The 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One pairings are officially set.
A total of seven MLS clubs will begin play in Round One with San Diego FC making its tournament debut, as well as LAFC and the Philadelphia Union also entering at this stage.
Mikey Varas’ squad received a tough draw against Liga MX opponents Pumas UNAM while Bradley Carnell’s Union will face off with Defence Force FC of Trinidad & Tobago. LAFC was paired with Honduran club Real Espana.
MLS Cup finalists Vancouver Whitecaps will take on Costa Rican club CS Cartagines, Nashville SC will meet Canadian Premier League side Atletico Ottawa, and 2024 MLS Cup winners LA Galaxy was paired against Panama’s Sporting San Miguelito.
FC Cincinnati rounded out the MLS contingent for Round One, drawing Universidad O&M FC of the Dominican Republic.
2025 MLS Cup winners Inter Miami, Leagues Cup winners Seattle Sounders, and Liga MX side Toluca are among five clubs that will enter the tournament in the Round of 16. Caribbean Cup winners Mount Pleasant (Jamaica) and Central American Cup victors Alajuelense (Costa Rica) are also part of those to clinch Round of 16 berths.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami could potentially see Nashville SC in the Round of 16, while a Cascadia Cup clash between Seattle and the Vancouver Whitecaps is potentially on the cards as well.
Round One will see teams play two legs (one at home and one away), with the aggregate score winner advancing to the Round of 16. Higher-ranked clubs will host the second leg matchups and the away-goal tiebreaker is in effect all the way through the semifinal round.
The competition will get underway with Round One in February (Feb. 3-26), while the Round of 16 will take place between March 10-19. Quarterfinal and semifinal play will run from April 7-May 7, before the tournament final concludes the competition on May 30.
Here is a closer look at the Round One and Round of 16 pairings:
Round One
RO Matchup #1: Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs San Diego FC (USA)
RO Matchup #2: LA Galaxy (USA) vs Sporting San Miguelito (PAN)
RO Matchup #3: Cruz Azul (MEX) vs Vancouver FC (CAN)
RO Matchup #4: Monterrey (MEX) vs CSD Xelaju (GUA)
RO Matchup #5: Los Angeles FC (USA) vs Real Espana (HON)
RO Matchup #6: Nashville SC (USA) vs Atletico Ottawa (CAN)
RO Matchup #7: Club America (MEX) vs CD Olimpia (HON)
RO Matchup #8: Philadelphia Union (USA) vs Defence Force FC (T&T)
RO Matchup #9: Tigres UANL (MEX) vs Forge FC (CAN)
RO Matchup #10: FC Cincinnati (USA) vs Universidad O&M FC (DOM)
RO Matchup #11: Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) vs CS Cartagines (CRC)
Round of 16
R16 Matchup #1: FC Toluca (MEX) vs RO Matchup #1 Winner
R16 Matchup #2: Mt. Pleasant (JAM) vs RO Matchup #2 Winner
R16 Matchup #3: RO Matchup #3 Winner vs RO Matchup #4 Winner
R16 Matchup #4: LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs RO Matchup #5 Winner
R16 Matchup #5: Inter Miami (USA) vs RO Matchup #6 Winner
R16 Matchup #6: RO Matchup #7 Winner vs RO Matchup #8 Winner
R16 Matchup #7: RO Matchup #9 Winner vs RO Matchup #10 Winner
R16 Matchup #8: Seattle Sounders (USA) vs RO Matchup #11 Winner