| Tourney Name: | CONCACAF League |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Other Titles: | 2020 Scotiabank CONCACAF League |
| Dates: | 20 October 2020 – 3 February 2021 |
| Num Teams: | 22 |
| Associations: | 11 |
| Champion Other: | Alajuelense |
| Count: | 1 |
| Second Other: | Saprissa |
| Matches: | 22 |
| Goals: | 60 |
| Attendance: | 0 |
| Top Scorer: | Johan Venegas (6 goals) |
| Player: | Alexander López |
| Young Player: | Fernán Faerron |
| Goalkeeper: | Leonel Moreira |
| Fair Play: | Alajuelense |
| Prevseason: | 2019 |
| Nextseason: | 2021 |
The 2020 CONCACAF League (officially the 2020 Scotiabank CONCACAF League for sponsorship purposes) was the fourth edition of the CONCACAF League, a football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.[1]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CONCACAF announced on 23 June 2020 that the start of the tournament, which was scheduled to begin on 28 July 2020 and end in November, had been postponed.[2] On 7 August 2020, they announced the tournament would begin on 20 October and end on 28 January 2021.[3] To ease the schedule, CONCACAF originally announced that the preliminary round and round of 16 would be played as single-leg matches, but on 29 October 2020, CONCACAF announced that this format had been extended to all rounds, with ties hosted by the higher-seeded teams based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking.[4] The final was also rescheduled to 3 February 2021.
Alajuelense defeated title holders Saprissa in the final to win their first CONCACAF League title. As winners, they and the next best five teams qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.[5] [6] After the format change of all rounds to single-leg matches, it was decided a play-in round would be added for the four losing quarter-finalists to compete for the last two places in the CONCACAF Champions League.[4]
A total of 22 teams participated in the CONCACAF League:
1 team (from one association)
18 teams (from seven associations)
3 teams (from two or three associations)
Therefore, teams from either 10 or 11 out of the 41 CONCACAF member associations could participate in the CONCACAF League.
The one berth for the North American Zone (NAFU) was allocated to the Canadian Soccer Association through the previous year's Canadian Premier League, where the champions, decided by the Canadian Premier League Finals, contested between the Spring and Fall season champions, qualified.[7] They were the second Canadian representative included in CONCACAF competitions, not including the Canadian Championship winners which qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League.
The 18 berths for the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), which consisted of seven member associations, were allocated as follows: three berths for each of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, two berths for Nicaragua, and one berth for Belize.
All of the leagues of Central America employed a split season with two tournaments in one season, so the following teams qualified for the CONCACAF League:
If teams from any Central American associations were excluded, they were to be replaced by teams from other Central American associations, with the associations chosen based on results from previous CONCACAF League and CONCACAF Champions League tournaments.[8]
The three berths for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), which consisted of 31 member associations, were allocated via the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship and CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, the first-tier and second-tier subcontinental Caribbean club tournaments. Since 2018, the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship had been open to teams from professional leagues, where they could qualify as champions or runners-up of their respective association's league in the previous season, while the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield was open to teams from non-professional leagues, where they could qualify as champions of their respective association's league in the previous season.[9]
Besides the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship which qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, the runners-up and third-placed team of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship, and the winners of a playoff between the fourth-placed team of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship and the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, qualified for the CONCACAF League. For the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield to be eligible for the playoff, they had to comply with the minimum CONCACAF Club Licensing requirements for the CONCACAF League.[10]
The following 22 teams (from eleven associations) qualified for the tournament.[11]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for registration was extended to 28 June 2020.[12]
