MIAMI – Concacaf Wednesday conducted the official draw for the 2021 edition of the Concacaf Champions League.

Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, Concacaf legend Enrique Borja, Orlando City SC head coach Oscar Pareja and several head coaches also participated.

The competition will kick off with the Round of 16 between April 6-8 (first leg) and April 13-15 (second leg). The 16 participating clubs have been divided into eight matchups:

Matchup #1: Cruz Azul (MEX) vs Arcahaie FC (HAI)
Matchup #2: Forge FC or Toronto FC (CAN) vs Club Leon (MEX)
Matchup #3: CF Monterrey (MEX) vs Club Atletico Pantoja (DOM)
Matchup #4: Columbus Crew SC (USA) vs Real Esteli FC (NCA)
Matchup #5: Philadelphia Union (USA) vs Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
Matchup #6: Atlanta United FC (USA) vs LD Alajuelense (CRC)
Matchup #7: Club America (MEX) vs CD Olimpia (HON)
Matchup #8: Portland Timbers (USA) vs CD Marathon (HON)

* The winner of the Canadian Championship (date TBD) will compete in the 2021 CCL.

The Round of 16 will be followed by home and away quarterfinal matches in late-April and early-May, semifinals in August and September, and a single leg SCCL final in October.

For the Round of 16, the highest ranked club in each matchup will play the first leg away and the second leg at home. For the quarterfinals, the Round of 16 winners of matchups 1, 3, 5 and 7 will play the first leg away and the second leg at home.

For the semifinals, the two best performing clubs in the earlier rounds of the competition will play the first leg away and the second leg at home. The single leg final will be hosted by the best performing club of the two finalists in the earlier rounds of the 2021 SCCL (based on wins, draws and, if required, goal difference).

Concacaf Champions League schedule windows

Round of 16: April 6-8 (first leg) and April 13-15 (second leg)

Quarterfinals: April 27-29 (first leg) and May 4-6 (second leg)

Semifinals: Aug. 10-12 (first leg) and Sept. 14-16 (second leg)

Final: Oct. 26-28 (single leg)

Concacaf will announce a complete schedule, including kickoff times and other details in the coming weeks.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.