Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
CONCACAF has announced that Exploria Stadium, home to MLS club Orlando City SC and the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, will host the final matches of the 2020 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL).
The confederation’s flagship club competition will resume with centralized Quarterfinals, Semifinals and a Final to be played in Orlando from December 15-22.
Through the introduction of an adjusted format with single leg games in a neutral venue, the 2020 SCCL will be concluded after a total of seven games to crown a champion.
Quarterfinals: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 15 and 16, 2020
CD Olimpia (2) vs (1) Impact Montreal
Atlanta United FC (0) vs (3) Club America
Tigres UANL (1) vs (0) NYCFC
LAFC vs Cruz Azul (single leg)
Semifinals: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 19, 2020
Semifinal 1: Club America or Atlanta United FC vs LAFC or Cruz Azul
Semifinal 2: Tigres UANL or NYCFC vs CD Olimpia or Impact Montreal
Final: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, December 22, 2020
Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2
Exploria Stadium is one of the premier venues in MLS and the NWSL. It is a football specific stadium which includes a high quality all grass playing surface and excellent facilities for competing teams. Additionally, as a modern stadium opened in 2017, the venue provides excellent services for broadcasters which will allow CONCACAF and the clubs to produce a world class production for fans watching at home.
To resume this important competition, CONCACAF has developed extensive new SCCL regulations to ensure the delivery of a safe and highly controlled environment for all the players, coaches, team staff and officials who will participate. These include a high-frequency COVID-19 testing regime before and during the competition and robust health and safety protocols which will be strictly applied. CONCACAF will work with Exploria Stadium to ensure the high level of health and safety measures they currently operate in the stadium for Orlando City SC MLS games are in place for the centralized SCCL matches.
CONCACAF has made the decision that these centralized final rounds of the 2020 SCCL will be played behind closed doors. Discussions are ongoing with the Confederation’s broadcast partners to ensure all matches are widely available for fans across the region to follow and enjoy.
“The Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League is our flagship club competition and a huge amount of work has gone into ensuring we can safely resume the tournament and crown a regional club champion,” said CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani.
“Orlando’s Exploria Stadium will provide a great host venue for the final seven matches of this competition. I want to thank the team at the stadium for being so supportive in working with CONCACAF to plan for what will be a great finale to the 2020 SCCL for the clubs and their fans across the region,” added Montagliani.
“We’re honored that CONCACAF has selected the City of Orlando and our amazing venue, Exploria Stadium, to host one of the most marquee events in world club soccer,” Orlando City SC CEO Alex Leitão said. “This year, the City Beautiful has proven to be the center of sport — hosting some of the world’s biggest events — and we are humbled to be able to host another such event at our home. We’re looking forward to seven very exciting games.”
The winner of this competition will be crowned CONCACAF’s regional club champion. The current holder is CF Monterrey, who defeated Tigres UANL in the 2019 SCCL final, earning their fourth championship.