| width=15% | Association | width=14% | Team | width=11% | Entry round | width=40% | Qualifying method | width=7% | width=13% | Previous best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forge FC | Preliminary round | 2019 Canadian Premier League champions | 2nd | Round of 16 |
| width=15% | Association | width=14% | Team | width=11% | Entry round | width=40% | Qualifying method | width=7% | width=13% | Previous best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saprissa | Round of 16 | Champions with better 2019–20 aggregate record (2020 Clausura) | 2nd | Champions | |||||||
| Herediano | Round of 16 | Champions with worse 2019–20 aggregate record (2019 Apertura) | 3rd | Champions | |||||||
| Alajuelense | Preliminary round | Non-champions with best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Round of 16 | |||||||
| Olimpia | Round of 16 | 2019 Apertura champions | 3rd | Champions | |||||||
| Marathón | Round of 16 | Non-champions with best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Preliminary round | |||||||
| Motagua | Preliminary round | Non-champions with 2nd best 2019–20 aggregate record | 3rd | Runners-up | |||||||
| Tauro | Round of 16 | 2019 Apertura champions | 3rd | Semi-finals | |||||||
| San Francisco | Round of 16 | Non-champions with best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Preliminary round | |||||||
| Independiente | Preliminary round | Non-champions with 2nd best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Quarter-finals | |||||||
| Alianza | Round of 16 | 2019 Apertura champions | 3rd | Semi-finals | |||||||
| FAS | Preliminary round | Non-champions with best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Quarter-finals | |||||||
| Municipal Limeño | Preliminary round | Non-champions with 2nd best 2019–20 aggregate record | 1st | Debut | |||||||
| Municipal | Round of 16 | 2019 Apertura champions | 1st | Debut | |||||||
| Comunicaciones | Preliminary round | Non-champions with best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Quarter-finals | |||||||
| Antigua GFC | Preliminary round | Non-champions with 2nd best 2019–20 aggregate record | 2nd | Preliminary round | |||||||
| Real Estelí | Round of 16 | 2019 Apertura and 2020 Clausura champions | 3rd | Round of 16 | |||||||
| Managua | Preliminary round | 2019 Apertura and 2020 Clausura runners-up | 2nd | Round of 16 | |||||||
| Verdes | Preliminary round | 2019 Opening champions | 1st | Debut |
| width=15% | Association | width=14% | Team | width=11% | Entry round | width=40% | Qualifying method | width=7% | width=13% | Previous best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterhouse | Round of 16 | 2nd best ranked team of 2020 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship group stage | 2nd | Quarter-finals | |||||||
| Arcahaie | Preliminary round | 3rd best ranked team of 2020 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship group stage | 1st | Debut | |||||||
| Cibao | Preliminary round | 4th best ranked team of 2020 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship group stage | 1st | Debut |
The draw for the 2020 CONCACAF League was held on 21 September 2020, 19:00 EDT (UTC−4), at the CONCACAF headquarters in Miami, United States.[13] [14]
The draw determined each tie in the preliminary round (numbered 1 through 6) between a team from Pot 1 and a team from Pot 2, each containing six teams. A team from Pot 1 and a team from Pot 2 were drawn into each tie. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other in the preliminary round except for "wildcard" teams which could replace a team from another association.
The draw also determined each tie in the round of 16 (numbered 1 through 8) between a team from Pot 3 and a team from Pot 4, each containing eight teams, with the six preliminary round winners, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, in Pot 4. A team from Pot 3 and a team from Pot 4 were drawn into each tie.
The seeding of teams was based on the CONCACAF Club Index. The CONCACAF Club Index, instead of ranking each team, was based on the on-field performance of the teams that had occupied the respective qualifying slots in the previous five editions of the CONCACAF League and CONCACAF Champions League. To determine the total points awarded to a slot in any single edition of the CONCACAF League or CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF used the following formula:
| Points per | Participation | Win | Draw | Stage advanced | Champions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF Champions League | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| CONCACAF League | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 |
Teams qualified for the CONCACAF League based on criteria set by their association (e.g., tournament champions, runners-up, cup champions), resulting in an assigned slot (e.g., CRC1, CRC2) for each team.
