New York City FC have become the fifth and final MLS team to qualify for the 2022 Concacaf Champions League after winning MLS Cup 2021 on Saturday.
NYCFC clinched their spot thanks to a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win over the Portland Timbers at Providence Park on Saturday following a 1-1 score after extra time. It will be the second time that the Cityzens will compete in CCL after they reached the quarterfinals in 2020.
New York City will be joined by the record-setting Supporters' Shield winners New England Revolution. As reward for finishing atop the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids will take their place among the continent's elite for the fourth time in their history.
Despite a 1-1 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC that cost them the No. 1 seed in the West, Seattle will be in 2022's CCL thanks to having the next-best regular-season record outside of the Rapids and New England.
The Sounders' spot was made available by U.S. Soccer after the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was canceled for a second year running due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CF Montréal became the fourth MLS team to clinch a 2022 Concacaf Champions League place, thanks to a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship Final last month.
Montréal, which reached the quarterfinals during their last appearance in 2020, will compete in the CCL for the fifth time in club history.
2022 Concacaf Champions League places from the US and Canada:
- New England Revolution (2021 MLS Supporters' Shield winners)
- Colorado Rapids (2021 MLS Western Conference regular-season winners)
- Seattle Sounders (Team with the next-best MLS regular-season record)
- CF Montréal (2021 Canadian Championship winners)
- New York City FC (2021 MLS Cup champions)
