NEW YORK — The Los Angles Galaxy plays the Puerto Rico Islanders and two-time runner-up Cruz Azul of Mexico faces Panama’s San Francisco in the CONCACAF Champions League in July.
Other preliminary round matches have Mexican league runner-up (either Santos or Toluca) facing San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad; Costa Rica’s Brujas playing Joe Public of Trinidad; the Canadian champion (either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps) against Motagua of Honduras; and Xelaju of Guatemala against a Central American club.
The Seattle Sounders FC plays an undetermined Central American side. Marathon of Honduras, a quarterfinalist last season, takes on Tauro FC of Panama.
Two berths originally were allocated to El Salvador, but FIFA has suspended the country because of government interference with the federation. The government has until June 8 to comply with FIFA’s nonintervention requirements or its teams will be barred from international competition, including the Champions League and its berths will be reassigned.
Cruz Azul reached the finals in the first two years of the Champions League, losing to fellow Mexico’s Atlante in 2009 and Pachuca in May.
In the group stage, MLS champion Real Salt Lake leads Group A, with Arabe Unido of Panama, the Cruz Azul-San Francisco winner, and the winner between the Canadian champion and Motagua.
Group B consists of the Columbus Crew, Municipal of Guatemala, the winner between Jabloteh and Toluca/Santos, and either Brujas or Joe Public.
Monterrey heads Group C with Costa Rica’s Saprissa, the Seattle-Central America winner, and either Tauro or Marathon. The Mexican champion, either Santos or Toluca, tops Group D with Olimpia of Honduras, the Galaxy-Islanders winner, and the Central America-Xelaju winner.
The tournament begins July 27-29 with the first leg of the preliminary round, and the second leg is a week later. The winners advance to the group stage, with the first round set for Aug. 17-19.
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