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Champions League Format


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  Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider)

CONCACAF Champions League format likely to change in future, Ben Olsen says. Won't elaborate. Sounds like contained in calendar year

 

  Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider)
So, if approved, the CONCACAF Champions League would run from March to November. Under discussion.

 

If this change happens, I hope they move away from the stupid 3 team groups as well. Also, allow the American and Mexican teams to meet in the group stage. Such an unfair advantage.

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Good find, I found this article that elaborates a bit more:

 

http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/09/concacaf-champions-change.html

 

The discussion here is whether that would benefit MLS teams. Many think it would, since there is no interruption, or less (high summer), and you go into knock-out with the same team you got there with. And you get rid of the knockout rounds in preseason when your side is not yet in the groove.

 

Though it is also true you are setting up a more intense schedule. The top sides, playing their home Cups, league and Champions will be playing more matches, meaning more travel, will need deeper squads. But in the end that is what happens in the UEFA Champions League as well, teams with weaker rosters and not used to playing midweek, often fall off, leaving the spoils to the clubs with depth and experience. 

 

For a Canadian team, having quarters of Concachampions in the fall means potentially adding six games to the period comprised by the MLS League Schedule. And that, most likely, meaning the four from the group before summer and the quarters starting up in September or late August (quarters, semis, final, 2 each, six total). 48 official matches over a year if the team gets to both Voyageurs Cup and ConcaChampions final. Not much compared to what a top European team might see (Barça last season played 38 league plus 13 Champions and nine Copa del Rey, for a total of 60 official matches last season. Messi played 57 and started 56 of them). And less rotation than an MLS side.

 

The schedule, and setting up a neat quarter finals, is the reason they'll keep the three team groups. I agree they should top seed on the best MLS or Mx sides, and properly rank leagues by results in seeding.

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