↕️ Getting CONCACAFed's official Concacaf Champions Cup power rankings
Ahead of the Round of 16, Let's look at each team still vying for the continental championship
Time for the good stuff.
The Round of 16 and the quarterfinals are often the most compelling of the Concacaf Champions Cup. Obviously the semifinals and final get dramatic, but here we have a large sample size of teams, some upset hopefuls and lots of interleague contests.
But if you subscribe to this newsletter, you probably know the most interesting storylines:
Will MLS teams keep rolling past Central American/Caribbean teams like they did last round?
Who will win the MLS v. Liga MX matchups and what does it say about the quality of the league?
REMATCHES from past tournaments are usually fun. LAFC lost that visit to Costa Rica to meet Alajuelense last time around, but their first leg was so good it didn’t matter. Inter Miami always sees to bounce Nashville from knockout competitions, whether it be the Leagues Cup or the playoffs. And the Philadelphia Union and Club América had a great CCC series back in 2021. Though many players who contested that series have moved on, Henry Martin and Andre Blake are a few of the holdovers.
So, let’s get into something a little different. I’m going to rank the teams before each round. I’ll move them around based on results. You’ve read power rankings before, right?
Here we go:
16. Mount Pleasant
The Jamaican team has built up an impressive system, trying to become a clearinghouse for Caribbean talent. Mount Pleasant is snapping up some of the best and brightest in Jamaica and beyond with the hopes of those players excelling now but also going abroad.
It’s working, but this may be a much bigger test of the youth players at manager Tappa Whitmore’s disposal than previously anticipated.
The team is facing difficulties getting their typical players visas for the first leg. Sporting director Paul Christie told local media outlets 10 regulars may be missing from the first leg, with the team ready to insert some of the Jamaica U-20s who just earned qualification to the Concacaf championship into the lineup. Four Mount Pleasant players started the Reggae Boyz’ win over Puerto Rico.
Mount Pleasant recruits many Haitian players, but it’s unclear which players are having trouble getting their documents. Either way, the talent gap is always going to be difficult to overcome, especially if key players are missing.
15. Liga Deportivo Alajuelense
It’s the same story every year for Liga. They win the Copa Centroamericana and earn they bye into the CCC Round of 16. They put up a fine fight. They lose the tie to an MLS team. Rinse and repeat.
Liga has fallen at this stage in each of the last three CCC and before that made the 2021 edition by winning the Concacaf League (RIP?) and also lost that Round of 16 tie.
Is there any reason to believe this year will be different? While they won their last two, they were on a three-match losing skid before that. Kenneth Vargas and Malcom Pilone were added in the winter to bolster the squad ahead of the CCC. Both came out of the first half of a win over San Carlos because of injuries.
14. LA Galaxy
When the draw came out, it looked like the Galaxy had the best path of any team. That might still be true, but another injury to Riqui Puig put any sort of long-term Galaxy plan into doubt.
Greg Vanney’s team struggled to get past Sporting San Miguelito in the previous round, relying on an away goal and a scoreless home draw in the second leg to get past a team with three wins in eight matches to kick off the LPF season.
And after an early attacking burst paced the Galaxy to a win over Charlotte, a near first-choice team was outplayed in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids this weekend.
The draw is still kind to the Galaxy - for now. Avoid a shock loss to a weakened Mount Pleasant, though, and they’ll come up against a team that will leave much less room for error.
13. Philadelphia Union
It has been an ugly start to 2026 for the Union. While the Supporters’ Shield holders sliced through Defence Force in the previous round, winning 5-0 in the first leg and 7-0 in the second, it’s impossible to ignore their poor MLS form.
The Union have started with three losses from three attempts, with Tai Baribo’s absence up top conspicuous and the new defense not gelling as quickly as goalkeeper Andre Blake hoped it would in front of him.
The level of difficulty is about to go up, and the Union may not be able to handle it.
12. Monterrey
While Rayados have won the CCC five times since 2010, they’re not among the favorite to win this edition. Domenec Torrent was fired after failing to find a consistent lineup that could get the results the club’s fans (and directors) expect from such an expensive roster.
That roster still has talent, and you never know when Sergio Canales might pull out a moment of magic.
But he’ll need help - help that feels unlikely to arrive with Anthony Martial out injured, Uros Djurdjevic not matching his Atlas form and a defense prone to individual errors.
Playing Cruz Azul in this round wasn’t the draw interim manager Nicolas Sanchez would’ve wanted either.
11. FC Cincinnati
The goals are not there right now for FCC, which is a surprise for a team that got into this round with a 13-0 aggregate win over O&M that included a 9-0 victory at home.
They fell 1-0 to both Minnesota United and Toronto FC with just two shots on target in Saturday’s loss to Toronto.
Seeing Evander back on the field late in that game against Toronto FC is a great sign, but whether or not he’ll be fit enough to play much of a part in the duels with Tigres is an unknown.
10. Club América
At times it seemed América was being held together by bubble gum, popsicle sticks, and Andre Jardine’s hopes and dreams. It now has come crumbling down.
Alejandro Zendejas is critical to América having any chance at success but has been injured. Alvaro Fidalgo and Allan Saint-Maximin both left in the transfer market, and while Las Aguilas made signings, many are yet to find their footing in the new environment.
América is clinging to the final playoff place in Liga MX, having won as many matches as it lost this season. Unsurprisingly the CCC first round was a nervous moment for the team, having to protect a scoreless draw against Olimpia after a 2-1 win in Honduras.