The 22 teams were distributed in the pots as follows:[15]
| Pot | Rank | Slot | 2015–16 CCL | 2016–17 CCL | 2017 CL or 2018 CCL | 2018 CL or 2019 CCL | 2019 CL | Total | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pot 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48.5 | Alajuelense | ||||
| 2 | 35 | FAS | |||||||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 31.5 | Municipal Limeño | |||||
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 28 | Independiente | |||||
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 26.5 | Motagua | |||||
| 6 | 23.5 | Arcahaie | |||||||
| Pot 2 | 7 | 18 | Verdes | ||||||
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 17 | Comunicaciones | |||||
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 16.5 | Managua | |||||
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 12.5 | Cibao | |||||
| 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Antigua GFC | |||
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.5 | Forge FC |
| Pot | Rank | Slot | 2015–16 CCL | 2016–17 CCL | 2017 CL or 2018 CCL | 2018 CL or 2019 CCL | 2019 CL | Total | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pot 3 | 1 | 55 | Tauro | ||||||
| 2 | 46.5 | Olimpia | |||||||
| 3 | 46 | San Francisco | |||||||
| 4 | 40 | Marathón | |||||||
| 5 | 37.5 | Saprissa | |||||||
| 6 | 35 | Herediano | |||||||
| 7 | 33 | Alianza | |||||||
| 8 | 24.5 | Waterhouse | |||||||
| Pot 4 | 9 | 0 | 24 | Municipal | |||||
| 10 | 23.5 | Real Estelí | |||||||
| 11 | Winner preliminary round 1 | ||||||||
| 12 | Winner preliminary round 2 | ||||||||
| 13 | Winner preliminary round 3 | ||||||||
| 14 | Winner preliminary round 4 | ||||||||
| 15 | Winner preliminary round 5 | ||||||||
| 16 | Winner preliminary round 6 | ||||||||
In the CONCACAF League, the 22 teams played a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played as a single match.[4]
The schedule of the competition was as follows.[13]
| Round | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round | 20–22 October 2020 | |
| Round of 16 | 3–5 November 2020 | |
| Quarter-finals | 1–2 December 2020 (previously 1–3 and 8–10 December 2020 as two-leg matches) | |
| Play-in round | 8–9 December 2020 (previously not scheduled)[16] | |
| Semi-finals | 20 January 2021 (previously 5–7 and 12–14 January 2021 as two-leg matches) | |
| Final | 3 February 2021 (previously 19–21 and 26–28 January 2021 as two-leg matches) |
Times are Eastern Time, as listed by CONCACAF (local times are in parentheses):
In the preliminary round, the matchups were decided by draw: PR-1 through PR-6. The team from Pot 1 in the draw hosted the single-leg match.
Four of the six matches were played from 20–22 October 2020.[17] Due to CONCACAF's COVID-19 testing protocol, one match was cancelled, and another match was rescheduled to 4 November.[18]
|}
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In the round of 16, the matchups were decided by draw: R16-1 through R16-8. The team from Pot 3 in the draw hosted the single-leg match, except for the match between Alajuelense and San Francisco, where the higher-seeded team based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking hosted the match.
Six of the eight matches were played from 3–5 November 2020.[17] [18] Due to CONCACAF's COVID-19 testing protocol, one match was rescheduled to 24 November. Another match was also rescheduled to 24 November due to the postponement of a preliminary round match.[19]
|}
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In the quarter-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:
The higher-seeded team based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking hosted the single-leg match.
The winners of the quarter-finals qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The losers entered the play-in round. The matches were played on 1–2 December 2020.[19]
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In the play-in, the matchups were determined as follows:
The higher-seeded team based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking hosted the single-leg match.
The winners of the play-in round qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The matches were played on 8 and 9 December 2020.[20]
|}
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In the semi-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:
The higher-seeded team based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking hosted the single-leg match.
The matches were played on 20 and 22 January 2021.[21]
|}
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See main article: article and 2020 CONCACAF League Final.
In the final (Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2), the higher-seeded team based on the CONCACAF Club Ranking hosted the single-leg match.
The match was played on 3 February 2021.[21]
|}
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals | By round | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|    | |||||||||
| 1 | Johan Venegas | Saprissa | 6 | 4 | 2 | ||||
| 2 | Juan Barrera | Real Estelí | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Christian Bolaños | Saprissa | 1 | 1 | ||||||
 Matías Galvaliz | Motagua | 1 | 1 | ||||||
 Daniel Krutzen | Forge FC | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Kevin López | Motagua | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Álvaro Saborío | Alajuelense | 2 | |||||||
The top six teams qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, i.e., champions, runners-up, both losing semi-finalists, and the two winners of the play-in round contested by the four losing quarter-finalists.
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:
| Award | Player | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Ball[22] | Alexander López | Alajuelense | |
| Golden Boot[23] | Johan Venegas | Saprissa | |
| Golden Glove[24] | Leonel Moreira | Alajuelense | |
| Best Young Player[25] | Fernán Faerron | Alajuelense | |
| Fair Play Award[26] | — | Alajuelense |
| Position | Player | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leonel Moreira | Alajuelense | ||
| align=center rowspan=4 | Yurguin Román | Alajuelense | |
| Fernán Faerron | Alajuelense | ||
| Esteban Espíndola | Saprissa | ||
| Elvin Oliva | Olimpia | ||
| align=center rowspan=4 | Alexander López | Alajuelense | |
| Adrián Martínez | Alajuelense | ||
| Michael Barrantes | Saprissa | ||
| Mariano Torres | Saprissa | ||
| align=center rowspan=2 | Kervens Jolicoeur | Arcahaie | |
| Johan Venegas | Saprissa |