CONCACAF Champions League

The CONCACAF Champions League (aka CCL) is the annual continental club soccer competition held in the North America, Central America and Caribbean region for the 24 leading domestic club teams. The CCL has underwent many changes to it's format and title since starting in 1962. It was dominated by Mexican clubs at the outset and US clubs only began entering in 1997 with the advent of MLS. Starting in 2005, the champion also gained entry into the annual FIFA Club World Cup, while the runner-up became one of the 3 invitees to the Copa Sudamericana. In 2008 the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup ceased to exist to be replaced by the current format which is based upon the successful UEFA Champions League model.