MEXICO CITY — New York City FC will face Costa Rican club AD San Carlos in the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions League in February.
The pairings were determined during a draw Monday night.
The first leg will be played in Costa Rica Feb. 18-20, the second leg in New York Feb. 25-27.
Yankee Stadium has been NYCFC’s home since it entered Major League Soccer in 2015, except for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. The stadium wasn’t mentioned in NYCFC’s press release for the game, prompting speculation that the game will be played at another venue in New York City. There has been speculation that the Feb. 25-27 game will be played at MCU Park in Brooklyn.
Dates and times for the matches will be released in the coming days.
“Qualifying for the Concacaf Champions League for the first time in Club history is an incredible milestone for New York City FC,” City sporting director David Lee said in a statement. “The competition is an excellent opportunity to face the best teams from across our region and will provide us with invaluable experience in an international competition.
“We look forward to opening our 2020 season against AD San Carlos who we know will be a difficult opponent. Costa Rica is one of best countries in our region so we know they’re going to have quality players and it’s going to be a tough game.
“The tournament is also another opportunity for our fans to see a football competition outside of Major League Soccer. Everyone at the club knows our supporters will provide us with a tremendous advantage in the home leg.”
NYCFC hasn’t named a coach since Dome Torrent left the club in November.
City qualified for the tournament for the first time after finishing the regular season on top of the Eastern Conference.
AD San Carlos qualified for the competition as the best ranked quarterfinalist in the 2019 Concacaf League. They won the Costa Rican Primera Division Clausura title for the first time in the 2018-2019 season.
If NYCFC advances to the quarterfinals, it will face the winner of the Tigres UANL (Mexico) and Alianza FC (El Salvador) Round of 16 match-up.
The Round of 16 pairings:
Matchup #1: Atlanta United FC (USA) vs FC Motagua (HON)
Matchup #2: Club America (MEX) vs Comunicaciones FC (GUA)
Matchup #3: Cruz Azul FC (MEX) vs Portmore United FC (JAM)
Matchup #4: Los Angeles FC (USA) vs Club Leon (MEX)
Matchup #5: Tigres UANL (MEX) vs Alianza FC (SLV)
Matchup #6: New York City FC (USA) vs AD San Carlos (CRC)
Matchup #7: Seattle Sounders FC (USA) vs CD Olimpia (HON)
Matchup #8: Montreal Impact (CAN) vs Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
CCL schedule windows
February
18 – 20: 1st Leg Round of 16
25 – 27: 2nd Leg Round of 16
March
10 – 12: 1st Leg Quarterfinals
17 – 19: 2nd Leg Quarterfinals
April
7 – 9: 1st Leg Semifinals
14 – 16: 2nd Leg Semifinals
28 – 30: 1St Leg Final
May
5 – 7: 2nd Leg Final
