D.C. United has been given perhaps the toughest test of Major League Soccer's teams in the group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, announced Monday by the confederation's governing body after a draw in New York City.
United were drawn into Group A, which features 2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup winner Deportivo Saprissa, as well the winners of preliminary round series between Belize's Hankook Verdes and Mexican side CDSC Cruz Azul and either Isidro Metapan from El Salvador or Honduran sides CD Olimpia or CD Marathon.
Two-time defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo heads Group B, which also features El Salvador's CD Luis Angel Firpo, either Deportivo Jalapa or CSD Municipal from Guatemala or Panamanian champion San Francisco FC, which meet in one preliminary round series, and Harbour View FC from Jamaica or Mexican side Pumas UNAM from Mexico.
Should Chivas USA defeat Panamanian outfit Tauro FC in their preliminary aggregate series, they will be placed in Group D with Mexican side Club Santos Laguna, CSD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa from Guatemala and either Costa Rica's LD Alajuelense or the Puerto Rico Islanders, who also meet in a preliminary round series.
Two MLS teams could find themselves in Group C. Should the New England Revolution advance out of the preliminary round, where they face Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago, they will face Mexican side Atlante FC, either CD Olimpia or CD Marathon from Honduras and either the Canadian winner or the Nicaraguan champion.
Toronto FC still has to get through the three-team Canadian Championship, battling the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division, and then have to get past the Nicaraguan champion in a preliminary round series.
The newly expanded version of the continental club championship will get off to a rousing start Sept. 16 with D.C. United hosting Deportivo Saprissa at 8 p.m. in the highlight match of Group A. United is away Sept. 24, but return to RFK Stadium to meet either Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 1.
D.C. has the unenviable task of playing at Saprissa Oct. 9 at 10 p.m. and then away against Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes Oct. 21 at 10 p.m. D.C. United wraps up Group A play at home against Isidro Metapan or CD Olimpia or CD Marathon Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.
Houston Dynamo opens group play at home against LA Firpo at Robertson Stadium Sept. 17 at 10 p.m. After playing back-to-back road games Sept. 23 and 30, Dynamo are back home Oct. 8 to meet either Jalapa or Municipal or San Francisco FC. Dynamo host Harbour View or Pumas Oct. 22 at 10 p.m. before wrapping up group play at Firpo Oct. 28 at 10 p.m.
If Toronto FC wins the Canadian qualifying competition and beats the Nicaraguan winner, it could host the Revs in the lone all-MLS meeting of group play Sept. 17 at home.
The Revs would be home for either CD Olimpia or CD Marathon Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. The Canadian winner or Nicaraguan qualifier is home for Atlante FC Sept. 24 , while Atlante hosts either New England or Joe Public Sept. 30 at 8 p.m.
New England or Joe Public hosts either the Canadian winner or Nicaraguan qualifier Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., while the top team to qualify from Honduras will play at the Canadian winner or Nicaraguan qualifier Oct. 21. Also on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m., New England or Joe Public is home for Atlante. On Oct. 28, group play concludes with either CD Olimpia or CD Marathon hosting New England or Joe Public at 8 p.m.. while Atlante is home for either the Canadian winner or Nicaraguan qualifier at 10 p.m.
Chivas would open group play at either LD Alajuelense or the Puerto Rico Islanders Sept. 16. Chivas USA or Tauro will host either CSD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa from Guatemala Sept. 23.
Chivas or Tauro will be home for Santos Oct. 1 and then play at the Guatemalan qualifier Oct. 7. On Oct. 22, Chivas or Tauro play at Santos and cap the group stage Oct. 29 home for either Alajuelense or Puerto Rico.
The MLS teams facing preliminary round series will begin their journey in August.
Both the New England Revolution and Chivas USA will play their opening leg on Aug. 26 at 8 p.m. The Revs will head to Trinidad & Tobago to take on Joe Public, while Chivas USA will play at Tauro in Panama. Should Toronto FC capture the Canadian Championship, they'll host the Nicaraguan champion Aug. 27 at a time to be announced.
The Revolution return home to host Joe Public for the second leg Sept. 2 at 8 p.m., while Chivas meets Tauro at The Home Depot Center at 10 p.m and the Canadian qualifying champion heads to Nicaragua for an 8 p.m. kickoff.
After group play is complete, the first leg of the quarterfinals will be played from Feb. 24-26 and the second leg is from March 3-5. The first leg of the semifinals will be played from March 17-19 and the second leg is April 7-9, while the first leg of the final will be played April 21-23 and the second leg will be played April 28-30.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
