The 2022 Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Union found out on Monday night that they will face Alianza FC in the Round of 16 for the 2023 Concacaf Champions League.
The Boys in Blue were drawn in the A8 position using a double-blind system and four pots. The two sides are slated to face off in March as the Union make their second appearance in the Concacaf tournament after earning their spot as the Eastern Conference Champion in the MLS regular season.
This is the Union’s second trip to CCL after earning their first ever berth to the 2021 CCL. In their inaugural CCL campaign, the Union cruised to the semifinals after defeating Saprissa in the round of 16 5-0 on aggregate and Atlanta United in the quarterfinals 4-1 on aggregate, before finally falling to Mexican giants, Club America, 4-0 on aggregate.
The CCL is a 16-team single elimination competition featuring teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, with the winner earning a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Alianza FC qualified for the 2023 Concacaf Champions League as the best ranked losing quarterfinalist in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League. The El Salvadorian side finished atop Group B of the 2022 Apertura Salvadoran Primera Division with a 6-1-3 record before falling in the quarterfinals via a 2-1 aggregate to Platense. After a two-year absence, Alianza return to the SCCL for its fifth SCCL appearance overall. In their last appearance which game in 2020, they barely missed out of a quarterfinal appearance with a narrow 5-4 aggregate defeat in the Round of 16 to eventual champions Tigres.
The dates for the Union's two legs in the Round of 16 along with information about the 2023 MLS regular season schedule will be announced in the near future.
