The 2006 season was the Dynamo's first and they not only won the MLS Cup, but also showed Houston how well they adjust to adversity. Now, as the MLS champions, they get a chance to face the cream of the crop in CONCACAF, the FIFA confederation consisting of North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Only eight teams are invited to the CONCACAF Champions Cup competition - two from Mexico, two from the United States, three from Central America and one from the Caribbean. Out of those eight teams, only one will be crowned the club champion of the region and automatically advance to the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. The runner-up will be one of three CONCACAF clubs invited to the CONMEBOL's 2007 Copa Nissan Sudamericana.
Houston Dynamo are now on the world stage with international play time and international exposure only one year after their arrival in the Space City. Advancing in this tournament will help the club gain more experience and credibility as an elite entity within MLS.
As the Dynamo advance in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, the opponents get tougher and defeating Pachuca will be a significant challenge. CF Pachuca was founded in 1901 by English miners, making it the oldest soccer team in Mexico.
Over the years, Pachuca has proven its quality game, making it in recent years one of the best clubs south of the border. They are no strangers to international tournaments, being crowned the 2006 Copa Nissan Sudamericana champions and winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup back in 2002. The team has an array of good players all around with talent like Mexican Juan Carlos Cacho, Argentinean Christian Gimenez, Colombians Andres Chitiva and goalkeeper Miguel Angel Calero. Dynamo are not only playing a higher level of soccer, but this tournament will help the club polish its skills and tactics for the 2007 MLS season.
Tickets for the Dynamo-Pachuca game at Robertson Stadium are on sale now. To purchase, please call the Houston Dynamo at 713-276-7500, call Ticketmaster at 713-629-3700, or log on to www.ticketmaster.com.