Unless Jardine can work another miracle, it seems like more fretful finishes are guaranteed for América.
9. Seattle Sounders
The Sounders may be thankful for the bye they were afforded as winners of the Leagues Cup, but am I crazy for wondering if they would’ve been better off playing the first round?
Nothing the Sounders have put on the field in three MLS matches so far this season looks bad, but their Round of 16 opponent the Vancouver Whitecaps have had two more matches to work out the kinks.
Paul Rothrock is set to return from a foot injury, which is good news with the Sounders missing forward Jordan Morris and defender Yeimar.
8. Tigres
A wildly inconsistent team, who knows what we’ll get from Tigres in this round of the tournament? They struggled in the away leg against Forge before opening the floodgates. They smashed Club América then lost to Puebla.
They huffed and puffed against rival Rayados but didn’t blow the house down until Andre-Pierre Gignac’s late winner.
It wouldn’t be out of the question for Tigres to win the whole thing. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Tigres to bow out next week. Until they get into a rhythm one way or another, who knows what to expect?
7. San Diego FC
The 2025 MLS expansion club certainly wasn’t overawed by the occasion of its first CCC. Meeting Liga MX grande Pumas, and down a goal after a stunning opener from Robert Moreno, San Diego manager Mikey Varas stuck to his principles and was rewarded with a 4-1 home win with goals from three players 20 or under and one from a 23-year-old.
While their season-opening MLS slate has been friendly, facing a trio of teams that missed the postseason last year, but it’s hard to argue with three wins in three games, especially with Anders Dreyer already registering three goals and a pair of assists.
The biggest obstacle standing between SDFC and international glory is the draw, with Toluca (spoiler, ranked very high in this newsletter) coming to Snapdragon Stadium tomorrow and then a trip to the Bombonera with its loud atmosphere and high altitude. They already got past Pumas, but Toluca may be a different story.
6. Nashville SC
When Sam Surridge is in the lineup, Nashville seems to score with ease. He’s been in the starting lineup twice in the MLS season so far and scored twice in both games. He also scored when he came off the bench in the first leg of the first round matchup with Atletico Ottawa.
Adding Cristian Espinoza in the attack in the winter was expected to make things move even more seamlessly, and so far it has.
Can the midfield do enough to slow Messi? Will that back line hold? We’ll see, but I’m looking for some goals in this series.
5. Vancouver Whitecaps
The Caps, of course, have plenty of experience in this tournament after last year’s run to the final. This year’s R16 road trip is a much shorter one, facing Cascadia rival Seattle - though doing it in Spokane because of a venue switch - instead of trekking to Monterrey.
Much of the group that made it through that trip, and the quarterfinal against Pumas, is still there with the addition of Thomas Muller.
Unlike many of their fellow MLS competitors, the CCC first round seemed to be the toughest part of the year so far for Vancouver, slogging through their series with Cartaginés but so far smashing competition in league play.
Where will this Seattle match factor in on that dynamic? Hard to say, but the Whitecaps have been here before and look to be only getting started.
4. Inter Miami
After an opening weekend defeat to LAFC and a few early goals conceded to Orlando City, it looked like the luster was coming off the reigning MLS champion. But a few moments of Messi magic, plus many of his teammates putting in good performances, earned a rivalry win in that Orlando game and then made quick work of D.C. United this past weekend.
Now, it’s a test against a familiar foe in knockout competitions, Nashville SC. But it goes beyond simply trying to beat the Coyotes.
To achieve their goal of winning the CCC and earning a place in the Club World Cup this time around, German Berterame will have to keep meshing better with the rest of the attack - and Dayne St. Clair will need to look like the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
3. LAFC
Most pundits agreed before the season that Inter Miami and LAFC are the most likely MLS teams to lift trophies this season, whether it’s the CCC, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield or…I guess U.S. Open Cup, though I don’t know that a lot of us were predicting that one.
LAFC looks like the most likely MLS team to win this trophy. Marc dos Santos sent a message about the emphasis he’s putting on the competition with a full-strength XI in the first leg in Honduras against Real España. The result was a 6-1 romp over Los Aurinegros.
There have been four matches since then. LAFC has allowed a goal in none of them.
So, the questions surrounding this team, whether they’d be solid enough at the back and if Dos Santos could get the team motivated and have his tactics right so far look like they’re being answered positively.
There are few questions about if the attack with Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga will be able to create and finish chances, especially as David Martinez begins to emerge as a legitimate third option.
2. Cruz Azul
The reigning champions of this competition already have booked their Club World Cup place. La Maquina would likely prefer a league title to another international triumph. Even so, this team looks like it will mount a strong title defense.
Nicolas Larcamon has the team playing superb soccer. His squad is undefeated since January 10, an 11-match run. All of those but a draw in Toluca were victories.
Disciplined at the back, Cruz Azul still gets forward in waves and suffocates opposing defenses. Getting to the summer without some type of trophy would be a surprise.
1. Toluca
It’s no exaggeration to say the Diablos Rojos are the hottest team in the region. The back-to-back Liga MX champion is yet to lose in this Liga MX season, having just beaten title-contenders Chivas, then previously undefeated Pumas. While Juarez this weekend could’ve been a speed bump, Toluca got past the Bravos as well.
And, oh yeah, talisman Alexis Vega came off the bench for a late cameo after missing the first part of the season returning from getting a problematic knee cleaned up. This team has said its aim is to win the CCC, and it may be getting everything together at the exact right time.
Toss your rankings in the comments