PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Clubs taking part in the Caribbean Football Union’s Champions Cup tournament now know their path to next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.
The Champions Cup opens next Thursday, with matches between Bermuda’s Western Stars against Trinidad & Tobago Defence Force, and Newtown United of St. Kitts facing Caledonia AIA of T&T, the CFU announced on Wednesday.
Regional governing body CFU also disclosed that Bath Estate of Dominica and Bassa Sports Club of Antigua & Barbuda had withdrawn from the competition, sending Tempete of Haiti and Alpha United of Guyana to the second round.
The first legs of two other series, Northern United All Stars of St. Lucia against Walking Boyz of Suriname, and Guyana’s Milerock against Intermoengatapoe of Suriname were set for March 13.
The final series between River Plate FC of Puerto Rico and Bodden Town of the Cayman Islands will begin March 18, and will take place in the Caymans.
Second-leg matches of the first round are set for March 18 to 20.
Defending champion Puerto Rico Islanders is to join the tournament in the second round, set for April 12 to 14 and April 22to 24.
The semi-finals in Trinidad will be played May 25 with the Final and third-place game set for four days later.
Three teams from the Caribbean club championship will qualify for next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.
CFU Club Champions Cup
(Home teams listed first)
First Round
First Leg
Thursday, March 10
Western Stars (BER) vs Defence Force (T&T)
Newtown United (SKN) vs Caledonia AIA (T&T)
Sunday, March 13
Northern United All Stars (SLU) vs Walking Boyz (SUR)
Milerock FC (GUY) vs Intermoengotapoe (SUR)
Friday, March 18
#River Plate FC (PUR) vs Bodden Town (CAY)
Second Leg
Saturday, March 19
Defence Force (T&T) vs Western Stars (BER)
March 18-20
Walking Boyz (SUR) vs Northern United All Stars (SLU)
Intermoengotapoe (SUR) vs Milerock FC (GUY)
March 19-20
Caledonia AIA (T&T) vs Newtown United (SKN)
Sunday, March 20
Bodden Town (CAY) vs River Plate FC (PUR)
Second Round
First Leg
April 12-14
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs Northern United-Walking Boyz winner
Milerock-Intermoengotapoe winner vs Defence Force-Western Stars winner
Newtown United-Caledonia winner vs Tempete (HAI)
Alpha United (GUY) vs River Plate-Bodden Town winner
Second Leg
April 22-24
Northern United-Walking Boyz winner vs Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
Defence Force-Western Stars winner vs Milerock-Intermoengotapoe winner
Tempete (HAI) vs Newtown United-Caledonia winner
River Plate-Bodden Town vs Alpha United (HAI)