His big quote was, 'Cavier and Viagara for everybody!'

An interesting quote from a guy named Mohamed.

Is it possible to enter a "false advertising" claim against Concacaf (and Uefa for that matter as well) for calling these tournaments a "Champions" League?

These tournaments include many "non-champions."

But who am I to complain about more soccer matches.

You mean fish eggs aren't Halal?

Wow, that is so freaking drawn out it's ridiculous.

26-28 August: Preliminary Round - Game 1

21-23 April: Final, Game 1
28-30 April: Final, Game 2

How can this not be done by December or January?

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USA: The USA's representatives will be the MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup Champions; the MLS Regular Season Winner; the MLS Cup Runner-up; and the US Open Cup Champion. Results from the 2007 MLS season will be used to qualify teams for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League. Houston Dynamo (USA1), D.C. United (USA2) and New England Revolution (USA3) have qualified in the first three slots.
Since New England was also the US Open Cup Champion (USA4), Chivas USA move up to the fourth spot (USA 4), as the team with the next highest point total from the MLS regular season standings.

USA Qualifiers
USA1: 2007 Major League Soccer Champion (Houston Dynamo)
USA2: 2007 Major League Soccer's Regular Season Winner (D.C. United)
USA3: 2007 MLS Cup Runner-up (New England Revolution)
USA4: 2007 MLS Regular Season Runner-up^ (Chivas USA)
^Slot allocated to the 2007 US Open Cup Champion, but New England Revolution already earned USA3, therefore Chivas USA qualifies as the next highest team (overall points) from 2007 MLS Regular Season
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winning the USOC gets a team a slot in the CCL.

wonder if this will make MLS (and all sides) take the USOC more seriously.

Is it only me that thinks FC Dalals should have qualified as US Open Cup Runner's up, instead of Chivas as the 4th placed team given NE was in twice (US Open Cup winner and MLS Cup runner-UP)?

USA Qualifiers
USA1: 2007 Major League Soccer Champion (Houston Dynamo)
USA2: 2007 Major League Soccer's Regular Season Winner (D.C. United)
USA3: 2007 MLS Cup Runner-up (New England Revolution)
USA4: 2007 MLS Regular Season Runner-up^ (Chivas USA)
^Slot allocated to the 2007 US Open Cup Champion, but New England Revolution already earned USA3, therefore Chivas USA qualifies as the next highest team (overall points) from 2007 MLS Regular Season

That would at least give the team who makes the final something to show for it, and, if i'm not mistaken, how the situation is handled in Europe? (Well, England to be sure).

Pretty straight ahead format. I like it.

BTW, the Kai hat trick was awesome in person. I loved that she got excited after each goal. The other ladies were less demonstrative in their celebrations, but Kai came running to the sideline to give some love to the fans. These are national team goals! Be happy!

Having two basement dwellers (DC and Houston) should immediately vault the new Champion's League into the stratosphere, bringing infinite credibility and respect to MLS and all CONCACAF member leagues.

I think I'll sit this one out...

For a guy who said that he'd probably wouldn't be back on the Insider today at 6 this morning, you've logged some time today Goff, thanks for the work as always.

Seems to me that Toronto FC gets four bites at the apple - one as the Canadian entry and three from the MLS finishes.

I suppose that that's as many as any of the other MLS teams, but doesn't it seem strange that "Canada" gets one entry and yet, there could be two Canadian teams in the league in a given year?

I really like the US Open Cup inclusion

winning the USOC gets a team a slot in the CCL.

wonder if this will make MLS (and all sides) take the USOC more seriously.

Posted by: Open Cup | May 14, 2008 2:34 PM
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Call me a sceptic but if a USL side wins the USOC this year (not likely but the USL sides had a good run last year) then I got $20 that says that the USSF & MLS conspire and some major collusion takes place screwing the USL side out of the CL spot.

C'mon. We all know that they just love changing up "reavaluation" the rules when they see fit. Unless it were Seattle who is making the move next year, the only USL sides that you will see making it to the Champions League will all be from outside the USA and none of them affiliated with the USSF.

Just call it a hunch. I'm not expecting MLS to do an English FA-Cardiff thing unless the Cardiff actually wins and the English FA make good on it. Then such an even might actually have a snowball's chance in Florida of taking place. If a USL side wins the USOC this year and hopes to qualify for the CL next season, it had better be based in Starbucks' country and be called the Seattle Sounders otherwise a reevaluation of the slot assignement is probably going to take place.

So does this breathe new life to the US Open Cup?? I hope so, the second oldest knockout competition deserves it and hopefully the USSF makes other teams aware that the holder gets entrance to this competition.

