🏆 The Concacaf Champions League returns tonight, then leaves again

Thoughts on the CCL semis plus a reader-inspired CCL tour

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The Concacaf Champions League is back tonight. It’s been a long time since the CCL has been back and it will be a long time until it’s back again, with the return legs for tonight and tomorrow night’s first legs taking place more than a month from now.

It hasn’t been easy to schedule any international competition during a pandemic, and this is what we’ve got. Hopefully for the neutral’s sake there’s something to be decided on Sept. 15 in Chester and Sept. 16 in Mexico City.

Here are a few thoughts on each matchup:

Mexican teams with a CCL tradition meet

The Liga MX vs. Liga MX matches in CCL always feel a bit flat. We’ve seen Monterrey play Cruz Azul. We’ll see them do it again - August 18 brings the league meeting between the two teams, sandwiched between the legs of the CCL semi.

What can redeem this series is that both clubs, at least traditionally, take international competition seriously.

Cruz Azul won the 2013-14 CCL and has six total Concacaf titles to its name across all eras while Rayados have been king of the cup with four CCL victories, most recently winning in 2019.

“I think it’s a really important match. It’s a semifinal,” Rayados defender Jesus Gallardo said. “We’re right there, close to a final, but we have to work hard and do things well, be intense, work in a really smart way. It’s 180 minutes, but we’re going to work to get a good result, first of all (Wednesday).”

Players like Gallardo and Rogelio Funes Mori, who were in Mexico’s Gold Cup squad, should be in Javier Aguirre’s squad as they look to

Cruz Azul may again rely on CCL ace Brayan Angulo up top, though Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez came in at the half of La Maquina’s 2-1 win over Necaxa last week after missing the opening of the season.

Ultimately, expect to see quality vs. quality, even if it’s something we’ve seen before.

What América will the Union face?

Las Aguilas’ Olympians are back and while it may seem soon to chuck them into the XI, understand that Latin American attitudes about rest after another competition are different than those in other parts of the world. Dani Alves played all 90 minutes of a Copa Libertadores match Tuesday in Sao Paulo after winning the gold medal in Tokyo three days earlier.

Santiago Solari may not feel the need to bring goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, midfielder Sebastian Cordova, fullback Jorge Sanchez and forward Henry Martin back into action so quickly, and if not it’s a big chance for the Union.

After Philly boss Jim Curtin rested some of his top players, including Kacper Przybyłko and midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, on Sunday it’s clear he’ll put out the best XI possible.

The MLS side hopes that leads to continued away success in the CCL. Philly, you may recall, stormed past Atlanta United 3-0 in the first leg of the quarterfinals, essentially rendering the second leg pointless and also topped Saprissa 1-0 in a spot where so many MLS teams before them have tripped up.

Who América rolls with and how much the Union elect to push in the first leg will determine just how spicy the second leg might be - and if the Union have any chance of giving us an MLS vs. Liga MX final for the second year in a row.

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A Concacaf Champions League tour

You may recall that readers who donated $50 or more to relief efforts after the volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were able to assign me any topic to write about. After a crazy busy period during the Gold Cup, I’m getting back to some of these requests.

Tim Richardson writes: “I’m a Nashville SC fan and I’m really excited about the possibility of NSC one day playing in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. In particular, I’m excited about traveling to some away games in Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean when Nashville plays such teams. … Please profile the top teams in each CONCACAF domestic league that NSC (or any other MLS team) would likely go up against and—importantly—which such teams have a legendary home stadium and fan base (fan experience) that would make attending a game there an exceptional experience.”

Tim goes on to note he’d like to travel with his wife and son, so he’d essentially like to find an atmosphere where they could drink a few beers with opposing supporters and not get too many nasty comments or challenged to a fight. Fair!

First of all, I love this request, and not just because I adore travel and love doing so for soccer in the Concacaf region. I like this because Tim is a Nashville fan, a team that has existed as a first-division club for one season and currently is in its second campaign. Even so, Tim is already crossing his fingers for international play - which makes sense, since that’s basically what you’d expect from a reader of this newsletter.

Now, full disclosure, Tim made this request in April, so he couldn’t have known Nashville’s away record would be 0-2-5 midway through August, but I have no reason to doubt he’d reconsider travel were Nashville to make CCL despite its road woes.

Here’s a list of five potential CCL away days:

1. Mexico City (Estadio Azteca, Estadio Olimpico)

Mexico City is unmissable, and it’s a shame for Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union supporters this year that they couldn’t have the full experience.

The only caveat is that the Azteca is so big and it won’t fill for a CCL match against an MLS team. That’s good news if you’re trying to get space on the tren ligero, perhaps the most jam-packed mode of public transportation I’ve ever stuffed myself into, but bad news if you want the full atmosphere.

Also, the city is so immense it may be tough to do support meetup type things, but you can definitely have some friendly chats in the parking lot around the stadium.

All in all, if you haven’t done Mexico City, you have to put it on the list.

Whether it’s América, one of the continent’s richest and most well-supported clubs, current Liga MX champ Cruz Azul or an upstart run from UNAM-affiliated Pumas, it’s never easy to top a capital club.

