How the Draw Works:

The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup draw takes place on Tuesday, December 9, setting the stage for the journey to the continental title. During the event, the full bracket will be revealed, showing every potential matchup from the opening round to the final.

All 27 qualified clubs from across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean are divided into pots based on Concacaf’s club ranking system and how they qualified for the tournament. This ensures balanced competition, with higher-ranked teams kept apart in the early stages.

A total of 22 teams will enter in Round One, while five top-ranked clubs receive byes to the Round of 16. The draw randomly pairs clubs from the pots to determine each Round One matchup and the overall bracket path. Fans will see which side of the bracket their team lands on, who they could face next, and where key home and away fixtures might occur.

Each round of the tournament is played over two legs, with clubs hosting one match at home and one away. The team with the higher aggregate score advances, and if tied, the winner is decided by away goals or penalty kicks. The competition culminates in a single-match Final, where one club will lift the trophy as the best in the region.

Quick Facts

1. A Legacy of Champions – First contested in 1962, the Concacaf Champions Cup is one of the oldest continental tournaments in world football, celebrating over six decades of regional rivalry.
2. From Local to Global – The winner not only claims continental supremacy but also earns a place at the FIFA Club World Cup, facing the best clubs from around the world.
3. An Expanded Era – The modern format features 27 clubs from across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, creating more opportunities for new stories and rivalries to emerge.
4. Drama in Every Round – Each matchup is played over two legs, testing clubs home and away before a single-match final decides the champion.
5. Moments of Magic – From last-minute goals to underdog upsets, the Champions Cup has delivered countless unforgettable moments that have shaped the region’s football history.