March 4-6 (First Legs) and 11-13 (Second Legs)

Quarterfinals: April 1-3 (First Legs) and 8-10 (Second Legs)

Semifinals: April 22-24 (First Legs) and April 29 - May 1 (Second Legs)

Final: Sunday, June 1 (Single Leg)

Round One Matchups

The following are the matchups for Round One, as determined by the Concacaf Champions Cup Draw in December: 

●      Los Angeles FC vs. Colorado Rapids

●      Inter Miami FC vs. Sporting Kansas City

●      CF Monterrey vs. Forge FC

●      Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Deportivo Saprissa

●      Pumas UNAM vs. Cavalry FC

●       CD Guadalajara vs. Cibao FC

●      Cruz Azul vs. Real Hope FA

●      Seattle Sounders FC vs. Antigua GFC

●      Tigres UANL vs. Real Estelí FC

●       FC Cincinnati vs. FC Motagua

●      Real Salt Lake vs. CS Herediano

 

 

 

Key Players

The following are key players to watch for each club participating in Round One:

Olivier Giroud, Los Angeles FC

A FIFA World Cup winner with France, Giroud arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 2024 and helped the club to the Leagues Cup runners-up finish, scoring in the final, and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy. A former UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea, the French striker seeks another continental championship, now with LAFC.

Zack Steffen, Colorado Rapids

A 2019–20 Concacaf Nations League winner with the United States, Steffen seeks to win his first continental title at the club level as a former UEFA Champions League runner-up with Manchester City. The goalkeeper returned to his homeland in 2024 with Colorado Rapids, whom he led to a third-place finish in the Leagues Cup to qualify for the CCC and was named goalkeeper of the tournament.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF

A FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina, Lionel Messi has led Inter Miami CF to Leagues Cup and MLS Supporters’ Shield titles since he arrived at the club in the summer of 2023. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner posted 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 regular season appearances on his way to winning the MLS MVP award and will seek to build on two goals and two assists in the 2024 edition.

Daniel Salloi, Sporting KC

Entering his eighth season with SKC's first team, Salloi is one of the essential players in attack for the club, with 47 goals and 37 assists all-time in league play. The Hungarian was part of Kansas City’s last CCC appearance where the club reached its best finish as semifinalists in 2019.

Sergio Canales, CF Monterrey

The heartbeat of the Rayados attack, Canales was the team’s leading scorer and third-most in the league, with eight goals in the Apertura 2024 season. He scored in the final as the team finished runners-up and seeks to lead Monterrey to a sixth CCC crown.

Tristan Borges, Forge FC

Borges is the Forge FC’s all-time leader in goals (34) and assists (33) and the only player to win the Canadian Premier League Player of the Year Award twice (2019 and 2024). The Canadian midfielder was instrumental in guiding Forge to its CPL Shield conquest as the best team during the regular season, with eight goals and six assists.

Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

With 15 goals and 13 assists, Gauld was directly involved in 28 Whitecaps FC goals during the 2024 MLS season. The Scotsman was also key to the club’s Canadian Championship win to qualify for the CCC.

Ariel Rodríguez, Deportivo Saprissa

Rodríguez was influential in helping Saprissa back to the CCC with two goals and two assists in the 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup. The Costa Rican forward delivered one of his assists in the decisive Play-In series against Comunicaciones.

Adalberto Carrasquilla, Pumas UNAM  

The 2023/24 Concacaf Player of the Year will feature in another edition of the CCC, this time as a key reinforcement for Liga MX side Pumas UNAM. At the national team level, “Coco” led Panama to the 2023 Gold Cup Final, and was named the tournament’s Best Player, and has helped his country to three consecutive Concacaf Nations League Finals.

 

 

Tobias Warschewski, Cavalry FC

Warschewski was the Golden Boot winner of the 2024 CPL regular season with 14 goals and led the league with 69 attempts. The German forward was named the 2024 CPL Final MVP with a goal and an assist in the championship game, helping Cavalry to its first league title

Roberto Alvarado, CD Guadalajara 

Alvarado co-led the club with five goals in the Apertura 2024 and is one of the key players in the Chivas attack. The Mexican midfielder is a two-time Gold Cup winner with Mexico and was also on Pachuca’s winning squad in the 2016–17 edition.

Rivaldo Correa, Cibao FC

With six goals, Correa was among the high scorers of the 2024 Concacaf Caribbean Cup in Cibao’s runners-up campaign. The Colombian was crucial in the final stages, striking twice in the semifinals and once in the final.

Ángel Sepúlveda, Cruz Azul 

Sepúlveda had the second most goals of the Apertura 2024 as Cruz Azul posted its best regular season performance (short-tournament format) with 42 points. The Mexican forward will be one of the names to watch in the top-scorer race as La Máquina aims to tie the record for most CCC trophies.

Angelo Exilus, Real Hope FA

Exilus was one of the lethal scorers in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, with six goals in Real Hope’s third-place campaign. He struck back-to-back braces to help the Haitian side qualify for its first CCC appearance.

Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders FC 

Morris seeks to lead his hometown club to another international title after being part of Seattle’s CCC-winning squad and a Best XI selection in the 2022 edition. The Sounders academy product had 13 goals and five assists during the 2024 regular season.

José Ardón, Antigua GFC

Ardón was a leader for Antigua as the Guatemalan club reached the Concacaf Central American Cup semifinals in the team’s debut campaign. The team captain recorded 14 ball recoveries, 31 clearances, and three goals across eight appearances.

André-Pierre Gignac, Tigres UANL 

The timeless Gignac remains one of the top scorers for Tigres UANL in Liga MX, tying fifth-most in Liga MX with seven in the Apertura 2024. The French striker helped the Nuevo Leon club to its first trophy in the 2020 edition.

 

 

 

Byron Bonilla, Real Esteli FC 

Bonilla was Real Estelí’s top contributor in attack, with three goals and two assists in the 2024 Central American Cup. The midfielder played in his team’s ten fixtures, totaling 27 shots.

Roman Celentano, FC Cincinnati 

Celentano is a key player for Cincy, with 24 clean sheets across more than 8,000 MLS minutes. The 24-year-old goalkeeper will be one of the names under the three posts.

Agustín Auzmendi, FC Motagua 

Auzmendi provided two crucial goals for FC Motagua in the Central American Cup Play-In round to qualify for the CCC. He was tied for second most in the CAC campaign with four goals.

Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake

One of the young names to watch in the tournament, the 21-year-old Luna is coming off his best year in MLS with eight goals and 12 assists for Real Salt Lake. He is the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year recipient and helped the USA win the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship.

Elías Aguilar, CS Herediano

Aguilar was one of the best set-up men in the 2024 Central American Cup, with three assists tied for fourth place. The Costa Rican midfielder will seek to help his side be the furthest advancing Central American side in the CCC in consecutive editions.