He InterMiami from Lionel Messibrand new MLS champion, will debut in the Champions des Concacaf 2026 In Round of 16 in front of him Nashville either Atletico Ottawa. Nashville, classified for the regional competition because he won US Open Cupwill face the Canadian team, the current champions of that country’s league tournament, in the first round, in which there are home and away games.
Messi’s team will move straight into the round of 16 as MLS champions after last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, with an excellent performance from Messi, who provided two direct assists and was involved in his team’s first goal.
The 2026 Champions Cup round has been decided! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0mFgCTbXgD
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) December 10, 2025
They also avoid the first round Toluca (Mexican League champions) Seattle Sounders (League Cup winner), Alajuelense from Costa Rica (winner of the Central American Cup) and the Jamaican Mount Pleasant FA (Caribbean Cup Winners).
“The goal of this club for 2026 will be to win the Concachampions and of course I want to compete with a strong team.”said one of the owners of Inter Miami, Jorge Mas, as if to mark the next sporting goal that the Florida franchise will have.
The winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup will qualify for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
“We have performed well in recent years and I hope that it continues like this”said MLS commissioner Don Garber. “We reached the final, but we only lifted the trophy a few times.”.
Since Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami in July 2023, the Garzas have been eliminated from the Concachampions in the 2024 quarterfinals against Monterrey and in the 2025 semifinals against Vancouver Whitecaps.
The most notable series of the first round of 2026 include América (MEX)-Olimpia (HON) and Pumas (MEX)-San Diego FC (USA).
The first round of the Concachampions will take place in February; The round of 16 in March, the quarter-finals and semi-finals in April and the final will be played in May, before the break for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
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