CONCACAF League

The CONCACAF League, officially known as the Scotiabank CONCACAF League for sponsorship reasons, was an annual international association football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North, Central America, and the Caribbean. It served as the confederation's secondary continental tournament for men's senior clubs, positioned below the premier CONCACAF Champions Cup, and primarily functioned as a qualification pathway for additional teams from the region to advance to the higher-level competition.^[1]

History and Purpose

Established in 2017, the CONCACAF League replaced the earlier CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup to broaden participation and provide more competitive opportunities for clubs outside the top-tier qualifiers, particularly from Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada.^[1] The tournament aimed to enhance regional development by featuring mid-level clubs in a structured continental format, with successful teams earning spots in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and, ultimately, a pathway to the FIFA Club World Cup.^[1] Over its six editions (2017–2022), it highlighted emerging talent and fostered rivalries, especially among Central American sides, while including one Canadian representative from the Canadian Premier League starting in 2019.^[1]

Format and Qualification

The competition adopted a pure knockout structure, with all rounds played as two-legged home-and-away ties, decided by aggregate score; away goals rule applied, with extra time and penalties used if aggregate scores were level after considering away goals.^[1] It began with 16 teams in its inaugural edition but expanded to 22 by 2022, incorporating a preliminary round for lower-seeded entrants.^[1] Qualification was merit-based: Central American slots (typically 16) came from domestic league runners-up or cup winners; three spots went to the top Caribbean Club Championship finishers; and one was reserved for the Canadian champion.^[1] The winner, runner-up, two semifinalists, and the two highest-ranked quarterfinal losers advanced to the subsequent CONCACAF Champions Cup group stage or round of 16.^[1]

Editions and Notable Achievements

• 2017: Inaugural champions CD Olimpia (Honduras) defeated Santos de Guápiles (Costa Rica) in the final, marking the tournament's launch with a focus on Central American dominance.
• 2018: CS Herediano (Costa Rica) claimed the title after overcoming Motagua (Honduras) in the final, emphasizing the event's role in elevating regional underdogs.
• 2019: Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica) triumphed over Motagua (Honduras) in an all-Central American final, with the edition introducing Canadian participation via Forge FC.
• 2020: Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (Costa Rica) won amid pandemic disruptions, defeating Saprissa (Costa Rica) in a single-match final and securing qualification amid expanded slots.
• 2021: Comunicaciones FC (Guatemala) became the first Guatemalan winner, beating Motagua (Honduras) in the final and underscoring the tournament's inclusivity for non-traditional powerhouses.^[1]
• 2022: In its final edition, CD Olimpia (Honduras) repeated as champions, defeating Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (Costa Rica) 3–2 on aggregate in the final, becoming the tournament's only two-time winner.^[2]

Costa Rican clubs won three titles, while Honduran sides secured two, reflecting Central America's stronghold; no Caribbean or North American team reached the final.^[1][2]

Discontinuation and Legacy

The 2022 edition marked the end of the CONCACAF League, as announced by CONCACAF in October 2022, with the competition replaced starting in 2023 by three dedicated regional cups to streamline qualification and boost localized rivalries: the Leagues Cup (for North American clubs from MLS and Liga MX), the CONCACAF Central American Cup (for 20 Central American teams), and the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup (reviving the Caribbean Club Championship format).^[3] These new tournaments now allocate spots to the expanded 27-team CONCACAF Champions Cup, which itself rebranded from the Champions League in 2024 to align with FIFA's global standards.^[4] The CONCACAF League's legacy lies in democratizing continental access, having qualified 30 teams across its run to the Champions Cup and promoting football growth in underrepresented markets.^[1]

History

Inception and launch

The CONCACAF League was established in 2017 by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) as a secondary club competition to consolidate and replace fragmented regional tournaments, such as the CFU Club Championship in the Caribbean and the defunct UNCAF Interclub Cup in Central America, which had previously served as qualifiers for continental play but lacked a unified structure.^[5] The initiative aimed to create a more organized second-tier pathway for clubs from these regions to advance to the premier CONCACAF Champions League, enhancing overall competitiveness and providing broader participation opportunities beyond dominant North American and Mexican teams. The tournament's format and details were first unveiled on January 23, 2017, as part of a broader revamp of CONCACAF's club competitions platform, with further specifics announced in May 2017 ahead of the draw.^[5][6] The inaugural edition, branded as the 2017–18 Scotiabank CONCACAF League for sponsorship reasons, was scheduled to commence in August 2017 and conclude by October, serving as the initial qualifying phase for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.^[7] Under the leadership of CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who assumed office in May 2016 and prioritized governance reforms and expanded football development across the confederation, the league was positioned to bridge domestic leagues with elite continental competition while boosting fan engagement through increased matchups among emerging clubs.^[8] The launch featured 16 teams exclusively from Central America and the Caribbean—13 from Central American nations (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Belize) and 3 from the Caribbean—reflecting limited initial involvement from North American leagues to prioritize regional growth.^[6] This setup established the league's winner as an automatic qualifier for the subsequent CONCACAF Champions League, fostering a clear progression route.^[9]

