CONCACAF Champions League

Lore & Background

Thirty clubs have won the competition at least once, with 14 of them having won the title more than once. Mexican clubs have won the title 41 times, the most of any nation. The second most successful nation is Costa Rica, with six titles, followed by clubs from the United States and El Salvador with three each. América and Cruz Azul are the most successful clubs, winning seven titles each. The most successful non-Mexican club is Saprissa of Costa Rica, with three titles. The only four teams to successfully defend the title are all Mexican: América, Cruz Azul, Pachuca and Monterrey. The current champions are Toluca, who defeated Tigres UANL in the 2026 final.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hum to life over a packed arena in Mexico City. On the pitch, a Liga MX captain lines up his back four, eyes flicking to the scoreboard as the CONCACAF Champions League group-stage fixture loads. Across the Atlantic, a small Caribbean club's manager watches the same match on a crackling broadcast feed, knowing a draw here keeps his team's qualification hopes alive. In the FIFA interface, the bracket glows softly in the background—four groups, sixteen knockout rounds, one continental trophy. The crowd's chant swells, the referee's whistle cuts the air, and for ninety minutes the entire CONCACAF region holds its breath.

Reader's Guide

The tournament currently uses a knockout format; it had a group stage prior to the 2018 edition. Each round consists of a two-leg home-and-away series with winners determined by aggregate goals. If aggregate goals are equal, the away goals rule is applied. If away goals are also equal, the game goes to extra time. If still tied, the game is decided by a penalty shoot-out. Unlike Europe's UEFA Champions League and South America's Copa Libertadores, the winner does not automatically qualify for the following edition of the tournament.

Did You Know?

• The competition was originally called the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and began play in 1962.
• Prior to 2008, the tournament was usually referred to simply as the Champions' Cup.
• From 2008 to 2023, the tournament was known as the CONCACAF Champions League.
• The competition was renamed back to CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2024.