🏟️ Bigger & smaller than ever: The contrast that makes this Concacaf Champions Cup fun
From Langford and Esteli to Mexico City and Miami, the CCC is full of differences
Writing from Estelí, Nicaragua
To get to Estelí, you fly into Managua, then get a bus north. Whether you’re a top-tier soccer team or a traveler looking for renowned cigars and stiff coffee, the three-plus hour bus trip is non-negotiable.
Even when hometown Real Estelí plays abroad, the team arrives in Managua and gets ground transportation.
Club América flies charter and left the VIP entrance of the Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto C. Sandino on Sunday for their Concacaf Champions Cup match in this city of fewer than 200,000 people tucked between mountains in northern Nicaragua. América’s bus was a bit nicer than the one I took from the capital, but the team still felt it was a good idea to train Sunday night and Monday to shake out the legs, knock off the rust and be prepared for tonight’s match.
Despite the desparity in wages, international renownand even recent results, América - at least outwardly - taking tonight’s match very seriously.
“We worked hard to get here too, and we’re going into every match of the competition with the maximum amount of seriousness,” América manager Andre Jardine said in a news conference here. “Our philosophy is to respect every opponent no matter what and prepare by going over every little detail, pay attention to everything.
“We have a lot of respect and expect a great game tomorrow because of everything that’s in play.”
That doesn’t mean all Las Aguilas’ stars will play, and other top teams are resting some of their key players until later rounds during this first round of contrasts. But the Concacaf Champions Cup will bring big stars to small stadiums.
That’s exciting for fans in Estelí. Even though they’ve hosted big Mexican teams before, the run to the final of the Central American Cup was a special moment for supporters, and this game is being eagerly anticipated.
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Estelí is hardly the only place trying to place itself on the international soccer map in the CCC, especially with the expanded CCC meaning 11 more teams are entering the competition - and figuring out where to host matches.
With the Vancouver Whitecaps displaced from BC Place by a Home + Garden Show and Cavalry FC worried the extreme cold would make its home venue in Alberta unplayable, the municipality of Langford eagerly raised its hand to host at its Starlight Stadium.
That’s why Tigres are traversing much of the continent to play at a 6,000-seat facility whose turf is available for the public to rent should they so choose.
That may seem strange, but Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities for the city of Langford, said it’s always been part of the city’s plan to become a sports capital in the region.
“It’s been a nice bonus to be able to get these international matches,” Nielsen said. “What it means for the community is huge.
“We are just a small stadium, but we’ve got a passionate fan base for all sports, including rugby and hockey, obviously.”
The stadium is home to Rugby Canada and regularly hosts community events like beer festivals and youth soccer tournaments.
Nielson admitted he didn’t know much about Tigres or the traveling fans sure to make themselves heard in the intimate venue but said it was a thrill for fans to host two CCC matches, even if hometown Pacific FC missed out on qualification.
“I think the city is very excited to host (the games). I imagine PFC would like to be the ones playing the Whitecaps instead of Tigres, but we want to welcome anyone who wants to come here,” he said. “We’re lucky to be the only other Concacaf-approved stadium in BC and got this match because of a scheduling conflict. We lucked out by maintaining a good stadium.”
Elsewhere in Canada, Forge FC followers have devised something of a parlor game wondering which stars will travel from Guadalajara when Chivas meets The Hammers at Tim Hortons Field and whether sporting director Fernando Hierro, (currently injured) forward Chicharito or manager Fernando Gago will be the biggest name in the sport ever to visit a stadium Wikipedia claims is nicknamed The Donut Box.
Later in the tournament, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will enter. Teams hosting in smaller venues, who have smaller budgets for player salaries, coaching staffs, travel recovery and other line items big teams take for granted likely will be eliminated.
The competition will shift to places where the bus is only required to get from the airport to the luxury hotel, places associated with glamor like Miami, or known for hosting important matches like Monterrey.
Yet, for this round and as long as the small teams are able to keep up, fans will be able to savor these moments in Estelí, in Paramaribo, in Hamilton, in Santiago.
As Estlí has done for América, and as Nielsen is doing for all four teams playing there, the hosts will work to make sure everyone is comfortable, happy and can play their best soccer.
That’s what it’s all about.
Tomorrow, a full dispatch from Estelí. I’ll also be sharing stuff on Twitter and TikTok.
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I enjoyed reading this, Jon. I do worry about how Miami will manage all their injuries in the CCC.
Ahhhhh CCC is back! Thanks for the updates from Nicaragua!