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Why is CONCACAF Champions League qualifying so dang complicated this year?

The recently-concluded 2019 CONCACAF Champions League draw was a little more complicated than is perhaps usual for a soccer tournament. There is still one slot open in the 16-team field: a slot that will ultimately be filled by either Portland Timbers or New York Red Bulls.

If Portland wins the 2018 MLS Cup, Portland plays CCL 2019; if Portland does not win MLS Cup this year, RBNY takes the open slot by virtue of having the best aggregate points record in MLS over the past two seasons of any otherwise not-CCL-qualified American club.