The CONCACAF Champions League is an annual tournament that crowns the best club side in North America, including Central America and the Caribbean. (CONCACAF is the acronym for Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football.)
The 2023 edition will see 16 clubs battle over four rounds of knockout play (Round of 16 to the final) to determine which team will be left standing on June 4 and succeed the Seattle Sounders, who hoisted the trophy in 2022 but will not get to defend their title after failing to qualify.
The 16 clubs that are taking part in 2023 each qualified through domestic or continental competitions. A tournament draw in November 2022 set up the matchups and full bracket for the competition from the Round of 16 through to the final. The winner of each series will be the team that scores the most total goals over two legs.
In addition to take home a prestigious trophy and a chunk of prize money, the winner also earns a berth to the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup to take on champions from other regions of the world.
MORE: How the Seattle Sounders fared in the FIFA Club World Cup
Thursday, March 9 (Round of 16, 1st Leg)
| Match | Time (ET) | TV channel | Streaming |
| Motagua (HON) vs. Pachuca (MEX) | 8 p.m. | USA: FS2, TUDN CAN: OneSoccer MEX: Fox Sports Mexico | USA: fuboTV, TUDN/Fox site/app CAN: fuboTV, OneSoccer MEX: Fox Sports MX |
| Alajuelense (CRC) vs. LAFC (USA) | 10 p.m. | USA: FS2, TUDN CAN: — MEX: Fox Sports Mexico | USA: fuboTV, TUDN/Fox site/app CAN: OneSoccer (replay) MEX: Fox Sports MX |
CONCACAF Champions League schedule 2023
The 2023 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League will crown a winner in a matter of three months with the Round of 16 kicking off in March 2023 and the final wrapping up on June 4.
All matches except for one will be played in midweek so as not to interfere with regular domestic league schedules in each country. The second leg of the final, when the champion is determined, will be played on a Sunday.
- Round of 16: March 7-9 (1st Leg), March 14-16 (2nd Leg)
- Quarterfinals: April 4-6 (1st Leg), April 11-13 (2nd Leg)
- Semifinals: April 25-27 (1st Leg), May 2-4 (2nd Leg)
- Final: May 31 (1st Leg), June 4 (2nd Leg)
All rosters, including names and jersey numbers for all 16 teams (maximum of 35 players per club), are published on CONCACAF's official site. Teams select their 23-man matchday rosters from this squad list.
Are there away goals in CONCACAF Champions League?
Yes, away goals will serve as a tiebreaker only for the Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals if teams are level on total goals scored after the conclusion of the second leg.
If teams are also level on away goals during the aforementioned rounds, then they will go straight to a penalty kick shootout. No extra time sessions will be played during the Round of 16, quarterfinals, or semifinals.
The rules change for the final. Given the stakes, the the official tournament rules say that away goals will not serve as a tiebreaker if teams are level on total goals after the second leg of the final. Instead, the two finalists will proceed to battle in extra time, and penalties if necessary, to determine a champion.
MORE: Updated Liga MX standings and top scorers
CONCACAF Champions League bracket 2023
Here's the full competition bracket and upcoming matchups, with results and highlights inserted when available.
The bracket from the Round of 16 through to the final, including which team hosts each leg, has already been predetermined.
Champions League Round of 16
The first team listed in each matchup below will host the first leg. The higher seed is given the chance to host the second leg (except in the Vancouver-Real Espana series, where a stadium conflict forced a switch).
| Match | 1st Leg Time (ET) | 2nd Leg Time (ET) | |
| RD16 #1 | Violette (HAI) vs. Austin FC (USA) | 3-0 | Tue, March 14 8 p.m. |
| RD16 #2 | Tauro (PAN) vs. Leon (MEX) | 0-1 | Thu, March 16 8 p.m. |
| RD16 #3 | Tigres (MEX) vs. Orlando City (USA) | 0-0 | Wed, March 15 8:15 p.m. |
| RD16 #4 | Motagua (HON) vs. Pachuca (MEX) | Thu, March 9 8 p.m. | Thu, March 16 10:15 p.m. |
| RD16 #5 | Vancouver (CAN) vs. Real Espana (HON) | 5-0 | Wed, March 15 6 p.m. |
| RD16 #6 | Alajuelense (CRC) vs. LAFC (USA) | Thu, March 9 10 p.m. | Wed, March 15 10:30 p.m. |
| RD16 #7 | Olimpia (HON) vs. Atlas (MEX) | 4-1 | Tue, March 14 10:15 p.m. |
| RD16 #8 | Alianza (SLV) vs. Philadelphia (USA) | 0-0 | Tue, March 14 8 p.m. |
Champions League Quarterfinals
CONCACAF determined that the teams that emerge from the Round of 16 matchups #2, #4, #6, and #8 will host the first leg of the quarterfinals.
| Match | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg | |
| QF1 | RD16 #2 vs. RD16 #1 | April 4-6 | April 11-13 |
| QF2 | RD16 #4 vs. RD16 #3 | April 4-6 | April 11-13 |
| QF3 | RD16 #6 vs. RD16 #5 | April 4-6 | April 11-13 |
| QF4 | RD16 #8 vs. RD16 #7 | April 4-6 | April 11-13 |
Champions League Semifinals
CONCACAF has established that the best team in each semifinal series (based on results and, if necessary, goal difference from the previous rounds) will host the second leg.
| Match | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg |
| QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner | April 25-27 | May 2-4 |
| QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner | April 25-27 | May 2-4 |
Champions League Final
Similar to the semifinals, the best team in the final (based on record and goal difference from previous rounds) will host the second leg.
| Date | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg |
| Semifinal winners | Wed, May 31 | Sun, June 4 |
👀 The matchups for the SCCL 2023 Round of 16 are defined!