Editions and developments

The CONCACAF League progressed through six editions from 2017 to 2022, serving as a key pathway for Central American and Caribbean clubs to the premier CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament typically ran from August to October, with finals held in October or November to align with domestic seasons and minimize conflicts. This scheduling allowed for compact competition phases, fostering regional rivalries and providing developmental opportunities for emerging clubs. Participation emphasized knockout formats, with adjustments over time to accommodate logistical challenges and expand inclusivity. A major development occurred in the 2019 edition, when the tournament expanded from 16 to 22 teams to increase access for smaller associations. This growth added six new berths: five additional slots for Caribbean clubs and one for a North American team, creating a preliminary round where 12 lower-seeded teams competed in home-and-away ties, with the six winners advancing to the round of 16 alongside 10 seeded entrants. The edition featured 42 matches in total, highlighting broader engagement across the region. Clubs from Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala dominated participation trends, collectively winning all titles and demonstrating their leagues' strength in CONCACAF club football. The 2018 edition set an early milestone with Herediano's victory over Motagua in the final, marking the Costa Rican side's triumph as the competition's first champion from that nation and securing their entry to the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. The 2020 edition, however, faced significant disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a format shift to single-leg knockout matches for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, all hosted in a centralized bubble in the Dominican Republic from December 16 to 23. Amid these challenges, Alajuelense claimed the title by defeating Saprissa 2–0 in the final, underscoring resilience in regional play. The competition's visibility grew through partnerships with broadcasters like TelevisaUnivision, which aired matches across its networks and streaming platforms, contributing to rising attendance at live events and heightened fan interest.

Discontinuation

On June 8, 2022, CONCACAF announced that the 2022 edition of the CONCACAF League would be its sixth and final season, marking the discontinuation of the tournament effective after that year.^[10] This decision was part of a broader restructuring of the confederation's club competitions, initially outlined in February 2021, aimed at streamlining pathways amid the expansion of the premier tournament.^[11] The primary reasons for abolishing the CONCACAF League included the planned growth of the CONCACAF Champions League—rebranded as the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023—to 27 teams beginning with the 2024 edition, which diminished the need for a distinct second-tier competition.^[12] Additionally, CONCACAF shifted focus toward regional development by introducing the Central American Cup for Central American clubs and the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup for Caribbean teams, replacing the pan-regional scope of the League to foster more localized rivalries and qualification opportunities.^[11] These changes were intended to "transform the competition and significantly increase its relevance," as stated by CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani in the initial reform announcement.^[11] The 2022 edition concluded as the last, with Honduran club Olimpia defeating Costa Rican side Alajuelense 3–2 on aggregate in the final held on October 27, 2022. For the transition, the top six performing teams from the 2022 CONCACAF League—Olimpia (champion), Alajuelense (runner-up), Motagua, Real Estelí, CS Cartaginés, and Diriangén—earned direct entry into the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League group stage, ensuring continuity for strong performers.^[13] No editions of the CONCACAF League have been held since 2022, aligning with CONCACAF's 2023 restructuring goals to enhance regional rivalries and qualification paths across its club ecosystem.^[14]

