With CONCACAF Champions League releasing the tournament's draw on Wednesday, it appears that FC Dallas may have the toughest road of any MLS side. If they advance to the main draw, they would be slotted in Group C which will include the Mexican Clausura champions as well as the possibility of another MLS team.
CONCACAF Champions League Draw Released
Before they even get there, the Toros would first have to win their preliminary round match against Alianza, historically one of the top teams from El Salvador. Group C will also include Panama's Tauro, which has won seven league titles and been the runner-up six other times since 1988. If the Canadian champions (either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps) win their preliminary round, they would also be in Group C. The group's final team will be one of two Mexican teams, UNAM Pumas or Morelia Monarcas, who face off in the Clausura championship.
The Seattle Sounders, the other MLS team that will play in the preliminary round, will face Panamas' San Francisco. The winner of that two-game aggregate goal series will advance to Group D, which will include Mexico's Monterrey, Guatemala's Comunicaciones and the winner of the Herediano-Caribbean club championship third-place finisher preliminary round match.
The MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids are in Group B, the only group guaranteed to be without a Mexican team. The Los Angeles Galaxy are in Group A, which could include the runner-up of the Mexican Clausura.
CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round
First Leg: July 26-28; Second Leg: August 2-4 (Teams on left host first leg)
- Motagua (HON) vs. Municipal (GUA)
- Mexican Clausura runner-up (Morelia or Pumas) vs. Caribbean club championship runner-up
- Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs. Caribbean club champion
- Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Olimpia (HON)
- Alianza (SLV) vs. FC Dallas (USA)
- Canadian champion (Vancouver or Toronto) vs. Nicaragua qualifier (Real Esteli or Walter Ferreti)
- San Francisco (PAN) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA)
- Herediano (CRC) vs. Caribbean club championship third-place finisher
Group Stage
- First Round: August 16-18
- Second Round: August 23-25
- Third Round: September 13-15
- Fourth Round: September 20-22
- Fifth Round: September 27-29
- Sixth Round: October 18-20
Group A
- Los Angeles Galaxy (USA)
- Alajuelense (CRC)
- Winner of Mexican Clausura runner-up/Caribbean club championship runner-up
- Winner of Motagua-Municipal
Group B
- Colorado Rapids (USA)
- Real Espana (HON)
- Winner of Santos Laguna-Olimpia
- Winner of Metapan-Caribbean club champion
Group C
- Mexican Clausura champion
- Tauro (PAN)
- Winner of Alianza FC-FC Dallas
- Winner of Canadian champion/Nicaragua qualifier
Group D
- Monterrey (MEX)
- Comunicaciones (GUA)
- Winner of San Francisco-Seattle
- Winner of Herediano/Caribbean club championship third-place finisher
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