Inter Miami will make its debut in the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2024 by facing the winner of the first-round match between U.S. side Nashville SC and Dominican Republic’s Moca FC in the round of 16, according to the draw for the competition held on Wednesday.
As the winner of the Leagues Cup, Inter is one of the five teams exempted from competing in the first round of the main club tournament in North, Central America, and the Caribbean, in which a total of 27 teams will compete.
Nashville SC was precisely the opponent that Messi’s Inter defeated in the final of the Leagues Cup, a joint tournament between the North American (MLS) and Mexican leagues.
The Champions Cup, an expanded version of the tournament known as the Champions League, awards a ticket to the winner for the expanded Club World Cup to be played in 2025 in the United States.
Concacaf already has three teams qualified for this World Cup: the U.S. Seattle Sounders and Mexico’s Monterrey and Leon, winner of the 2023 Champions League.
The first round of the Champions Cup will be played between 6 and 29 February.
Among the 11 pairings, Mexico’s América will face Nicaragua’s Real Estelí FC and Monterrey will face Guatemala’s Comunicaciones FC, while Chivas Guadalajara and Tigres will face Canada’s Forge FC and Vancouver Whitecaps, respectively.
Columbus Crew (United States), Pachuca (Mexico), Robinhood (Suriname) and Alajuelense (Costa Rica), in addition to Inter Miami, have already qualified for the round of 16, to be held from March 5 to 14.
The quarterfinals will take place from April 2 to 11, the semifinals from April 23 to May 2 and the final on June 2.
– First-round matchups:
Philadelphia Union (USA) – Deportivo Saprissa (CRC).
Deportivo Toluca (MEX) – CS Herediano (CRC)
Club América (MEX) – Real Estelí FC
CD Guadalajara (MEX) – Forge FC (CAN)
New England Revolution (USA) – CA Independiente (PAN)
Houston Dynamo FC (USA) – St. Louis City SC (USA)
Tigres UANL (MEX) – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)
Orlando City SC (USA) – Cavalry FC (CAN)
CF Monterrey (MEX) – Comunicaciones FC (GUA)
FC Cincinnati (USA) – Cavalier FC (JAM)
Nashville SC (USA) – Moca FC (DOM)