Teams – Inside World Football

Teams – Inside World Football https://www.insideworldfootball.com For the Business of Football Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:35:42 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.16 Atlético Ottawa https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/atletico-ottawa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:22:39 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170284

Atlético Ottawa, winners of the Canadian Premier League in 2025, are playing in their first Champions Cup.

The club were only formed in January 2020 when they were awarded an expansion team slot in the CPL. Majority owned by Spanish LaLiga club Atlético Madrid, and with local businessman Jeff Hunt who owns the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (hockey and American football teams), the team began play the same year.

After playing the 2020 season and start of the 2021 season at neutral-site venues due to the Covid 19 pandemic,

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]]> CS Cartaginés (Costa Rica) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/cs-cartagines-costa-rica/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:21:30 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170287

CS Cartaginés represents one of Costa Rica’s historic football institutions as they prepare for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. A club steeped in tradition, Cartaginés earned their place in the continental tournament through strong domestic showings and success in regional qualification pathways.

While they might lack the star power of bigger clubs, their tactical discipline can frustrate stronger sides and create opportunities in transitional phases.

Coached by the well traveled Argentine,

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]]> FC Cincinnati https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/fc-cincinnati/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:20:27 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170517

FC Cincinnati was formed in 2015 but only started playing in 2016 in the USL Championship where they played three seasons before being awarded an MSL franchise and debuting in the league in 2019.

The club has wasted no time in pushing itself to the top of the MLS hierarchy, finishing top of the league standings and winning the MLS Supporters Shield in 2023, and coming runners-up in 2025. The 2025 finish gave the club its third successive qualification for Concacaf’s top tier club competition.

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]]> Club América (Mexico) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/club-america-mexico/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:19:53 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170290

A giant amongst Mexico’s giant clubs, Club América, the club has won a record 16 league titles, a record six Copa Mexico titles, and a joint-record seven Campeon de Campeones played between the champions of the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura tournaments.

They play at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

América have won a joint-record (shared with Cruz Azul) seven CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles.

The club has also won one Campeones Cup,

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]]> Cruz Azul (MEX) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/cruz-azul-mex/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:18:01 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170294

Cruz Azul’s 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign was a resounding confirmation of their status as one of CONCACAF’s elite clubs, culminating in a 5-0 thrashing over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the final to secure a record-tying seventh continental title. The victory was even sweeter as they matched Club América for the most wins (seven) in tournament history.

At the heart of this success was Vicente Sánchez, the Uruguayan head coach who guided Cruz Azul with a clear tactical vision and calm authority throughout the competition.

Read more …

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]]> Defence Force FC (Trinidad & Tobago) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/defence-force-fc-trinidad-tobago/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:17:40 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170297

Defence Force FC arrives in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup as a storied Caribbean representative with a proud history and defensive grit. The club earned the final berth in this year’s tournament by finishing third in the Caribbean Cup.

The twenty-time winner of their domestic league is built around a core of disciplined, hard‑working players, many of whom also serve in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. This unique structure fosters a strong collective mentality and physical resilience,

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]]> Forge FC (Canada) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/forge-fc-canada/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:16:22 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170300

Forge FC’s top tier competitive history is relatively short having joined the Canadian Premier League in 2019. The club has already appeared in four Champions League/Champions Cup editions.

Based in Hamilton, Ontario, the club qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup by winning the 2025 Canadian Premier League Shield as the regular season winners. They face Mexican giants Tigres UANL in the first round.

On October 1, 2018, the fledgling franchise announced that Canadian Bobby Smyrniotis would be the club’s first head coach and technical director.

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]]> LA Galaxy (USA) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/la-galaxy-usa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:15:25 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170303

After one of the worst campaigns by a defending MLS Cup champion the LA Galaxy are determined to change the narrative, yet decided to keep the man steering the ship, coach Greg Vanney.

The Galaxy’s roster combines experienced leaders and dynamic attackers who can shift momentum in tight games. Players with European pedigrees, most notably, former German international, Marco Reus bring technical quality and poise.

