RSL returns to CONCACAF Champions tournament in 2025 after 8-year absence

[ad_1]

SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake is returning to continental competition for the first time since 2016 and will do so against a familiar opponent from its glory days.

The Claret and Cobalt followed up their 2009 MLS Cup win with a run to the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2011, where it fell to Mexican club Monterrey. RSL was knocked out in the group stage the year after thanks to Costa Rican side Herediano, who returns to Utah in 2025.

The club announced Friday the dates for its first-round, two-match series in the reorganized CONCACAF Champions Cup, with a visit to Costa Rica on Feb. 19 and a return visit by Herediano to America First Field on Feb. 26.

RSL fell 1-0 to Herediano in its 2012 trip to Costa Rica, and a 0-0 draw when the two clubs met in Utah. The team boasts an 8-1-2 home record in Sandy in CONCACAF play, with the lone loss coming to Monterrey in 2011.

The 2025 matchup against Herediano is RSL's first continental competition since a 2016 run to the CONCACAF quarterfinals when it was eliminated by Mexican side Tigres.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup features 27 clubs from across North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The winner receives a berth in the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, along with over $5 million in financial distributions and prize money.

The winner on aggregate score from the two-leg battle between RSL and Herediano will advance to face 2024 MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the Round of 16 in another two-leg series on March 5 and 12.

RSL will kick off its 2025 MLS campaign between the two legs against Herediano during the "MLS is back" weekend on Feb. 22 or 23.

[ad_1]

Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=675cb8b30dea416c97bbf10ba9de1ae2&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksl.com%2Farticle%2F51210768%2Frsl-returns-to-concacaf-champions-tournament-in-2025-after-8-year-absence&c=4069190404099738157&mkt=en-us Author : Publish date : 2024-12-13 06:31:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source .