Format

Qualification criteria

The qualification for the CONCACAF League was determined by performance in domestic competitions across member associations, with slots allocated primarily to clubs from Central America and the Caribbean, and later expanded to include a North American representative. Teams typically earned entry as league champions, runners-up from split-season tournaments (Apertura and Clausura), or domestic cup winners, with priority given to champions. If a club qualified for the higher-tier CONCACAF Champions League through superior domestic results, its League slot would cascade to the next eligible team based on association rankings. Tiebreakers for slot allocation among associations relied on the CONCACAF club rankings, calculated from points earned in the prior five editions of CONCACAF club competitions (3 points per win, 1 per draw, additional bonuses for advancing stages and titles).^[15] In its inaugural 2017–18 edition, the tournament featured 16 teams: 13 from Central America and 3 from the Caribbean via the CFU Club Championship (top non-qualifying finishers). Central American slots were distributed as follows: 3 each to Honduras and Panama, 2 each to Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, and 1 to Belize, reflecting domestic league and cup performances submitted by member associations by July. No North American slot existed at launch.^[16] The competition expanded to 22 teams starting in the 2019 edition, adding 5 Central American slots and 1 North American slot to broaden regional participation and provide more pathways to the CONCACAF Champions League. The additional North American entry went to the Canadian Premier League champion (or equivalent top performer not already qualified for the Champions League), while Central American allocation stabilized at 18 teams total. Member associations submitted qualified clubs annually by July, with the CFU Club Championship providing the 3 Caribbean entrants (typically the second- through fourth-placed teams). From 2019 to 2022, this format yielded 22 entrants per edition.^[17][18] *Guatemalan clubs were excluded in 2017–18 due to federation suspension but received full allocation thereafter.^[17][16][18] The top six performers from each League edition advanced to the following season's CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 (or group stage in pre-2019 editions), consisting of the champion, runner-up, two semifinalists, and the two highest-ranked quarterfinal losers (based on rankings).^[17]

Tournament structure

The CONCACAF League operated as a single-elimination knockout tournament featuring 22 clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, contested entirely through two-legged ties played on a home-and-away basis. Advancement in each tie was determined by the aggregate score across both legs, with the away goals rule applied as a tiebreaker in all rounds except the final; from the 2021 edition onward, ties level on aggregate in the final proceeded directly to 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.^[1][12] Matches adhered to the standard 90 minutes per leg under the IFAB Laws of the Game, with no third-place match contested and home advantage for the first leg typically assigned to the higher-seeded team or as determined by the official draw.^[1] The tournament progressed through five stages. The preliminary round involved 12 teams drawn into six two-legged ties, with the six winners advancing to join 10 directly qualified teams in the round of 16, forming eight ties among 16 clubs overall. The eight winners from the round of 16 then competed in four quarterfinal ties, followed by two semifinal ties, culminating in a single two-legged final to crown the champion.^[19][20] Editions typically spanned 2 to 3 months, commencing in late summer (August) with the preliminary round and concluding by late fall (October or November) with the final, allowing clubs to balance domestic schedules. Neutral venues were rarely used, with all ties hosted at the respective teams' home grounds to emphasize regional travel and fan engagement.^[20] Beyond the title, the tournament served as a pathway to the premier CONCACAF Champions Cup, where the winner automatically qualified for the subsequent edition's round of 16 (or group stage pre-2019), joined by the runner-up and the four other highest-performing teams (the two semifinalists and two top quarterfinal losers based on aggregate scores).^[1]

Results

Finals overview

The finals of the CONCACAF League, held annually from 2017 to 2022, were contested in a two-legged format, with the winner determined by aggregate score and the away goals rule applied in case of a tie.^{[21][22][23][24][25][26]} In the inaugural 2017 edition, Club Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras defeated Santos de Guápiles of Costa Rica 1–1 on aggregate, winning 4–1 in the penalty shootout after a 1–0 first-leg loss on October 19 at Estadio Nacional in San José and a 1–0 second-leg victory on October 26 at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.^[27][28] The 2018 final saw Club Sport Herediano of Costa Rica overcome F.C. Motagua of Honduras 3–2 on aggregate, following a 2–0 first-leg win on October 24 at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Heredia and a 2–1 second-leg defeat on October 31 at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa, where Jimmy Marín scored the decisive away goal in the 84th minute.^[29][30] Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica claimed the 2019 title with a 1–0 aggregate victory over F.C. Motagua, securing a 1–0 first-leg win on November 7 at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá in San José via a Johan Venegas penalty and holding firm for a 0–0 second-leg draw on November 13 at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino.^[23][31] Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica won the 2020 edition—played in a condensed schedule amid the COVID-19 pandemic—3–2 on aggregate against Deportivo Saprissa, after a 2–0 first-leg triumph on December 22 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Fernández in Alajuela and a 2–1 second-leg loss on December 28 at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá.^[24][32] Comunicaciones F.C. of Guatemala triumphed in the 2021 final, defeating F.C. Motagua 6–3 on aggregate with a 2–1 first-leg victory on December 8 at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa, followed by a 4–2 second-leg victory on December 14 at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, highlighted by a second-half performance.^[25][33][34] The 2022 final, the competition's last before its discontinuation, saw C.D. Olimpia edge Liga Deportiva Alajuelense 5–4 on aggregate, with a 3–2 first-leg win on October 26 at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano and a 2–2 second-leg draw on November 2 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Fernández, sealed by Gabriel Araujo's 88th-minute equalizer.^[26][35] Across the six finals, a total of 31 goals were scored, with notable attendances including over 18,000 for the 2021 second leg in San Pedro Sula and around 10,000 for several legs in Costa Rica and Honduras.^[36][32]

