Earlier today, details of a new club competition in North America were released. Replacing the old CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, the CONCACAF Champions’ League will provide a new means of measuring club talent from this region. There will be many differences between this competition and the former one it replaces. The Champions’ League will, for example, feature a group stage, whereas the old Champions’ Cup featured only knockout rounds. The most important difference between these two tournaments (at least from a Canadian perspective), is that the new tourney will actually include a team from Canada.
With the news that Canada will be represented in the CONCACAF Champions’ League, attention will inevitably shift to the qualification procedure for determining which Canadian club advances to this tournament. Will a Canada Cup, comprised of the three professional teams in Canada – Toronto FC, the Montreal Impact, and the Vancouver Whitecaps – determine Canada’s lone North American spot? Or will a broader competition, one including professional teams but also semi-pro and amateur sides from such leagues as the Canadian Soccer League and the Pacific Coast Soccer League, determine which club will be represented in this tournament?
Whichever qualification route is chosen, one thing is for certain: 2008 will be an interesting year for club football in Canada. With a chance to be recognised on the North American stage, Canada’s top clubs have a real incentive to beef up their rosters for this season. Will Toronto FC be the first club to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions’ League, or will Montreal or Vancouver upset the MLS side and take centre stage? Such questions will be asked many times over the coming months, as footy fans gear up for what will be the most exciting and acclaimed season of Canadian club football in years.