Under Vanney, the LA Galaxy emphasize structured defending and quick transitional play.

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]]> Los Angeles FC (USA) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/los-angeles-fc-usa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:14:29 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170306

Los Angeles FC enters the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup as one of the more established MLS powerhouses, blending a history of league success with serious continental ambitions.

Founded as an expansion club just eight years ago in 2018, LAFC quickly distinguished itself in MLS with trophies in the form of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Supporters’ Shields and an MLS Cup title, as well as runs deep into past editions of the Champions Cup including final appearances in 2020 and 2023.

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]]> CF Monterrey (MEX) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/cf-monterrey-mex/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:13:38 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170309

CF Monterrey are one of the giants of the Mexican club game having won five Liga MX titles as well as five Concacaf Champions League titles. They have twice finished third at the Club World Cup (2012 and 2019).

In 2020 they were only the second club to complete the treble of Liga MX, Copa MX and Concacaf Champions League.

For a team only founded in 1945, in the 2000s they have turned themselves into a major international force and now play at the imposing Estadio BBVA in Nuevo Leon,

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]]> Nashville SC (USA) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/nashville-sc-usa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:12:35 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170312

Nashville SC spent two seasons in the USL Championship before joining MLS as an expansion team in 2020.

Nashville SC’s inaugural MLS match on February 29, 2020, saw them host Atlanta United at Nissan Stadium in front of 59,069, the highest attended soccer event in Tennessee. US national team centre back Walker Zimmerman scored Nashville’s first league goal in a 2-1 loss.

Nashville now play home matches at Geodis Park, the largest soccer-specific stadium in the US with a capacity of 30,000.

Read more …

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]]> O&M Fútbol Club (Dominican Republic) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/om-futbol-club-dominican-republic/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:11:21 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170359

O&M FC (Universidad Organización y Método) are playing in their first Champions Cup having finished as runners-up in the 2025 Caribbean Cup.

The Dominican Republic side, based in Santo Domingo finished fifth in the Liga Dominicana de Fútbol in 2025. They won their last domestic league in 2020 when they finished top of both the regular season table and won the playoff championships.

Known as La Universidad (or The University), O&M FC was founded in 1974 and plays their home matches at the 27,000-capacity Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez,

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]]> C.D. Olimpia (Honduras) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/c-d-olimpia-honduras/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:10:02 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170362

Founded in 1912, C.D. Olimpia are the most successful and popular team in Honduras, based in Tegucigalpa. They have an impressive and dominating record of 39 league titles in the Liga Nacional de Honduras, no other team comes close.

They are also the only Honduran club to have won the CONCACAF Champions Cup twice (1972 and 1988). This will be their 26th appearance in the Champions Cup, the last one being in the group stages of the 2008-09 edition.

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]]> Philadelphia Union (USA) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/philadelphia-union-usa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:09:12 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170365

The Philadelphia Union arrive at the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup on the back of their second Supporters’ Shield given to the club that wins the MLS regular season. This is the Union’s fourth continental appearance, demonstrating both stability and ambition over multiple campaigns.

The club has a multi-national make-up to the squad led by veteran Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake and the ageless midfielder Alejandro Bedoya (38). The team is also known as a factory for producing some of the best young talent in the country to form a squad capable of managing phases of play both domestically and in international knockout formats.

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]]> Pumas UNAM (Mexico) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/pumas-unam-mexico/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:08:03 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170368

Club Universidad Nacional, better known as Pumas UNAM, is one of Mexico’s most historic clubs. Based in Mexico City and affiliated with the National Autonomous University (UNAM), they boast a passionate fanbase and a strong tradition in Liga MX. Pumas are three-time winners of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

In the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, Pumas made it to the quarterfinals before losing against the Vancouver Whitecaps on away goals.

