By TRAVIS CLARK
The four MLS clubs who qualified to take part in this year's edition of the CONCACAF Champions League learned their fate this afternoon, as the draw for the 2010-2011 competition took place in New York City.
Defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake was drawn in Group A alongside Arabe Unido and could be joined by Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over in Group B, the Columbus Crew drew Guatemalan club Municipal, and the winner of a play-in match between San Juan Jabloteh and the Mexican Clausura runner-up.
The Los Angeles Galaxy drew a tricky opponent in the first round — Puerto Rico Islanders of the USSF second division. If the Galaxy can win after two legs, they would join Group D. Seattle Sounders, also part of the preliminary round, was supposed to play a club from El Salvador — but due to FIFA's recent suspension of that country's FA, their future in the competition is uncertain.
Complete draw results are after the jump:
Preliminary Round (First leg starts July 27-29)
(Host of first leg listed first)
Central America 11 vs. Xelaju (GUA)
Brujas (CRC) vs. Joe Public (TRI)
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. Santos-Toluca (Mexican Clausura runner-up)
San Francisco (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX)
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Marathon (HON)
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Central America 12
Toronto-Vancouver (Canadian champion) vs. Motagua (HON)
Group Stage(First matches start August 17-19)
Group A
Real Salt Lake (USA)
Arabe Unido (PAN)
San Francisco/Cruz Azul winner
Toronto-Vancouver/Motagua winner
Group B
Columbus Crew (USA)
Municipal (GUA)
San Juan Jabloteh/Santos-Toluca (Mexican Clausura runner-up) winner
Brujas/Joe Public winner
Group C
Monterrey (MEX)
Saprissa (CRC)
Seattle/Central America 12 winner
Tauro/Marathon winner
Group D
Santos/Toluca (Mexican Clausura champion)
Olimpia (HON)
Los Angeles Galaxy/Puerto Rico Islanders winner
Central America 11/Xelaju winner
What are you thoughts on the draw? Can MLS teams find success this time around?
Share your thoughts below.
Seattle isn’t even going to play the games in QWest….hard to convince me they will take it seriously right now.
Doesn’t Costa Rica have adequate facilities. I don’t like astroturf, but Saprissa seems like a decent stadium over all. If you limit the tournament too much, it becomes like the Superliga which no one cares about because they say it’s too small.
The Sounders look to have the toughest group. RSL’s group will be more challenging if they have to face Toronto. Columbus and LA should make it through the group stage.
It sure looks like RSL is going to take it seriously. I hope so, they should be able to progress out of their group if they do.
Guevara is with Montagua, and would prove to be a nice rematch against TFC if they make it through.
group C and D are going to be tough. but I think LA has a good chance this year.