How the Union can Qualify for Concacaf Champions Cup Tonight

Philadelphia Union have a 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup (CCC) spot in their sights as the Leagues Cup Semifinal get underway Tuesday night. Those extra stakes supplement the trophy, prize money and regional bragging rights available via Leagues Cup – the World Cup-style tournament that's seen all 47 MLS and Liga MX teams pause domestic competition for a month.

How teams can qualify

The top three finishers in this year’s revamped Leagues Cup qualify directly for next year’s expanded continental club competition, which provides a qualification route to the new and expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (on US soil) and includes an increased prize money pool ($5 million).

The Leagues Cup slots for the 2024 CCC break down as follows:

Champion: Directly into Round of 16
Runner-up: Enter in Round One
Third place: Enter in Round One

That added incentive means if the Union defeat Inter Miami CF in Tuesday's Semifinal, they are guaranteed automatic qualification for what was previously known as Concacaf Champions League.

When contesting the Leagues Cup Final on Aug. 19, the semifinal winners will not just vie for silverware – the victor will also receive a Round One bye in the 2024 CCC.

From the Leagues Cup Third-Place Game, also contested on Aug. 19, only the winner heads into the 2024 CCC. That loser would miss out, pending their finish in other competitions.

In short: the three remaining MLS teams need to win just one of their remaining two Leagues Cup games to ensure CCC soccer next year.

Slots for 2024 CCC

Of the 27 teams competing in next year’s CCC, up to 10 MLS teams can qualify via different pathways – just over one-third of MLS’s 29 overall teams (34%).

MLS regular season and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs: 5 teams (guaranteed)
Leagues Cup: 3 teams (top three finishers)
US Open Cup: 1 team (champion only)
Canadian Championship: 1 team (champion only)

Club World Cup implications

The 2025 Club World Cup will expand to 32 teams and be hosted at various venues/cities across the United States.

Concacaf receives four slots (CCC winners) and an additional spot is given to the host nation, theoretically guaranteeing at least one more MLS team will participate in the competition.