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As the years go by, the Seattle Sounders' 2022 triumph in the Concacaf Champions Cup increasingly looks like more of an anomaly than a sea change.
The Sounders' win snapped a series of 16 straight continental champions hailing from Mexico, and many MLS fans − and many in the league office − hoped it would signal that teams from the U.S. and Canada were set to win additional continental trophies.
Instead, Liga MX is starting another streak, with this year's final confirmed to be taking place between Toluca and Tigres. That will mark the fourth consecutive Mexican champion and make it 20 of the past 21 teams who win the top club tournament in the region hailing from Mexico. It also means that all but one champion since 2008-09, considered the modern era when the governing body made key changes to further professionalize the tournament, has been from Liga MX.
Toluca erased LAFC star Son Heung-min from the second leg of their series and notched an emphatic 4-0 win at home Wednesday, May 6. The Diablos Rojos will host the final in the Estadio Nemesio Diez, nicknamed La Bombonera, thanks to better CCC results than fellow finalist Tigres.
Tigres were able to secure 1-0 wins over Nashville SC both in Tennessee and at home in Nuevo León to return to the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2020.
One MLS club made the final in each of the last three years, with LAFC, the Columbus Crew and the Vancouver Whitecaps all falling short in the final − which has been a one-off match since 2024 after years of being played as a two-legged series.
But since the 2008-09 edition, 10 finals have been between two Mexican clubs, including this year's, which will take place on May 30.
For now, the balance of power continues to stay with the Mexican league, even as MLS states its ambitions to join the top leagues in the world.
With the advent of Leagues Cup, a knockout tournament that pits MLS and Liga MX teams against each other, MLS has not only seen some success but increased its chances in CCC. The tournament awards CCC places to its top three finishers, which have been filled by MLS teams in every edition.
But that tournament is played only in the U.S. − with matches taking place in Mexico for the first time in this summer's competition.
2008-09: Atlante
2009-10: Pachuca
2010-11: Monterrey
2011-12: Monterrey
2012-13: Monterrey
2013-14: Cruz Azul
2014-15: Club América
2015-16: Club América
2016-17: Pachuca
2018: Chivas
2019: Monterrey
2020: Tigres
2021: Monterrey
2022: Seattle Sounders
2023: Club León
2024: Pachuca
2025: Cruz Azul
2026: Toluca vs. Tigres, May 30, Estadio Nemesio Diez
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toluca-Tigres Concacaf Champions Cup final confirms Liga MX domination
Continue reading...
The Sounders' win snapped a series of 16 straight continental champions hailing from Mexico, and many MLS fans − and many in the league office − hoped it would signal that teams from the U.S. and Canada were set to win additional continental trophies.
How many Concacaf Champions Cup finals have Liga MX teams won in the modern era?
Instead, Liga MX is starting another streak, with this year's final confirmed to be taking place between Toluca and Tigres. That will mark the fourth consecutive Mexican champion and make it 20 of the past 21 teams who win the top club tournament in the region hailing from Mexico. It also means that all but one champion since 2008-09, considered the modern era when the governing body made key changes to further professionalize the tournament, has been from Liga MX.
Toluca erased LAFC star Son Heung-min from the second leg of their series and notched an emphatic 4-0 win at home Wednesday, May 6. The Diablos Rojos will host the final in the Estadio Nemesio Diez, nicknamed La Bombonera, thanks to better CCC results than fellow finalist Tigres.
Tigres were able to secure 1-0 wins over Nashville SC both in Tennessee and at home in Nuevo León to return to the final for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2020.
One MLS club made the final in each of the last three years, with LAFC, the Columbus Crew and the Vancouver Whitecaps all falling short in the final − which has been a one-off match since 2024 after years of being played as a two-legged series.
But since the 2008-09 edition, 10 finals have been between two Mexican clubs, including this year's, which will take place on May 30.
For now, the balance of power continues to stay with the Mexican league, even as MLS states its ambitions to join the top leagues in the world.
With the advent of Leagues Cup, a knockout tournament that pits MLS and Liga MX teams against each other, MLS has not only seen some success but increased its chances in CCC. The tournament awards CCC places to its top three finishers, which have been filled by MLS teams in every edition.
But that tournament is played only in the U.S. − with matches taking place in Mexico for the first time in this summer's competition.
List of Concacaf Champions Cup winners in the modern era
2008-09: Atlante
2009-10: Pachuca
2010-11: Monterrey
2011-12: Monterrey
2012-13: Monterrey
2013-14: Cruz Azul
2014-15: Club América
2015-16: Club América
2016-17: Pachuca
2018: Chivas
2019: Monterrey
2020: Tigres
2021: Monterrey
2022: Seattle Sounders
2023: Club León
2024: Pachuca
2025: Cruz Azul
2026: Toluca vs. Tigres, May 30, Estadio Nemesio Diez
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Toluca-Tigres Concacaf Champions Cup final confirms Liga MX domination
Continue reading...
