Inter Miami, the current Major League Soccer (MLS) champion, could face Club America in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Concacaf Champions League, in what would be one of the great matches of this edition of the tournament featuring the best teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The above was revealed after the draw for this competition, in which 27 teams will participate, 22 of which will enter in the first phase, and only five will begin their journey among the top 16 teams in the competition that will kick off in February of next year.

The truth is that the rivalry between MLS and Liga MX will continue in this competition, as seen in the first match of the initial phase between Pumas UNAM and San Diego FC, and then America, being in the same bracket as Inter Miami, could face each other in the quarterfinals.

But first, America will have to overcome the tough Olimpia of Honduras and then the winner of Philadelphia Union vs. Defence Force.

While Inter Miami, to face Club America, must defeat the winner of Nashville vs. Ottawa.

If the match between Club America and Club America takes place, the game in Mexico City would be played at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, because the Estadio Azteca, although it will have already been reopened with the match between Mexico and Portugal, cannot be used as it is a venue for the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, if Cruz Azul defeats Vancouver FC, they will have to face the winner of Monterrey vs. Xelaju of Guatemala, and subsequently, to aspire to the quarterfinals, face the winner of Alajuelense vs. the winner of LAFC vs. Real Espana.

The Participants

The teams that will receive a bye in the first phase are (Toluca, Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, Alajuelense, and Mount Pleasant) by virtue of being champions of their respective leagues, and will begin their journey in the Round of 32, while the rest of the participants will have to to face the first commitments.

From Mexico, in addition to Toluca, the following will participate in this 2026 edition: America, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, Tigres UANL, and Pumas UNAM. From MLS, besides Inter Miami, the following will participate: Nashville SC, Philadelphia Union, San Diego FC Cincinnati, Vancouver Whitecaps, LAFC, as well as the Seattle Sounders as Leagues Cup champion and LA Galaxy as third-place finisher in the same tournament.

From Canada, Atletico Ottawa will participate as champion of the Canadian Premier League, Forge FC as winner of the regular season of this competition, and Vancouver Whitecaps as runner-up of the 2025 Canadian Football Championship.

The first matches