Big CCL week outside US

Following Puerto Rico’s big victory Saturday to claim the final spot in the final four of the Caribbean championship, the Islanders learned their opposition Sunday in the draw for the event, which will determine three of the five remaining participants for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League. On Wednesday, the draw for the Preliminary Round and Groups of the CCL will be held, and the first leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship will kick off between Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

CFU Draw

The announcement that Alpha United would play host to the CFU’s final two rounds of the tournament in Guyana was somewhat surprising considering Trinidad has been one of the leading Caribbean nations when it came to various competitions. On Monday, the defending CFU champion and three-time CCL participant Puerto Rico Islanders were paired with the final four hosts. Trinidad’s Defence Force was matched with Haiti’s Tempete in the other semifinal.

The event is set for May 25 and 27.

Alpha United will be the second consecutive opponent for Puerto Rico from South America as Guyana is one of three South American nations that are members of the CFU instead of CONMEBOL. The other two are French Guiana and Suriname, which is the home nation of Walking Boyz Co., whom the Islanders defeated in the previous round 8-1 on aggregate. A large number of Guyana’s national team players are spread throughout professional clubs in the CFU.

The two semifinal winners will move onto the CCL as well as the championship game while the losers will face a must-win third-place match for the final berth into the CCL.

CCL Participants

While leagues in Central American and Mexico have wrapped up their league campaigns or playoffs to complete most of the remaining field, two spots remain as Canada and Nicaragua in addition to the three CFU berths.

Canada’s lone entry will be decided over the next two weeks as Toronto FC looks to qualify for the third consecutive year after being stunned in the first edition of the NCC by the second division Montreal Impact. The Vancouver Whitecaps, fresh off a narrow decision against their former league rivals from Quebec, are looking to claim the title for the first time. The pair kick off in British Columbia Wednesday and will wrap up May 25 in Ontario.

The reigning two-time US Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders will learn their Preliminary Round opponent in the 2011-12 CCL draw held Wednesday by CONCACAF at its headquarters in New York. Last year, the Sounders were paired with Isidro Metapan of El Salvador. They won the series 2-1 with a 1-0 home win in the first leg and a 1-1 draw on the road. The club would only post one win in the group phase, avoiding a complete sweep by Marathon (Honduras), Saprissa (Costa Rica) and the eventual champion Monterrey of Mexico.

QUALIFIERS

North America (9)
United States (4): Los Angeles Galaxy*, Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rapids*, FC Dallas
Mexico (4): Monterrey*, Santos Laguna, Pumas UNAM, Morelia (Second* TBD)
Canada (1): Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps

Caribbean (3)
CFU Club Champions Cup (3): Three from Alpha United, Defence Force, Puerto Rico Islanders, Tempete

Central America (12)
Belize (1): Defense Force (stadium not suitable)

Costa Rica (2): Alajuelense*, Herediano
El Salvador (2): Isidro Metapan, Alianza FC
Guatemala (2): Comunicaciones*, Municipal
Honduras (2): Real Espana*, Motagua, Olimpia^
Nicaragua (1): Walter Ferreti or Real Esteli
Panama (2): Tauro FC*, San Francisco
* Seeded into Group Phase, ^ Replaces Defense Force

Recent Qualifiers [+]