The Los Angeles Galaxy will need to get through the Puerto Rico Islanders if they are to make CONCACAF Champions League group play, while Seattle Sounders FC awaits to see who they will meet in the tournament's preliminary round.
CONCACAF Champions League Draw: Los Angeles Galaxy Get Puerto Rico In Prelims
Such was the result of the draw for the 2010-11 tournament, held today in New York City.
Major League Soccer’s other two Champions League representatives were drawn directly into group play.
Real Salt Lake, winners of MLS Cup, are in Group A with Panama's Árabe Unido, the group's other two members yet to be determined.
Likewise, Columbus Crew, winners of the Supporters Shield, know one of their four group mates, being drawn into Group B with Guatemala's Municipal.
Group C looks to be the most difficult group, with México's Monterrey and Costa Rica's Saprissa awaiting potentially Seattle and Honduras's Marathón. Marathón is also playing in the preliminary round, paired with Panama's Tauro.
Group D is where Los Angeles will go, should they beat Puerto Rico, to be grouped with Santos or Toluca from México - to be determined by the Méxican league’s impending final. The fourth member of the group will be either Guatemala’s Xelajú or an undetermined Central American team.
The two undetermined spots in the draw were originally occupied by El Salvadorian teams. El Salvador, however, has subsequently been banned by FIFA for government intervention in their football federation. El Salvador has until June 8 to comply with FIFA’s non-intervention rules. If it does not, their teams will continue to be banned from international play, and their Champions League spots will be awarded to other Central American countries.
If El Salvador does comply with FIFA’s regulations, CD FAS will gain one of their spots. Águila and Isidro Metapán are competing for the second potential spot.
In the other preliminary round pairings, México’s Cruz Azul, runners-up in the last tournament, will face Panama’s San Francisco, with the winner going into Group A. They will be joined by the winner of Motogua versus Toronto FC or Vancouver, with Canada’s entrant to be determined.
The loser of the Toluca-Santos match-up in México will have a preliminary match with Trinidad and Tobago’s San Juan Jabaloteh. That will determine a third Group B squad, with the fourth being Trinidad and Tobago’s Joe Public or Costa Rica’s Brujas.
The first leg of the preliminary round will take place on July 26. The second is scheduled for August 2.
Group play starts on August 17.
Preliminary Round
1. Central American-entrant vs. Xelajú (Guatemala)
2. Brujas (Costa Rica) vs. Joe Public (Trinidad and Tobago)
3. San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Santos or Toluca (México)
4. San Francisco (Panama) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)
5. Los Angeles Galaxy (United States) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico)
6. Tauro (Panama) vs. Marathon (Honduras)
7. Seattle Sounders (United States) vs. Central American-entrant
8. Toronto FC or Vancouver (Canada) vs. Motagua (Honduras)
Group Stage
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Real Salt Lake (United States) | Columbus Crew (United States) |
| Árabe Unido (Panama) | Municipal (Guatemala) |
| Winner, Match 4 | Winner, Match 3 |
| Winner, Match 8 | Winner, Match 2 |
| Group C | Group D |
| Monterrey (México) | Santos or Toluca (México) |
| Saprissa (Costa Rica) | Olimpia (Honduras) |
| Winner, Match 7 | Winner, Match 5 |
| Winner, Match 6 | Winner, Match 1 |
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