VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will kick off their first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) campaign against a familiar foe in Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, August 5.
“We are excited to begin our CONCACAF Champions League journey at home with our amazing supporters against our oldest rival in Seattle,” said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. “The tournament will be a new experience for our club and fans, without question extremely competitive, and a challenge that everyone is looking forward to embracing.”
Following the home match against the reigning MLS Supporters' Shield winners, Whitecaps FC will host Honduran champion Club Deportivo Olimpia on September 16.
All returning Season Ticket Members from 2014 and those who purchased season ticket packages in 2015 automatically receive tickets to both of this year’s CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) home matches, unless you declined in December and opted out of receiving CCL tickets to alternatively put your credit towards your 2015 Season Ticket Renewal. If you are unsure whether or not you opted out of automatically receiving CCL tickets, please contact Fan Services at fanservices@whitecapsfc.com or 604.669.9283 ext. 1.
Vancouver will play their final two SCCL matches on the road, first visiting Sounders FC on September 23, and finally CD Olimpia on October 22. The top team in each group will advance to the knockout stages, starting in early 2016.
The addition of the SCCL matches combined with MLS regular season games against Seattle – August 1 at CenturyLink Field and September 19 at BC Place – set up two home-and-home series between the longtime rivals.
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>VENUE</strong> |
<strong>TIME (PT)</strong> |
Wednesday, Aug. 5 |
vs. Seattle Sounders FC |
BC Place |
7 p.m. |
Wednesday, Sept. 16 |
vs. CD Olimpia |
BC Place |
7 p.m. |
Wednesday, Sept. 23 |
@ Seattle Sounders FC |
Century Link Field |
7 p.m. |
Thursday, Oct. 22 |
@ CD Olimpia |
<span style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;">Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino</span> |
7 p.m. |
FULL GROUP F MATCH SCHEDULE:
- Wednesday, August 5: Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC at 7 p.m. PT - BC Place
- Wednesday, August 19: Seattle Sounders FC v CD Olimpia at 7 p.m. PT - CenturyLink Field
- Wednesday, August 26: CD Olimpia vs. Seattle Sounders FC at 7 p.m. PT - Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
- Wednesday, September 16: Whitecaps FC vs. CD Olimpia at 7 p.m. PT - BC Place
- Wednesday, September 23: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Whitecaps FC at 7 p.m. PT - CenturyLink Field
- Thursday, October 22: CD Olimpia vs. Whitecaps FC at 7 p.m. PT - Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino
This will be Whitecaps FC’s first appearance in the SCCL. The 'Caps qualified by finishing as the top Canadian MLS team in 2014 (which was agreed upon as a temporary solution since the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship won’t conclude in time to determine Canada’s representative).
C.D. OLIMPIA
This will be Olimpia’s eighth consecutive SCCL appearance. They are the only club in CONCACAF to have qualified for every tournament in its current format since the first one back in 2008-09. Last season, Olimpia beat out Portland Timbers in the group stage.
Founded in 1912, Olimpia are Honduras’ most successful team with 29 domestic league titles. They are also the reigning Honduran champions and a rival of C.D. Motagua, the former club of Whitecaps FC midfielder Deybi Flores.
Olimpia play in a 34,000-seat stadium based in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
The rivalry between Vancouver and Seattle dates back to when both clubs were founded in 1974. Since their inaugural season in the old NASL, the two sides have played each other in 123 official matches, record for both clubs.
This will be Seattle’s fourth appearance in the SCCL. In 2012-13, they made a run to the semifinal before falling to Mexican side Santos Laguna.
GROUPS
The groups for the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League, in order of position drawn, are as follows:
Group A: W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago), Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica), Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Group B: Isidro Metapán (El Salvador), CS Herediano (Costa Rica), Tigres (Mexico)
Group C: Verdes FC (Belize), San Francisco FC (Panama), Queretaro FC (Mexico)
Group D: Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago), CSD Comunicaciones (Guatemala), LA Galaxy (USA)
Group E: CD Walter Ferretti (Nicaragua), CD Motagua (Honduras), Club America (Mexico)
Group F: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Canada), CD Olimpia (Honduras), Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
Group G: Santa Tecla FC (El Salvador), CSD Municipal (Guatemala), Real Salt Lake (USA)
Group H: Montego Bay United (Jamaica), Arabe Unido (Panama), D.C. United (USA)
The Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League is the region’s premier competition for clubs. It was introduced for the 2008-09 season, replacing the Champions Cup, which had decided the Confederation's best team since 1962.
Featuring 24 squads from each of CONCACAF's three sub-regions – North America, Central America and the Caribbean – the SCCL is played in two stages: the Group Stage and Championship Stage. Berths are allocated by country or, in the case of the Caribbean, through a separate qualifying competition.
The winner of the SCCL then qualifies for the annual FIFA Club World Cup, where they compete against the top teams from Asia, Africa, South America, Oceana, and Europe.
Real Madrid are the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
