PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have been drawn into Group B of the 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League tournament alongside C.D. Dragon of El Salvador and Club Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica. The CONCACAF Champions League draw, which set the eight, three-team pairings that comprise the tournament’s group stage, was held Monday night at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. The full tournament schedule will be announced at a later date while the eventual CONCACAF Champions League winner will earn a berth in the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup.
The 2016-17 edition of the competition marks Portland’s second appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament over the last three seasons after qualifying as MLS Cup champions in 2015. The Timbers previously appeared in the 2014-15 edition of the tournament by finishing with the best overall record from the conference opposite the MLS Supporters’ Shield winner in 2013.
The Timbers will play both Saprissa and C.D. Dragon at home and away in a round-robin format and the club with the most points from the group will advance to the tournament’s knockout round. Both home games against C.D. Dragon and Saprissa are included in Timbers Annual Memberships. Further ticket details will be announced at a later date once the group-stage schedule has been finalized.
Based in El Salvador, C.D. Dragon qualified for the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League after winning the 2016 Clausura of El Salvador for the first time in club history. Founded in 1939, C.D. Dragon have won the league twice, finishing runner-up on two occasions in 1951 and 1953.
Club Deportivo Saprissa, who have appeared in the CONCACAF Champions League on five occasions, returns to this year’s edition of the tournament, marking their third consecutive appearance. Founded in 1935, Saprissa have won three Champions Cup titles, winning in 1993, 1995 and 2005.
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) is the governing body of football in the region, and one of six continental authorities that administer the sport along with FIFA, the world governing body. Founded in 1962 as the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League tournament adopted its current format in 2008 and crowns the continental club champion among a field of 24 teams representing CONCACAF member associations. The 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League tournament marks the 52nd overall edition of the annual international club competition.
