Champions Cup Facts ahead of the tournament’s 60th edition | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup will write a new chapter in the long and decorated history as the tournament begins its landmark 60th edition.

Ahead of the next campaign, we look back on CCC facts from the previous 59 editions, listed by region:

North America

Clubs from North America have raised the Concacaf Champions Cup in 42 editions. Mexico is the most prosperous nation with 39 winners, while the United States has seen three clubs lift the trophy.

Winners from Mexico

●      Club América (7): 1977, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2006, 2014–15, 2015–16

●      Cruz Azul (6): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996, 1997, 2013–14

●      CF Pachuca (6): 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009–10, 2016–17, 2024

●      CF Monterrey (5): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2019, 2021

●      Pumas UNAM (3): 1980, 1982, 1989

●      CD Guadalajara (2): 1962, 2018

●      Toluca FC (2): 1968, 2003

●      Atlante FC (2): 1983, 2008–09

●      Atlético Español (1): 1975

●      Club León (1): 2023

●      Club Necaxa (1): 1999

●      Club Puebla (1): 1991

●      Tigres UANL (1): 2020

●      Leones Negros UdeG (1): 1978

Winners from the United States of America

●      D.C. United (1): 1998

●      Los Angeles Galaxy (1): 2000

●      Seattle Sounders FC (1): 2022

Inaugural Champion

Mexican side CD Guadalajara won the inaugural Concacaf Champions Cup in 1962, defeating Guatemala’s Comunicaciones FC in the final with a 6-nil aggregate score.

The first leg ended in a 1-nil victory for Guadalajara, with Javier Valdivia scoring the winner. Chivas delivered a 5-nil win in the return leg, highlighted by Salvador Reyes' hat-trick and two goals from Juan Jasso.

First Back-to-Back and Three-peat

Cruz Azul became the first club to win the tournament in consecutive editions by going back-to-back in 1969 and 1970. The Mexico City side added to its achievement by winning again in 1971 to become the first team to win three consecutive editions.

Mexico City maestros

Throughout the Concacaf Champions Cup, clubs from Mexico City have reigned supreme. Following Cruz Azul’s three-peat, Club América, and Pumas UNAM earned their first trophy to close out the 1970s and usher in the 1980s. América and Pumas would each earn their second and third trophies to have the three clubs from the Mexican capital in a three-way tie after the 1990 edition.

Club América became the first to win four titles in 1992 before Cruz Azul would win again in 1996 and retake the all-time spot in 1997. América would win its fifth crown in 2006. Cruz Azul earned its sixth title in 2013–14, but América matched it one year later, in the 2014–15 edition. América won again in 2015–16 to claim the all-time spot at seven and is the current all-time leader.

Co-Champions

The 1978 edition saw a unique conclusion as Leones Negros, Comunicaciones FC, and Defence Force declared co-champions when the final phase couldn't be played. It remains the only instance where more than one club has shared the winner’s podium.

American Breakthroughs

D.C. United became the first United States club, and the first MLS team, to win the Concacaf Champions Cup in 1998 by defeating Toluca in the final. LA Galaxy would soon follow to be the second MLS side in 2000.

Seattle Sounders FC would deliver another breakthrough for U.S. clubs by winning in 2022, ending a 16-year streak of Mexican dominance, and becoming the third MLS club to win the title. As a result, it also became the first club from the USA to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Pachuca’s rise

The new millennium brought Pachuca’s first title in 2002, earning additional crowns in 2007, 2008, 2009–10, 2016–17, and 2024. The Tuzos did it all while maintaining an undefeated mark at the Estadio Hidalgo with the likes of Miguel Calero, Andrés Chitiva, Christian Giménez, Damián Álvarez, Ulises Mendivil, Hirving Lozano and others rising into club lore.

Salomón Rondón of Pachuca became the top scorer of the 2024 edition, achieving milestones like the 2,500th goal since the format change in 2008–2009.