It looks like TFC can only qualify as a Canadian team. Thus if it wins one of the MLS slots, another MLS team will replace it.

On the other hand, all it has to do is defeat 2 lower level teams in Canada to qualify. That should assure them early entry in the tournament (and 5 entries for MLS)

Seems to me that Toronto FC gets four bites at the apple - one as the Canadian entry and three from the MLS finishes.

I suppose that that's as many as any of the other MLS teams, but doesn't it seem strange that "Canada" gets one entry and yet, there could be two Canadian teams in the league in a given year?

Posted by: DE | May 14, 2008 3:33 PM
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DE, very interesting point. That would seem to be a possibility unless the Canucks are forced to use their spot on TFC if they manage to qualify via MLS play. I think that it is more likely that the USSF would still claim all of the MLS spots rather than give one up top the CSA.

yearly entry, not early...

If my beloved Puerto Rico Islanders (USL1)can win our away leg with the Trini club San Juan Jabloteh then I will have two (yes count them 2 clubs that I will be pulling for in the CL). We got a 1-0 result in our home leg in Bayamon last Saturday. Not the kind of narrow lead that you would like when you have to travel to Jack Warner land but it beats heading there being down or even.

We would be minnows amongst big clubs like United and the Mexican and CA clubs but hey--no pain--no gain.

"Seems to me that Toronto FC gets four bites at the apple - one as the Canadian entry and three from the MLS finishes."

That, combined with their stronger dollar and all that oil shale in the Canadian Rockies, means that the time is right to invade Canada.

That, combined with their stronger dollar and all that oil shale in the Canadian Rockies, means that the time is right to invade Canada.

Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | May 14, 2008 4:02 PM
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Don't forget about all of that Canadian Bacon and tasty maple syrup.

Horray for Team America (Fulham) for not getting relegated. Too bad for Bobby Convey -- boy we sure could use him back on DC United!

Two points --

Like the inclusion of the USOC winner in the pool. And in a related comment, I agree that if the OC winner is already awarded a spot based on MLS results, the USOC spot should fall to the tournament runner-up. If that turns out to be a USL side, so be it. Either way, MLS teams should be put on notice not to trot out their C teams like United did in Harrisburg last year.

Glad to see Toronto must earn its way in vs. other Canadian teams to get the sole Canada spot. And while they would surely be the favorites, I don't consider it a given they would beat either Montreal or Vancouver.

I like including the Open Cup winner too. But I'm shocked that USSF didn't somehow find a way to include the Galaxy in this tournament.

That, combined with their stronger dollar and all that oil shale in the Canadian Rockies, means that the time is right to invade Canada.

Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | May 14, 2008 4:02 PM

Before we do that, let's at least start exploiting Iraq's oil. THEN we can consider sending in our Weeblos and Cub Scouts to take over our northern neighbors.

I like including the Open Cup winner too. But I'm shocked that USSF didn't somehow find a way to include the Galaxy in this tournament.

Posted by: DCUMD | May 14, 2008 4:38 PM
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Well played, Sir!!!
Well played...

Oh Goody. Another opportunity for MLS sides to humiliate DCU....

I thought Keller was a huge upgrade over Niemi. He showed he still got it! Keller made some huge saves down the stretch that made a difference. I wish he was playing for D.C. United!

Youz want Convey, eh?

Youz like Keller, too?

LIKE I TOLD SOEHN...NO MORE PLAYERS! NO MORE TRANSFERS! NO MORE MONEY! NO MORE GATORADE! NO MORE WATER! NO MORE A/C ON THE TEAM BUS...COME TO THINK OF IT, NO MORE TEAM BUS! YOU JOKERS BETTER START WINNING BY JULY OR I AM CALLING IN MY HIRED GOONS TO "FIX" IT AND WE WILL SEE HOW WELL YOU...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! MY CHEST! PAIN...IN MY ARM...MY SHOULDER...WHITE LIGHT! AAARGH!

ROSEBUD! ROSEBUD!

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR...

[flat line-----------------------]

Does TFC participate in the USOC? I would guess not, but haven't really looked into it. Glad to see the USOC has some meaning to it now!

Are players going to be "cup tied" for this competition? Given that the group stage is going to have one MLS team and the Quarters another (i.e. because of the off season), I'm wondering if an MLS team picks up a player from another "Champions League" team, if that player is then ineligible for the quarters and so on?

I feel bad for USA3 and 4. Given lack of depth in the MLS, those extra games could be an impediment.

OK, so I didn't read thru all of the comments to see if this has been asked and answered... Shouldn't there be 4 quarterfinal games?

Never mind...