CONCACAF Champions League has changed its format going forward for the "2017"-18 season, moving from a group/knockout style of tournament to a strictly knockout contest. To eliminate the group stage, there will be a “Phase 1 Tournament” and then a “Phase 2 Tournament”, which is the CONCACAF Champions League. In both “phases”, match winners will be determined by a home-and-away, aggregate goal series.
The first qualifying stage is made up of 16 teams - 13 from Central America as well as three from the Caribbean. The winner of this “Phase 1” Tournament moves on to battle it out with the big boys in “Phase 2.