Pumas are led by Efraín Juárez,

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]]> Real Espana (Honduras) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/real-espana-honduras/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:07:56 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170371

Real Club Deportivo Real España is preparing to make an impact on the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, carrying the weight of its rich Honduran tradition and a renewed sense of ambition. Based in San Pedro Sula, the club has long been a fixture in Honduran football, known for blending tactical discipline with a vibrant attacking style.

As they enter the continental stage, Real España looks to assert itself against some of the strongest clubs in North and Central America,

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]]> Real Espana (Honduras) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/real-espana-honduras-2/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:07:04 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170374

Real Club Deportivo Real España is preparing to make an impact on the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, carrying the weight of its rich Honduran tradition and a renewed sense of ambition. Based in San Pedro Sula, the club has long been a fixture in Honduran football, known for blending tactical discipline with a vibrant attacking style.

As they enter the continental stage, Real España looks to assert itself against some of the strongest clubs in North and Central America,

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]]> San Diego FC (USA) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/san-diego-fc-usa/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:06:53 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170377

San Diego FC have quickly become one of the stories in Major League Soccer. The MLS expansion club’s inaugural 2025 season was historic as they finished first in the Western Conference, set new expansion records for most points (63) and wins (19) by a debut club, and advanced deep into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

This remarkable season earned them their first-ever berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup – the premier club competition in CONCACAF.

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]]> Sporting San Miguelito (Panama) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/sporting-san-miguelito-panama/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:05:37 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170394

Sporting San Miguelito was founded in 1989 as a youth academy but has grown to now compete in Panama’s top league, the Liga Panamena de Futbol, making their debut in the 1997 season. The club is based in the San Miguelito district of Panama Province.

This is the club’s first qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup which was achieved by defeating local rivals CD Plaza Amador 4-2 on aggregate in the Concacaf Central American play-in series last October,

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]]> Tigres UANL (Mexico) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/tigres-uanl-mexico/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:04:54 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170380

Tigres UANL is one of Mexico’s giant clubs, playing at the iconic Universitario Stadium just outside the Nuevo León capital city Monterrey.

Domestically, Tigres has won eight Liga MX titles, three Copa MX titles and four Campeon de Campeones.

Tigres have made 11 appearances in the Concacaf Champions Cup/Champions League. They have reached the final four times (2015-16, 2016-17, 2019, 2020), winning the title once in 2020.

In 2020 they set a Concacaf record becoming the first team to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup,

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]]> Vancouver FC (Canada) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/vancouver-fc-canada/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:03:58 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170397

Vancouver FC are very much a work in progress. Competing in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), the top tier of Canadian soccer, they were only established in 2023, playing at the Willoughby Stadium with a focus on developing young Canadian talent.

Vancouver FC qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup by reaching the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship final as a CPL side. They lost 4-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final, but secured the Champions Cup berth because the Whitecaps had already qualified via their 2025 MLS league performance.

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]]> Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/vancouver-whitecaps-fc-can/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:02:46 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170383

Vancouver Whitecaps FC produced one of the most remarkable continental runs in their history during the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, pushing beyond expectations and changing perceptions of what a Major League Soccer club outside the traditional power markets can achieve on the regional stage.

The Whitecaps’ journey to the final was built on resilience, tactical discipline and a growing sense of belief that carried them through some of the competition’s most demanding matchups.

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]]> Xelajú MC (Guatemala) https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/01/29/xelaju-mc-guatemala/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:01:43 +0000 https://www.insideworldfootball.com/?p=170386

Xelajú MC, located in Quetzaltenango, are the most successful Guatemalan club outside the capital of Guatemala City, having been Liga Nos Une champions seven times, the latest in 2024.

Founded in 1928 as Germania they changed their name 10 years later to ADIX (Asociación Deportiva Independiente de Xelajú), and again to Xelajú Mario Camposeco after club playing legend Mario Camposeco died in a plane in 1951.

This is the third time they have competed in the Champions Cup having made it to the second round in 1997 and the quarter finals in 2012-13 (then called the Concacaf Champions League).

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