Concacaf announces Concacaf League expansion, shift in Champions League qualification method

All Central American teams now will qualify for the region's top club championship by way of the second-tier competition

Central American teams will have to prove it on the field if they want to qualify for the Concacaf Champions League.

The confederation announced a shift in qualification procedure for the regional club championship Monday, along with an expansion of its secondary tournament, the Concacaf League.

All Central American teams, even champions which previously qualified directly to the Champions League, will now go through the Concacaf League to make the marquee tournament. In addition to the winner of the Concacaf League, five additional teams will qualify from that tournament into the Champions League.