It’s Major League Soccer vs. Liga MX when the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals begin next week.
All four series will feature matchups pitting teams from the United States and Mexico against each other for the first time since the tournament was rebranded from the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2008. The matchups are of critical importance to Major League Soccer with no MLS team having won the tournament since the LA Galaxy’s Champions Cup title 16 years ago.
To be the first MLS side to win the continental title, all four clubs will have to overcome the Mexican sides’ distinct midseason advantage. With Liga MX in midst of week seven of their campaign and the MLS teams in still in preseason, the schedule presents a unique challenge for all four American clubs.
Seattle Sounders FC’s opponent Club America and Real Salt Lake adversary Tigres UNAL finds themselves in the best position heading into the tournament with each side on 12 and 11 points in the Clausura respectively. The Galaxy’s quarterfinal rival Santos Laguna is presently at 10 points while D.C. United’s opponent Queretaro has only seven points so far this season.
The complete quarterfinal schedule is below:
LA GALAXY VS. SANTOS LAGUNA
First Leg: Feb. 24 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
Second Leg: March 1 at Estadio Corona in Torreon, MX
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC VS. CLUB AMERICA
First Leg: Feb. 23 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash.
Second Leg: March 2 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City
D.C. UNITED VS. QUERETARO
First Leg: Feb. 23 at Estadio Corregidora in Queretaro, MX
Second Leg: March 2 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
REAL SALT LAKE VS. TIGRES UNAL
First Leg: Feb. 24 at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, MX
Second Leg: March 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT
