Nine (9) MLS clubs will compete in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, the 27-team continental tournament that occurs from February through May 2026.
The winner secures a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
MLS qualifiers: 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup
- FC Cincinnati - Supporters' Shield standings
- Inter Miami CF - Leagues Cup runner-up
- LA Galaxy - Leagues Cup third place
- Nashville SC - US Open Cup winner
- Philadelphia Union - Supporters' Shield winner
- San Diego FC - Western Conference regular-season winner
- Seattle Sounders FC - Leagues Cup winner
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Supporters' Shield standings
NOTES: Seattle qualify directly to the Round of 16 as Leagues Cup 2025 winners. Vancouver also won the Canadian Championship.
The remaining slot can be earned through MLS regular-season performance or by winning MLS Cup presented by Audi.
Qualifying pathways: 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup
Canadian Championship (1 slot)
- Vancouver FC - 2025 Canadian Championship runner-up
Caribbean Cup (3 slots)
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup winner^
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup runner-up
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Caribbean third place
Central American Cup (6 slots)
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup winner^
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup runner-up
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup semifinals
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup semifinals
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup play-in winner
- TBD - 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup play-in winner
Canadian Premier League (2 slots)
- TBD - 2025 Canadian Premier League Shield winner
- TBD - 2025 Canadian Premier League winner
Leagues Cup (3 slots)
- Seattle Sounders FC - 2025 Leagues Cup winner^
- Inter Miami CF - 2025 Leagues Cup runner-up
- LA Galaxy - 2025 Leagues Cup third place
LIGA MX (6 slots)
- Club América - 2024 Liga MX Apertura winner
- CF Monterrey - 2024 Liga MX Apertura runner-up
- Toluca FC - 2025 Liga MX Clausura winner and highest-ranked champion^
- Cruz Azul - 2024-25 Liga MX best club in overall standings
- Tigres UANL - 2024-25 Liga MX next best club in overall standings
- Pumas UNAM - 2024-25 Liga MX next best club in overall standings
MLS (5 slots)
- TBD - 2025 MLS Cup presented by Audi winner^
- Philadelphia Union - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield winner
- San Diego FC - 2025 MLS Western Conference regular-season winner
- FC Cincinnati - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield next best club
US Open Cup (1 slot)
- Nashville SC - 2025 US Open Cup champion
^ Qualifies directly to the Round of 16.
Non-MLS teams
Eighteen (18) non-MLS teams will compete in Concacaf Champions Cup 2026. Altogether, the tournament includes 27 clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
- Canada (1): Vancouver FC
- Mexico (6): Club América, Cruz Azul, CF Monterrey, Pumas UNAM, Tigres UANL, Toluca FC
Round One bye
Of the 27 participating clubs, 22 begin play in Round One and five receive a bye into the Round of 16.
- Leagues Cup winner: Seattle Sounders FC
- MLS Cup presented by Audi winner: TBD
- Best-performing LIGA MX champion: Toluca FC
- Caribbean Cup champion: TBD
- Central American Cup champion: TBD
2026 format & schedule
The Concacaf Champions Cup has a direct elimination knockout stage format and contains five rounds: Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. The first four stages include home and away play, while the Final is a single-leg match.
- Round One: February 3-5 (Week 1), February 10-12 (Week 2), February 17-19 (Week 3), February 24-26 (Week 4)
- Round of 16: March 10-12, March 17-19
- Quarterfinals: April 7-9, April 14-16
- Semifinals: April 28-30, May 5-7
- Final: May 30
The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup draw, which will determine the tournament's bracket and each club's path to the final, will be conducted on December 9.
