The end game for most sports is winning the championship title. In the world of club soccer, that is the FIFA World Cup.

To get there, however, teams must survive the gauntlet of the months-long CONCACAF Champion’s Cup games. In short, the CONCACAF is a club football (soccer) tournament that occurs every year, featuring clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This Cup determines at the end who qualifies for the next big Cup: the FIFA Club World Cup.

The journey toward the CONCACAF Champions Cup kicked off on Feb. 6 with 22 teams going head to head, vying for as many points as possible to move on to the semi-finals. Leg 1 of the semifinal begins Tuesday, April 23, with Pachuca vs. Club América and Columbus vs. Monterrey.

Stats leaders for goals are looking quite feisty, with Salomón Rondón at 7 goals and Alejandro Zendejas with André-Pierre Gignac at 4 goals each! The competitive nature of these players promises to make the semi-finals thrilling on all sides.

Sophomore Yuliana Desantos couldn’t agree more. “This final overall has been so exciting to be looking forward to!” she begins. “Seeing the teams that were able to make it towards the semi-finals makes it even better!” Finishing off, Desantos adds, “Although every team that was there from the start had their own special ways of play, these teams are incredible to watch!” So, who will she be watching?  “Personally, I am a BIG Club América fan and hope they make it to the finals!”

While the outcome of the semi-finals will be known in just a few days, the outcome of the finals will require more patience, as the players take about a month-long break to rest and train  for the upcoming big day on June 2.