The Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League announced on Friday the dates and times for the Round of 16 matchups between the Colorado Rapids and Guatemalan side Comunicaciones FC. The first leg will be hosted in Guatemala on Thursday, February 17 at 6:00 PM MT before the Rapids host the second leg at DICK'S Sporting Good Park on Wednesday, February 23 at 6:15 PM MT.
Because of the Rapids’ higher seed in the draw, the sides will return to Colorado at altitude for the second leg. Both matches will be televised on FOX Sports and TUDN.
“We’re excited to be back in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League,” said Pádraig Smith, Colorado Rapids Executive VP & General Manager. “It’s a privilege to be one of the four teams representing MLS in the competition and we’re looking forward to hosting a Champions League match in front of our fans at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park once again.”
The SCCL pits the top clubs from around Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, against each other in a two-legged knockout tournament. The winner of the competition advances to the FIFA Club World Cup against the champions of the other five FIFA confederations.
Comunicaciones landed its Champions League spot after clinching a semifinal spot in the Concacaf League Playoffs after beating every side it faced in the 22- team bracket-style tournament. The Guatemalan side eventually claiming the championship title on December 14 when it defeated fellow Champions League opponent CF Motagua of Honduras 6-3 on aggregate. Their domination in the league and eventual crowning solidifies their worth as an opponent of Colorado in the first stage of the Champions League tournament.
In addition to its newly-minted championship status, Comunicaciones has won the Guatemalan League 30 times in club history. Six of those championships were recorded in consecutive years, marking an all-time record for the domestic league. But despite the numerous trophies, Comunicaciones hasn’t made a Champions League appearance until now.
This is the third time the Rapids have competed in the SCCL. Their first appearance in 2011 was the prize for clinching the MLS Cup back in 2010. Rapids wouldn’t see the tournament again until 2018, when they were knocked out by fellow MLS side Toronto FC in the Round of 16, who defeated the Rapids 2-0 on aggregate.
In the SCCL Round of 16 series, the Rapids can face former MLS teammates Rodrigo Saravia (Columbus Crew) and Nicolas Samayoa (New England Revolution) with Comunicaciones.
2022 SCCL matches will be widely available for fans across the region to follow and enjoy through the Confederation’s TV partner networks, including FOX Sports (USA-English), TUDN (USA-Spanish), Fox Sports Mexico (Mexico-Spanish), ESPN (Central America-Spanish) and other local partners.
Matches will also be available on the Concacaf Official App (subject to territory restrictions). The free mobile app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores.
The Round of 16 will be followed by home and away quarterfinal matches in March, Semifinals and first leg final in April and the second leg final in the first week of May.
Find more information and a full list of the Round of 16 matchup dates and times here.