What you’re eating: Whatever you want. Perhaps the best food city in the world. Obviously street tacos, but also tortas, chilaquiles, mariscos and whatever else you could desire.

What you’re drinking: Pulque if you’re adventurous, or slip into La Clandestina for a mezcal

What else you’re seeing: There’s a lot to sink your teeth into. If you don’t have time to get out to Teotihuacan and you want to stay sort of near the Azteca, getting to Frida’s house, the nearby Trotsky museum and then enjoying some down time in the center of Coyoacán can be a great time.

2. Panama City (Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Maracana, Estadio Agustín Sánchez)

Panama’s soccer culture is still emerging, with baseball the most popular sport. That actually works in a visiting fan’s favor, I think, with most fans eager to chat about how the game and the culture around it is growing and share pointers.

I’ve always found Panama to be an easy spot for Americans to visit with a high number of English speakers and lots of people who have traveled to the States and are familiar with American culture.

The actual venue depends on which team gets through - in recent years Independiente and Tauro have been the most likely winners.

What you’re eating: After you visit Getting CONCACFed subscriber David Sakata’s Peruvian restaurant La Jarana, you should hunt down some sancocho and ropa viejo. I’m eager to visit Fonda Lo Que Hay in Casco Viejo on my next trip through.

What you’re drinking: Something on ice. It gets steamy in Panama, and I definitely ended up on a mojito kick after spending a few days on the back of a World Cup qualifier there.

What else you’re seeing: The Panama Canal lock visit is decent, but I was much more taken by the Parque Natural Metropolitano, where on a quick hike you’ll see loads of tropical birds and a bunch of different types of monkeys as well.

3. León (Camp Nou)

Guanajuato is my favorite state in Mexico. The architecture is beautiful, the food delicious and the vibes immaculate.

León is headed to a new stadium, but the current one is still a good experience for tourists. It’s right off the main drag and generally pretty easy to get into and out of.

The club has been strong in recent years and look set for that to continue with Ariel Holan taking over for Nacho Ambriz as manager.

What you’re eating: A guacamaya, the chicharon and avocado torta smothered in sauce.

What you’re drinking: I actually went on the hunt for a cebadina the last time I was in León and came up empty, settling for a regular agua fresca.

What else you’re seeing: Stroll past all the shops selling leather goods to hop the bus to Guanajuato, the capital city. From there it’s a pretty quick jaunt as well to San Miguel de Allende.

4. San Jose (Estadio Saprissa)

While many travelers to Costa Rica try to get out of the capital as quickly as possible, soccer fans know the history and know how to appreciate one of the region’s best soccer cities.

While the national team is now at the national stadium - and some teams are playing there for Concacaf League and other competitions - the Estadio Saprissa remains one for the bucket list.

I’ve never been but I have heard from several different friends that the area around Alajuelense’s stadium is one in which you may need to have some extra caution, so keep that in mind with the little ones especially.

What you’re eating: You can find gallo pinto, the traditional Costa Rican rice and beans, in restaurants both humble and fancy all around town and then move to something a bit more adventurous.

What you’re drinking: A Costa Rican coffee at Cafeoteca to get all CONCACAFeinated.

What else you’re seeing: Waterfalls, nature and, maybe, the beach.

5. Monterrey (Estadio BBVA, El Volcán, )

Full disclosure: Monterrey is not my favorite city to visit. It’s the heart of the business community in Mexico, and I feel like that makes it somewhat bland. Plus, the upper class have their own suburb where a lot of people end up staying and never leaving when they visit.

Still, when I think of a family friendly football destination, Monterrey still pops up. There have been some unfortunate moments of violence, but the Clasico Regio still generally remains one of neighbors with Tigres and Rayados fans seeing the meetings between the two clubs as good fun. They won’t see an MLS club as a big rival, so you should be able to enjoy that vibe.

Rayados play in Estadio BBVA, a World Cup venue in 2026 that is both gorgeous and equipped to host a tournament of that magnitude. Tigres’ home up north is more rustic and showing its age a bit, but certainly has plenty of character. If you’ve been watching Concacaf soccer in the last decade, you’ve seen these two play.

What you’re eating: Carne asada outside someone’s house or, during the day, Tacos El Compadre near the cemetery.

What you’re drinking: A craft beer from Principia at Almacen 42 in the Barrio Antiguo.

What else you’re seeing: The Macroplaza is a long stretch where you can turn off to check out the art museum or walk from there along the riverwalk to Parque Fundidora. If you’ve got time, take a day trip out to Cerro de la Silla, the caves or some of the other nature surrounding the city.

Others receiving consideration: San Salvador, Kingston, maybe Toronto if you somehow play there.

Truthfully, though, I recommend going. Just go. There are stray bad experiences, but I rarely hear from fans upset they’ve gone for an away day.

I’m happy to send over recommendations if it’s a place I’ve been to and crowdsourcing if not. Fingers very much crossed we can say the pandemic is over by the time Nashville makes the CCL - even if they go on a run, win MLS Cup and are playing the tournament by 2022.

I’ll be back in your inboxes much sooner than that with another newsletter. Tell your friends!