The Galaxy won its first MLS Cup in 10 years and with that comes the opportunity to compete among the best teams in the CONCACAF region.
For the first time since 2015, the Galaxy will be competing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The draw for next year’s tournament took place Tuesday.
In 2000, the Galaxy won the event, which was known by its current name. The event has also been known as CONCACAF Champions League.
The 27-team tournament brings together the top clubs from across the CONCACAF in a knockout tournament format. The winner will earn a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup, facing champions from the other five FIFA confederations.
By winning the MLS Cup, the Galaxy received a first-round bye, advancing into the Round of 16, which will be played March 4-6, with the second legs taking place March 11-13.
The Galaxy will host the winner of a first-round series between Real Salt Lake and Costa Rican club Herediano.
The others clubs to receive a first-round bye were the Columbus Crew, Alajuelense (Costa Rica), America (Mexico) and Cavalier FC (Jamaica).
The quarterfinals will be played during the “first half of April,” with semifinals taking place in late April or early May. The final is June 1.
LAFC, which is the only MLS team to play in two finals since the format changed in 2008, will face the Colorado Rapids in the opening round. Every round leading to the final is played in a home-and-home format. The LAFC-Colorado winner advances to face Columbus in the Round of 16.
LAFC was the tournament runner-up in 2020 and 2023.
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CONCACAF said the complete schedule for the opening round will be announced in the coming days. The tournament will begin in early February.
The competition has been dominated by Mexican clubs, who have won 39 times. An MLS team has won the tournament just three times (D.C. United in 1998, the Galaxy in 2000 and the Seattle Sounders 2022).