6/11/2008 – CONCACAF have unveiled the preliminary round match-ups for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ following the draw held today at the offices of the General Secretariat in New York City.
Sixteen teams (BLZ1, CAN1, CFU1, CFU2, CFU3, CRC2, GUA2, HON2, MEX3, MEX4, NCA1, SLV2, PAN1, PAN2, USA3, USA4) were drawn into eight home-and-away match-ups in the Preliminary Stage which will take place on 26-28 August 2008 and 2-4 September 2008.
Preliminary Round Draw Results (Home Team Listed First)
| First-Leg | (26-28 August 2008) |
| GUA2: CD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa | PAN1: San Francisco FC |
| CFU2: Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago | USA3: New England Revolution |
| CRC2: LD Alajuelense | CFU3: Puerto Rico Islanders |
| MEX4: CD SC Cruz Azul | BLZ1: Hankook Verdes |
| CFU1: Harbour View FC of Jamaica | MEX3: Pumas UNAM |
| PAN2: Tauro FC | USA4: Chivas USA |
| CAN1: Canadian Champion | NCA1: Nicaraguan Champion |
| SLV2: CD Isidro Metapan | HON2: CD Olimpia or CD Marathon |
| Second-Leg | (2-4 September 2008) |
| PAN1: San Francisco FC – | GUA2: CD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa |
| USA3: New England Revolution – | CFU2: Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago |
| CFU3: Puerto Rico Islanders – | CRC2: LD Alajuelense |
| BLZ1: Hankook Verdes – | MEX4: CD SC Cruz Azul |
| MEX3: Pumas UNAM – | CFU1: Harbour View FC of Jamaica |
| USA4: Chivas USA – | PAN2: Tauro FC |
| NCA1: Nicaraguan Champion – | CAN1: Canadian Champion |
| HON2: CD Olimpia or CD Marathon – | SLV2: CD Isidro Metapan |
The Preliminary Stage winners will join the eight seeded teams (MEX1, MEX2, USA1, USA2, CRC1, GUA1, HON1, SLV1) in the Group Stage that consists of four groups of four teams each.
The eight clubs have been also drawn into Group Stage today for the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League™ and CONCACAF will officially unveil the Group Stage along with the complete schedule for the preliminary round on Monday (16 June).
Eight seeded teams – Group Stage
- MEX1: Atlante FC
- MEX2: Club Santos Laguna
- USA1: Houston Dynamo
- USA2: D.C. United
- CRC1: Deportivo Saprissa
- SLV1: CD Luis Angel Firpo
- GUA1: CSD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa
- Playoff will determine GUA1, GUA2
- HON1: CD Olimpia or CD Marathon
- Playoff will determine HON1, HON2
The top two clubs from each of the four groups will advance to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away match-ups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-away match-ups in March and April 2009 with the two Semifinal winners squaring-off in the home-and-away 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ Final in late April 2009.
The CONCACAF Champions League™ winner will qualify as the CONCACAF representative to the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – Calendar of Events
2008
- 26-28 August: Preliminary Round, First-legs
- 2-4 September: Preliminary Round, Second-legs
- 16-18 September: Group Stage – Match Day 1
- 23-25 September: Group Stage – Match Day 2
- 30 September – 2 October: Group Stage – Match Day 3
- 7-9 October: Group Stage – Match Day 4
- 21-23 October: Group Stage – Match Day 5
- 28-30 October: Group Stage – Match Day 6
2009
- 24-26 February: Quarterfinals, First-legs
- 3-5 March: Quarterfinals, Second-legs
- 17-19 March: Semifinals, First-legs
- 7-9 April: Semifinals, Second-legs
- 21-23 April: Final, First-leg
- 28-30 April: Final, Second-leg
- December: FIFA Club World Cup
Photos – Italo Zanzi, CONCACAF Deputy General Secretary along with Pamela Galvis conduct draw for Preliminary Round of 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™