02.11.2020 19:02 h

CONCACAF Champions League to be staged at single location

The pandemic-interrupted 2020 CONCACAF Champions League will be completed at a single location in the United States next month, CONCACAF said Monday.

The tournament for clubs from the North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) will be played from December 15-22 at a yet-to-be determined US venue.

The move from CONCACAF mirrors the strategy used by European football officials earlier this year regarding the UEFA Champions League, when the climax of the tournament took place in Portugal.

CONCACAF said three quarter-finals which already played first leg games in March would be completed with their second legs at the US venue. Away teams from the first legs would be regarded as home teams in the return fixture.

The remaining quarter-final, between Los Angeles FC and Mexico's Cruz Azul, would be held as a single-game elimination tie, as the first leg had not been played.

Two semi-finals and the final will also be one-off single leg games, CONCACAF said.

CONCACAF said extensive Covid-19 safety protocols would be in force for the games, in order to provide a "safe and highly controlled environment for all the players, coaches, team staff and officials who will participate."

These would included a "high-frequency" Covid-19 testing regime before and during the competition, CONCACAF said.

Draw:

Quarterfinals (Ties to be played December 15/16, first leg scores in brackets where applicable):

CD Olimpia (HON)(2) vs Montreal Impact (CAN) (1)

Atlanta United (USA) (0) vs Club America (MEX) (3)

Tigres UANL (MEX) (1) vs New York City FC (USA) (0)

Los Angeles FC (USA) vs Cruz Azul (MEX)