Rodolfo Zelaya (pictured) and El Salvador's Alianza will compete in the first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF League, which launches this August. (Photo: Mexsport)
MIAMI – After falling 1-0 to Tauro FC in the 2017 Panamanian Clausura final on Saturday night, Arabe Unido became the last team to book a place in the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF League (SCL) -- the competition’s first-ever edition – that is slated to kick-off in August.
As part of CONCACAF’s enhanced club competition platform, the SCL champion will earn a berth in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
The 16-team SCL competition consists solely of clubs from Central America (13) and the Caribbean (3).
CONCACAF.com takes a look at the qualifiers:
BELIZE
Belmopan Bandits (BEL1)
- 2016 Opening champion and 2017 Closing champion
COSTA RICA
Alajuelense (CRC3)
- non-champion with best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
Santos de Guápiles (CRC4)
- non-champion with 2nd best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
EL SALVADOR
Alianza FC (SLV2)
- 2016 Apertura runner-up, non-champion with best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
Aguila (SLV3)
- non-champion with 2nd best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
HONDURAS
Honduras Progreso (HON2)
- either champion with 2nd best aggregate record in 2016/17 season or runner up with best aggregate record
Platense (HON3)
- 2016 Apertura runner-up, runner-up with second best aggregate record
Olimpia (HON4)
Honduras-4
- non-finalist with best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
JAMAICA
Portmore United (CAR3)
- 2017 Caribbean Club Championship, 3rd place
NICARAGUA
Real Estelí (NCA1)
- 2016 Apertura champion and 2017 Clausura champion
Walter Ferretti (NCA2)
- Non-champion with best aggregate record in 2016-17 season
PANAMA
Arabe Unido (PAN2)
- 2016 Apertura champion, champion with 2nd best aggregate record in 2016/17 season
Plaza Amador (PAN3)
2016 Apertura Runner-up
Chorrillo FC (PAN4)
- non-finalist with best aggregate record in 2016-17 season
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
San Juan Jabloteh (CAR2)
- 2017 Caribbean Club Championship, Runner-up
Central FC (CAR4)
- 2017 Caribbean Club Championship, 4th place