Would you like it? https://www.oneworldsports.com/stories/can-americas-champs-league-have-success If they get over the travel concerns, I would be all for it. The plan would be to have a straight-knockout 64-team tournament featuring teams from the Americas. How many berths is up for consideration, but here is my guesstimate: Brazil (6) Argentina (6) Chile (4) Colombia (4) Bolivia (4) Venezuela (4) Peru (4) Ecuador (4) Paraguay (4) Uruguay (4) USA (4) Mexico (4) Canada (1) Costa Rica (2) Honduras (2) Guatemala (1) Panama (1) El Salvador (1) Nicaragua (1) Belize (1) Caribbean (1) Title holders (1) Teams from the same country can't meet until the Round of 16 (my guess).
No need for 64 teams though. 32 is plenty. But since Mexico, which is roughly the same size as the rest of central America and all Caribbean countries combined, is already involved in Copa Libertadores I don't see how much value this proposal adds.
The article mentions it is proposed as a complimentary competition to the Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions League. It may get off the ground initially but its long-term survival depends on becoming the club competition for the Americas with a path to the Club World Cup. Otherwise it's just the next Superliga or Arab Champions League. As an aside, the USD 440M revenue projection is completely unrealistic in my opinion. In order for this to truly work you have to merge Libertadores and CCL. And you can only do that if you merge the confederations as well. Makes sense to me but the politics around it aren't straightforward.
I've little doubt there's strong potential for something like this, but the scheduling would be a nightmare and the travel could really, really add up for your international stars also pulling national team duty. I think a feasible compromise lies within previous discussions of a mini tournament of the top 4 teams from each confederation competition. But even that won't seem appealing until teams from MLS or other CONCACAF nations become more competitive, otherwise simply adding Mexican clubs to the Libertadores is the optimal solution. Or possibly add MLS along with some Liga MX sides. Either way, keep Charlie Stillitano out of it.
The project is leaded by MP & Silva. That is, without the approval of Conmebol. The top teams have created a Liga Sudamericana, which is just an association. They have demanded more money to Conmebol. If they don't get that they want, they could threaten with a breakaway from Conmebol.
Interesting propose... I think is absurd to have competitions involving teams (or national teams) from conmebol and concacaf... this shouldn't occur unless both confederations become one confederation which would mean that all national teams from both confederations would compete in the same world cup qualifying process... I think this would make sense! and would be fair! it is not fair that Mexico or any other country from concacaf competes in "certain" tournaments organized by south America but at the same time they don't seem interested in competing in south American qualifiers.... They aren't even interested in winning their right to participate in confederations cup by winning copa America.
I can kinda see this working. I think it would have to be the top 16 teams in the Americas. Maybe the Champions from the 10 CONMEBOL Clubs and the Top 6 CONCACAF Champions League teams. (Mostly Mexican Clubs obviously.) It would have to occur in the December-January-February months when there is not much else going on. Host it in Neutral Warm weather cities like Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Jose, Arizona, etc. Have Univision hype it up and maybe it could be a success but It could be SuperLiga all over again. Or similar to the old Interliga.
I've always said that merging Concacaf and Conmebol is a no-brainer because the confederations complement each other. One has good quality on the playing field but little influence within FIFA; the other has less quality but more influence. Of course I always get pushback about Caribbean countries getting ignored or South American countries not being interested but there are many more advantages than disadvantages: better competition for Concacaf teams which can only make them better and increased TV revenue for South American countries. There would also be more interest within the region and around the world. I think that both organizations realize this which is why they're having the Copa Centenario and are talking about a combined Champions League. They're just using these events as trials to see how much interest there is and how much revenue can be made. Obviously there was a lot of corruption in the past which is why top officials preferred to keep the confederations separate so that more people could receive kickbacks. But with all the arrests and increased scrutiny I think it just makes sense now to combine them.
I don't think a merger between the two confederations will happen during my lifetime. No matter how much people think it would benefit both. The people who run things up top just won't let it happen. But back to this event. It would be a made for tv type thing just like the Inter Liga and Super Liga. And I think it will make money but won't really have the impact people are wanting it to.
Conmebol already has a straight-knockout complimentary competition: the Sudamerica. The proposal is basically doubling the Sud.
If a 'made-for-TV' event hosted in the US is the goal then simply revive an expanded version of the Copa Interamericana.
Conmebol doesn't won the Americas Champions League. South American clubs want it. Conmebol doesn't want to lose the 4.5 guaranteed World Cup spots. Conmebol doesn't want Caribbean federations to take any bites off their pockets, much less the United States .
According to this Italian interview with Alessandro Nesta the competition is still in the works for 2019. 32 teams straight knock-out between February and November. Supposedly financed by new Chinese partners. A native Italian speaker correct me if I'm wrong.
That's the gist of it. They're awaiting the proposed investment of Chinese financiers and the finalization of guaranteed prize money from TV contracts. They'll have updates in the spring of next year (2017). Also there was no mention of Caribbean or Central American teams, only North American teams, so I don't know how CONCACAF would get on board with this without inclusion from those parts. I say combine both confederations into one or keep them separate. FIFA should be spearheading an effort to resolve this issue because both confederations are being run into the ground.
The 2017 Copa Libertadores was expanded into an annual tournament. The preliminary stage will be played from January to February. The 32-team group stage will be played from March to May. R16 on July-August, QF in September, SF in October and finals in November. 6 teams will enter the first preliminary stage, and 13 teams the second stage. Four of those will enter the group stage, joining the other 28 teams already qualified.
Winter in Florida isn't that bad. It's Fall in Florida that one must avoid... Texas weather is unbearable year round only because Texas weather goes by the motto, "noone puts Baby in a corner."