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) November 8, 2022
🏆 ¡Los enfrentamientos para los Octavos de Final de #SCCL23 están definidos!
Article ➡ https://t.co/JnaO3dpxRE 📰
Artículo ➡ https://t.co/NI9RTA0ikU 📰 pic.twitter.com/W2oIDFQ6hi
CONCACAF Champions League TV, live streams
The 2023 CONCACAF Champions League will be available to watch in territories across the Americas:
- USA: FS1, FS2, Fox Soccer Plus (English); Univision, TUDN, ViX (Spanish)
- Canada: OneSoccer, YouTube
- Caribbean: ESPN
- Central America: ESPN Star+
- Mexico: Fox Sports
- South America: ESPN Star+
According to CONCACAF, other regions can watch the matches via CONCACAF's official app and YouTube channel.
Don’t miss any game! Here’s Where to Watch #SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/5gtpisCtjP
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 6, 2023
Teams in 2023 CONCACAF Champions League
Here are the 16 teams that made it to the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, including how they qualified for North America's premier club competition.
| Country | Club | How Qualified |
| Canada | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2022 Canadian Championship winner |
| Costa Rica | LD Alajuelense | 2022 CONCACAF League runner-up |
| El Salvador | Alianza FC | 2022 CONCACAF League quarterfinalist |
| Haiti | Violette AC | 2022 Caribbean Club Championship winner |
| Honduras | RCD Espana | 2022 CONCACAF League semifinalist |
| Honduras | Motagua FC | 2022 CONCACAF League semifinalist |
| Honduras | CD Olimpia | 2022 CONCACAF League winner |
| Mexico | Atlas FC | 2021 Liga MX Apertura champion |
| Mexico | Club Leon | 2021 Liga MX Apertura runner-up |
| Mexico | CF Pachuca | 2022 Liga MX Clausura runner-up |
| Mexico | Tigres UANL | Most points Liga MX 2021 Apertura & 2022 Clausura |
| Panama | Tauro FC | 2022 CONCACAF League quarterfinalist |
| USA | Austin FC | 2022 MLS Supporters' Shield third-place |
| USA | LAFC | 2022 MLS Cup champion |
| USA | Orlando City SC | 2022 U.S. Open Cup champion |
| USA | Philadelphia Union | 2022 Eastern Conference champion |
MORE: How the Seattle Sounders won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League winners all-time
CONCACAF's premier club competition was revamped and rebranded as the CONCACAF Champions League beginning with the 2008-09 edition.
The 14 editions of the Champions League have been dominated by Mexican clubs, with 13 straight titles before U.S.-based club Seattle Sounders broke that stranglehold in 2022.
Such was Mexico's domination that nine of the 14 finals have been all-Mexican affairs, and at least one Mexican club has made it to every final.
Monterrey have won the Champions League five times since 2010-11. Their rivals Tigres finally won it in 2020 after a stretch of losing three of four finals.
CONCACAF Champions League winners (since 2008-09)
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final Result |
| 2008-09 | Atlanta (MEX) | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 2-0 on agg. |
| 2009-10 | Pachuca (MEX) | Cruz Azul (MEX) | 2-2 on agg. (away goals) |
| 2010-11 | Monterrey (MEX) | Real Salt Lake (MLS) | 3-2 on agg. |
| 2011-12 | Monterrey (MEX) | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 3-2 on agg. |
| 2012-13 | Monterrey (MEX) | Santos Laguna (MEX) | 4-2 on agg. |
| 2013-14 | Cruz Azul (MEX) | Toluca (MEX) | 1-1 on agg. (away goals) |
| 2014-15 | Club America (MEX) | Montreal Impact (CAN) | 5-3 on agg. |
| 2015-16 | Club America (MEX) | Tigres UANL (MEX) | 4-1 on agg. |
| 2016-17 | Pachuca (MEX) | Tigres UANL (MEX) | 2-1 on agg. |
| 2018 | Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) | Toronto FC (CAN) | 3-3 on agg. (4-2 on PKs) |
| 2019 | Monterrey (MEX) | Tigres UANL (MEX) | 2-1 on agg. |
| 2020 | Tigres UANL (MEX) | LAFC (USA) | 2-1 (final) |
| 2021 | Monterrey (MEX) | Club America (MEX) | 1-0 (final) |
| 2022 | Seattle Sounders (USA) | Pumas UNAM (MEX) | 5-2 on agg. |