Rayados' Dynasty

CF Monterrey claimed three consecutive titles under coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich, setting a record for modern-era dominance. Rayados won the 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13 with the likes of Aldo de Nigris, Neri Cardozo, Darío Carreño, Ángel Reyna and Humberto Suazo.

After moving from the Estadio Tecnológico to Estadio BBVA, Rayados returned and won its fourth and fifth titles in the 2019 and 2021 editions. With Maximiliano Meza and Rogelio Funes Mori leading the charge on the field, CF Monterrey were champions of Concacaf five times out of 11 seasons.

Additionally, CF Monterrey set a record for the longest winning streak in CCL history with 10 consecutive victories, culminating in their quarterfinal triumph over Inter Miami in April 2024.

Central America

Central American clubs have won the Concacaf Champions Cup on 13 occasions. Costa Rica leads with six winners, and El Salvador follows second with three. Guatemala and Honduras each have two champions.

Winners from Costa Rica

●      Deportivo Saprissa (3): 1993, 1995, 2005

●      LD Alajuelense (2): 1986, 2004

●      CS Cartaginés (1): 1994

Winners from El Salvador

●      Alianza FC (1): 1967

●      CD Águila (1): 1976

●      CD FAS (1): 1979

Winners from Guatemala

●      Comunicaciones FC (1): 1978

●      CSD Municipal (1): 1974

Winners from Honduras

●      CD Olimpia (2): 1972, 1988

First Central American Champion

Alianza FC from El Salvador defeated Jong Colombia of Curaçao in a thrilling 5-3 final to become the first Central American club to win the Concacaf Champions Cup in 1967. The championship was decided in a tiebreaker match that delivered an unforgettable eight-goal spectacle, with Alianza FC emerging victorious 5-3.

First braces in the final

The 1967 final also marked a milestone in the competition’s history, as it was the first time two players scored braces in a title match. Salvadoran Mario "El Chino" Flores and Panamanian Luis Ernesto "Cascarita" Tapia of Alianza FC etched their names into the tournament’s legacy.

Historic Firsts

CD Olimpia of Honduras won their first title in 1972, defeating SV Robinhood with a decisive goal from Jorge Brand.

CSD Municipal became the first Guatemalan team to win the title in 1974, beating SV Transvaal in the final.

First Penalty Shootout

Municipal and Aurora FC contested the tournament's first penalty shootout in the 1974 edition, showcasing the growing intensity of the competition.

Unmatched Dominance

FAS of El Salvador secured a stunning 7-1 victory in the 1979 final's second leg, with "Mágico" González scoring twice.

Costa Rican Triple Crown and Double

Costa Rican clubs won three consecutive titles from 1993 to 1995. Saprissa won the 1993 and 1995 editions, while CS Cartaginés won in 1994.

A similar streak would repeat itself in the following decade. LD Alajuelense won its second title in 2004, followed by Saprissa’s third in 2005 for back-to-back champions from Costa Rica.

Most appearances overall

CD Olimpia of Honduras became the club with the most appearances in the tournament’s history, reaching 37 participations by 2023.

Caribbean

Caribbean clubs have lifted the Concacaf Champions Cup in six editions. Haiti, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago each have two winners.

Winners from Haiti

●      Racing Club Haïtien (1): 1963

●      Violette AC (1): 1984

Winners from Suriname

●      SV Transvaal (2): 1973, 1981

Winners from Trinidad and Tobago

●      Defence Force FC (2): 1978,1985

First Caribbean Champion

Racing Club of Haiti became the first Caribbean team to win the title in 1963, the tournament’s second edition, claiming the trophy without playing the final due to their opponent’s withdrawal.

Racing Club's journey to glory began with a convincing 4-1 aggregate victory over Sithoc of Curaçao in the second round. They defeated Xelajú MC of Guatemala and triumphed over Costa Rica’s Deportivo Saprissa in the semifinals, cementing their place in the competition's history.

Caribbean sides to two titles

SV Transvaal of Suriname and Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago are the only clubs from the Caribbean to win on multiple occasions. Transvaal was the first, winning the 1973 and 1981 editions. Defence Force was the last side, winning its second crown in 1985.