The New England Revolution have been drawn against Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago, one of three qualifiers from the Caribbean region. Two-time Trinidad & Tobago Pro League champions, last in 2006, Joe Public FC are currently fifth in their domestic league, at the midway point of the campaign. They faced MLS competition once in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup -- an 8-0 quarterfinal thrashing by D.C. United in 1998, as United were on their way to becoming the first U.S. team to ever win the continental club championship.
Chivas USA have been drawn against Panamanian side Tauro FC, winners of Panama's Torneo ANAPROF Apertura last year, and runners-up in the Apertura in May. Tauro have won seven ANAPROF championship since the development of the professional league in 1988, most of any club.
In addition, Toronto FC could win advancement to the preliminary stage by winning the Canadian Championship, a round-robin that also includes the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division. Toronto FC started their trek with a 1-0 victory in Montreal last month.
The other two MLS participants, D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo, have been seeded directly into the group stage, which will consist of four groups of four teams each and begin play in September. The groups will be announced on Mon., June 16.
This new tournament replaces the old CONCACAF Champions Cup, won recently by Mexican club Pachuca.
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