Impact and surprises in the Concacaf Champions Cup

With a new name and an expanded format, the Concacaf Champions Cup kicked off this Tuesday, featuring a list of 27 participating teams, which includes the notable Inter Miami. Among the highlights is the possibility of Leo Messi adding to his already impressive record the main club tournament in North, Central America and the Caribbean, which, in addition to prestige, offers the winner two significant rewards: a place in the Intercontinental Cup and the Club World Cup.

Thus, this year's champion will join León, Seattle Sounders and Monterrey as the region's representatives in the next Club World Cup, which for the first time will feature 32 teams. This expansion of the competition, from 16 to 27 teams, promises to increase the level of competition and interest surrounding the tournament, which will culminate with the final to be played on June 2, decided in a single game.

Inter Miami, which this year strengthened its offensive line with the signing of Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, managed to qualify as Leagues Cup winner, thus avoiding the first round of the competition. They are one of five clubs that have direct entry to the round of 16, joining Columbus Crew (USA), Pachuca (Mexico), Robinhood (Suriname) and Alajuelense (Costa Rica).

The first round of the competition began this week, with the notable presence of Mexican teams in five qualifiers. The highlight is the return of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández to Chivas, a move that adds extra interest to the competition, as the veteran striker seeks to lead his team to regional glory, something they have not achieved since 2018.

Furthermore, the second legs of this first phase will take place between the 13th and 15th of February, followed by the remaining six qualifiers involving teams from the USA, which will be played between the 20th and 29th of that month. This year, the competition promises not only high-quality football, but also exciting stories of teams and players fighting for a place on the world stage.