As the Major League Soccer season comes to a close, several teams have already qualifed for the new and improved Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024.
The continental competition underwent several changes over the summer and returned back to its former name, leaving behind the Concacaf Champions League that saw Seattle Sounders lift the trophy in 2022.
Now, with roughly $5m on the table for the winner in the expanded tournament that will feature 27 teams across North and Central America, here’s all the MLS sides that have punched their ticket so far…
When LAFC joined MLS in 2018, they set the bar quite high for expansion sides. However, St Louis City have had something to say about that in their first campaign in the league.
With the likes of Joao Klauss, Eduard Lowen and Roman Burki leading the way, St Louis have charged up the Western Conference table to clinch first place in their division and ultimately qualify for the Champions Cup. In doing so, City SC have won 17 games in the regular season, a new record for a first-year side in MLS.
FC Cincinnati continue to impress. Three years after finishing in the basement of the Eastern Conference table, they’ve experienced a remarkable turnaround under head coach Pat Noonan, who’s in his second season with the team and led them to two straight playoff appearances.
Despite falling short in the US Open Cup semi-final to Inter Miami, Cincinnati forged their own path to the Champions Cup by clinching the 2023 Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 triumph over Toronto FC. The sky appears to be the limit for the Orange and Blue with Lucho Acosta in stellar form this season.
What a difference one year can make. Houston Dynamo have looked a completely different team with first-year head coach Ben Olsen at the helm.
Not only are Houston in fifth place in the Western Conference table and look almost certain to make the playoffs, they also conquered Inter Miami in the 2023 US Open Cup final, as goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi sealed the victory for the Dynamo.
The new-look Dynamo will look to make some noise come next year with Hector Herrera leading by example from the midfield.
Philadelphia Union came up short in their Leagues Cup semi-final against Inter Miami, but that didn’t stop them from punching their ticket to the 2024 Champions Cup.
The Eastern Conference team squared off against Liga MX giants Monterrey, and Jim Curtin’s side prevailed 3-0 to stake their claim in next year’s tournament. Philadelphia could go far with the likes of Daniel Gazdag, Mikael Uhre and Julian Carranza leading the attack and will be looking to go one step further in the competition after falling to LAFC’s in this year’s semi-final.
Although Nashville fell just short in the Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, they still came away from the competition with something: qualifying for the Concacaf Champions Cup for the first time ever in team history.
As Leagues Cup was comprised of 47 clubs from MLS and Liga MX, the two teams to reach the final would gain automatic passage into the Champions Cup. With Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge looking to strike up a partnership in attack, Nashville could make some noise in the tournament.
It didn’t take long for Lionel Messi to leave his mark on Inter Miami, as he not only led them to their first ever trophy in the Leagues Cup final, but he also punched their ticket to their first ever qualification for the Champions Cup.
Messi scored a wonder-goal in the final against Nashville before the Herons prevailed in penalty kicks, and should he be fit when next season rolls around, Miami will be big favorites to take home the international trophy.
Vancouver Whitecaps became the first team to qualify for the 2024 Champions Cup after their Canadian Championship triumph over CF Montreal, 2-1.
Brian White, who’s scored 14 goals for the Whitecaps in league play this season, got on the scoresheet while Ryan Gauld converted from the penalty spot to ensure his team’s victory in the final. It was Vancouver’s second straight capture of the Canadian title, and they’ll be looking for more glory when the tournament kicks off.
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