Previewing Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16

Nine MLS clubs are still standing as the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 gets underway on Tuesday. Here are a few thoughts on the chances each of them has as the continental tournament churns onwards.

Philadelphia Union vs. Club América

Leg 1: Tuesday, March 10 at Subaru Park | 4 pm PT
Leg 2: Wednesday, March 18 at Estadio de la Ciudad de los Deportes | 6 pm PT

It feels pretty stacked against the Union here. Not only do they have to play a Liga MX side that's won this tournament seven times, but the start of their league season has been pretty disastrous. It turns out moving off a former Defender of the Year centerback (Jakob Glesnes), a Golden Boot-caliber striker (Tai Baribo), and the best chance-creating fullback in the league (Kai Wagner) in the same offseason created a bunch of holes. They've lost all three of their MLS games so far, including a 1-0 loss to DC United in Matchday 1. If there's one thing they might have going for them, Club América don't seem to be in especially great form at the moment. They're currently 8th in Liga MX, and they squeaked by Club Olimpia by a 2-1 aggregate score in Round One of CCC.

LAFC vs. Alajuelense

Leg 1: Tuesday, March 10 at BMO Stadium | 8 pm PT
Leg 2: Tuesday, March 17 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto | 6 pm PT

LAFC have looked like a buzzsaw so far, starting 3-0-0 in MLS play while topping Honduran side Real España in Round One of CCC, 7-1 on aggregate. They'll be a heavy favorite against Alajuelense, who are Costa Rica's most historically successful club, but aren't off to a great start in 2026 (sixth in the Clausura table). For what it's worth, Alajuelense did make it a decently competitive matchup the last time these two teams met in the CCC in 2023. In that series, they actually won the second leg at BMO Field, 2-1, but LAFC still advanced because Denis Bouanga dropped a hat trick in the first leg. All that's to say, Alajuelense should put up more of a fight than España did. But in all likelihood, we'll be seeing Son Heung-min, Denis Bouanga and Co. book a date with either Cruz Azul and CF Monterrey, either one of which would be a juicy matchup.

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF

Leg 1: Wednesday, March 11 at GEODIS Park | 4:30 pm PT
Leg 2: Wednesday, March 18 at Inter Miami CF Stadium | 4 pm PT

Nashville were one of the trendiest breakout picks over the offseason and they've mostly delivered on that so far. Blockbuster free-agent arrival Cristian Espinoza looks awesome playing with Hany Mukhtar. Sam Surridge is an early Golden Boot frontrunner, finding the net four times already across all competitions. If there's anyone who could give Inter Miami a run for their money in this situation, it seems like it should be them.

Unfortunately, history is not on Nashville’s side. These teams have met four times in cup competitions since 2023. Inter Miami have won all four, most recently in CCC in 2024 and the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2025. Inter Miami opened their league season by face-planting at LAFC, but they've looked pretty much back to normal since then, and they still have Lionel Messi. Nashville pulling off the upset here is possible, but it feels like too much to ask.

LA Galaxy vs. Mt. Pleasant

Leg 1: Wednesday, March 11 at Dignity Health Sports Park | 6:30 pm PT
Leg 2: Thursday, March 19 at Independence Park | 4 pm PT

The Galaxy have been hard to pin down so far. They looked genuinely incredible in Matchday 2's 3-0 blowout of Charlotte FC, seemingly lending some credence to all the talk of their resurgence over the offseason. Then they went out and lost to the Colorado Rapids 4-1 over the weekend after Gabriel Pec took a crashout red card, looking a lot like the erratic squad that saw their 2025 season go fully off the rails. That said, they've got by far the easiest matchup of any MLS club in the Round of 16 against Mt. Pleasant side that's reportedly going to be down 10 players.

San Diego FC vs. Toluca FC

Leg 1: Wednesday, March 11 at Snapdragon Stadium | 8:30 pm PT
Leg 2: Wednesday, March 18 at Estadio Nemesio Díez Riega | 8 pm PT

This is probably the juiciest matchup of the bunch. San Diego FC do not appear to be afflicted with any sort of year two regression. In fact, they look like they're going to be one of the best teams in the league again, and Anders Dreyer has the look of a guy who can carry a team on his back throughout a whole tournament. They don't have any experience playing in CCC, but that didn't seem to matter when they ousted Pumas UNAM in Round One. They also play some pretty electric, high-flying soccer, which should create some fireworks as they take on a Toluca side that's probably the best team in Liga MX right now, and considered a frontrunner to win the whole tournament. I can't wait to watch this one.

FC Cincinnati vs. Tigres

Leg 1: Thursday, March 12 at TQL Stadium | 5 pm PT
Leg 2: Thursday, March 19 at Estadio Universitario | 6 pm PT

Something just seems off with FC Cincinnati. On paper, this should be one of the best teams in MLS. But they've lost two of three to start their league campaign, including a pretty inexplicable home defeat to Toronto FC on Sunday. They're getting Evander back from injury, so they'll hope that provides a boost as they face off with a Tigres side that's only sixth in Liga MX, but has a long track record of success in this tournament.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC

Leg 1: Thursday, March 12 at BC Place | 7 pm PT
Leg 2: Wednesday, March 18 at ONE Spokane Stadium | 8 pm PT

Vancouver started the season relatively slowly in CCC, but it's become clear over the last two weeks that this is indeed still one of the 3-4 best teams in MLS. Seattle just pulled off an admirable feat by beating St. Louis CITY SC on the road with one healthy natural centerback, but it's a different beast entirely when you've got Brian White, Sebastian Berhalter and Thomas Müller running at you.

This series might well come down to how Seattle's makeshift backline holds up in Thursday's Leg 1 at BC Place. If they can get out of Vancouver within one goal, it probably means the defense performed well enough to give the Sounders a fighting chance going into the finale in Spokane.