MIAMI,May 9, 2017 - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean AssociationFootball (CONCACAF) revealed details for the inaugural edition of theScotiabank CONCACAF League, the newest tournament in the Confederation’sexpanded club competitions platform. The draw for the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAFLeague (SCL by its initials) will take place on Wednesday, May 31, in Miami.

TheScotiabank CONCACAF League, which kicks off this August, will feature 16 topclubs from the Central American and Caribbean regions. The newest regional clubcompetition will be played in a four-round knockout format, with home-and-awayfixtures in each of the four rounds – round of 16, quarterfinals, andsemifinals -- leading to a final series in October. The club that lifts theCONCACAF League trophy also advances to 2018 Champions League. 

“Giventhe growing success of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, with packedstadiums and excellent television viewership throughout the 2016/17 season,this is a great time to kick off our newest club tournament,” said CONCACAFPresident Victor Montagliani. “The Scotiabank CONCACAF League opens the doorfor wider participation for clubs in the Caribbean and Central America, andwill help develop the club game regionally, in addition to providing amagnificent product for fans throughout the region.”

Clubteams from across Central America and the Caribbean are currently qualifyingfor the 2017 SCL based on their performances in local championships. ThreeCaribbean qualifiers will be determined at the finals of this month’s Caribbean Club Championship in Trinidad &Tobago, to be joined by 13 clubs from Central America determined via the allocation process outlined in January. Theinitial edition of the newly added tournament opens the door to internationalcompetition for additional clubs from Central American and Caribbean.

Additionally,it has been officially decided that clubs from Guatemala will not be eligibleto participate in the competition due to the on-going suspension of theGuatemalan Federation. The three teams from Guatemala set to participate ineither the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF League or the 2018 CONCACAF ChampionsLeague will be replaced by clubs from the highest-ranked Central AmericanFederations per the CONCACAF Club Index. 

For the2017 SCL, Panama and Honduras will each enjoy an additional berth to thetournament, filling the two spots reserved for Guatemala clubs. The vacantposition in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League reserved for theGuatemalan champion will now be occupied by a second Costa Rican club.

Intotal, the expanded CONCACAF club competitions platform – including the newlylaunched Scotiabank CONCACAF League and the re-designed Scotiabank CONCACAFChampions League -- will feature 31 club teams from across the Confederation,beginning with the upcoming 2017/18 season of club competition.