Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, along with the Vancouver Whitecaps, have qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.

This marks Inter Miami’s second consecutive year in the continental tournament, as they qualified through their standings in the MLS Supporter Shield.

Currently, Inter Miami holds the top spot with 64 points, having four games left in the 2024 MLS season. Teams that win the Supporters Shield and conference championships gain entry, in addition to the next-best team in the Supporters Shield standings not already qualified. Miami’s current points ensure its place as that next-best team, even if they do not secure the shield or win the Eastern Conference.

An MLS Cup victory would grant Messi’s team a direct skip to the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup.

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC secured their spot in the tournament after triumphing in the Canadian Championship final against Toronto FC on Wednesday, where a 0-0 draw was resolved with a 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout.

To date, 12 teams out of a total of 27 have earned qualification for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, which will include sides from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The tournament is scheduled to take place during selected weeks between February and June next year.

Which 12 Teams Have Qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup?

Currently, six teams from MLS and six from LIGA MX have qualified for the tournament:

• Columbus Crew (Leagues Cup champions)
• LAFC (Leagues Cup runners-up)
• Colorado Rapids (Leagues Cup third place)
• Sporting Kansas City (U.S. Open Cup finalists with LAFC)
• Inter Miami (next-best in the Supporters’ Shield standings)
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2024 Canadian Championship winners)
• Club America (LIGA MX champions)
• Tigres UANL (Liga MX Apertura 2023 runners-up)
• Cruz Azul (Liga MX Clausura 2024 runners-up)
• CF Monterrey (highest-ranked in the 2023–24 Liga MX aggregate table)
• CD Guadalajara (next-best in LIGA MX table)
• Pumas UNAM (third-best in LIGA MX)

How Will Teams Qualify for the 2025 Champions Cup?

Here’s a breakdown of the qualification pathways for the 2025 Champions Cup. An asterisk denotes a team that receives a bye to the Round of 16.

• Canadian Premier League (two clubs): 2024 Champion and Shield Winner
• Concacaf Caribbean Cup (three clubs): 2024 champion*, runner-up, and third-place
• Concacaf Central American Cup (six clubs): 2024 champion*, runner-up, two losing semifinalists, and two play-in winners.
• MLS (four clubs): 2024 MLS Cup champion*, MLS Supporters’ Shield winners, non-Supporters’ Shield winning conference champion, and the next-best club in the Supporters’ Shield standings that has not previously qualified.

Who Won the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup?

The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup was won by LIGA MX team Pachuca, which defeated the reigning MLS champions Columbus Crew in the final held on June 1 of this year.