Title distribution

The CONCACAF League produced six editions between 2017 and 2022, resulting in five unique champions and highlighting the competition's emphasis on emerging Central American clubs. CD Olimpia of Honduras stands as the most successful club, securing titles in the inaugural 2017 edition and the final 2022 tournament, while Costa Rican sides CS Herediano (2018), Deportivo Saprissa (2019), and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (2020) each claimed one victory, alongside Guatemala's Comunicaciones FC in 2021.^{[21][22][23][24][37][26]} Runner-up finishes were dominated by Honduran and Costa Rican clubs, with Honduras appearing three times—all by FC Motagua in 2018, 2019, and 2021—and Costa Rica matching that tally through Santos de Guápiles (2017), Saprissa (2020), and Alajuelense (2022).^{[21][22][23][24][37][26]} Central American teams monopolized the outcomes, with all six champions originating from the region and no representatives from North America or the Caribbean ever securing the trophy, reflecting the league's qualification pathways that favored domestic league runners-up and cup winners from these areas.^{[21][22][23][24][37][26]} No club achieved back-to-back success, though Costa Rican teams demonstrated sustained excellence by winning three consecutive editions from 2018 to 2020.^[22][23][24] A key incentive of the tournament was qualification for the premier CONCACAF Champions League (renamed Champions Cup in 2024), with every winner advancing to its group stage or round of 16; Olimpia's 2022 victory, for example, propelled them into the 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they reached the round of 16 before elimination by Atlas FC.^[26]

Performances

By club

The CONCACAF League featured participation from a total of 56 clubs across its six editions from 2017 to 2022, with Honduran and Costa Rican teams dominating in terms of frequency of appearances. Clubs from Honduras, such as Olimpia and Motagua, and from Costa Rica, including Deportivo Saprissa and Alajuelense, accounted for the majority of deep runs, reflecting the strength of domestic leagues in those nations. Saprissa, for instance, made three appearances and secured one title in 2019.^[38] Olimpia stands as the most successful club in the competition's history, being the only team to win the title twice, in 2017 and 2022, while reaching three finals overall. Alajuelense achieved one title in 2020 and appeared in two finals, showcasing consistent performance among Central American powerhouses. Motagua, despite reaching three finals (2018, 2019, and 2021), never lifted the trophy, highlighting their role as perennial contenders without ultimate success.^[38] Notable individual contributions included Jerry Bengtson, who was a key scorer for Olimpia across their campaigns. Olimpia maintained a strong win percentage of approximately 70% in their matches, bolstered by a robust home record that saw them unbeaten in several key legs. In contrast, away performances across clubs were more varied, with Central American teams often relying on aggregate advantages from home wins. A standout record was set by Comunicaciones, who scored the most goals in a single final with four in their 4-2 second-leg victory over Motagua in 2021.^[34]

By nation

The CONCACAF League has been overwhelmingly dominated by Central American nations, which have claimed all titles in the competition's history and accounted for over 90% of all participant slots across its editions. Costa Rica leads with three titles, followed by Honduras with two and Guatemala with one, while no teams from the Caribbean or North America have lifted the trophy. Honduras has the most appearances with 16, ahead of Costa Rica's 17 and Guatemala's 12, reflecting their leagues' strong qualification pathways through domestic performance. These three nations have consistently provided the bulk of quarterfinalists and semifinalists, underscoring Central America's competitive depth in regional club football.^[39] In terms of match statistics, Costa Rica holds the edge with 35 wins, compared to Honduras's 30, while Central American teams have scored approximately 80% of all goals in the tournament. Honduras has recorded three runner-up finishes, highlighting their frequent contention for the title but limited success in finals. A key regional trend is the absence of any finalist from outside Central America, with teams from North America and the Caribbean rarely advancing beyond the preliminary or round-of-16 stages. Caribbean representatives have reached the quarterfinals at most, as exemplified by Real Hope FA of Haiti in 2019 that progressed but fell short of further advancement. This disparity emphasizes the structural advantages and higher competitive level of Central American leagues in the CONCACAF League format.^[38]