By Mariana Smithfield

Malte Amundsen & Wilfried Nancy Crew previews CF Monterrey Match in CONCACAF 4 23 2024.mp3

• Leg 1 – 8:15 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 24 at Lower.com Field
  • Tickets remain available at www.columbuscrew.com/tickets
  • TV: FOX Sports 1 (English), TUDN (Spanish)
  • Radio: Alt 105.7 FM (English, FM over-the-air only); La Grande 102.5 and La Grande app (Spanish)
  • CF Monterrey (Rayados) is a five-time LIGA MX champion, five-time Concacaf Champions League winner and is currently third on the league’s Clausura table, only three points behind leaders Club América and Toluca. They finished second in the 2023-2024 Apertura campaign.

• The Columbus Crew are the only MLS team remaining in the international tournament.
  • It marks the Crew’s first berth in the competition’s Semifinals.
  • The Black & Gold could become only the second MLS team (Seattle Sounders in 2022) to win the tournament.
  • If the Crew hoist the trophy, they’d earn a berth in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which will be hosted in the USA. The 32-team tournament encompasses top clubs across the globe, including iconic soccer clubs who have already qualified like Manchester City, Cheslea, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Juventes, Flamengo and more.

  • With the Quarterfinals win against Tigres UANL:
    • The Crew became the first MLS team ever to advance to the next round of Concacaf Champions Cup when facing a LIGA MX club after hosting and not winning the first leg of the series.
    • Columbus became the first MLS club to claim a penalty shootout victory against a LIGA MX side in Mexico during competitive play.

  • If Columbus advances to the Final:
    • The Crew would become only the fifth MLS Club to reach the Final in recent tournament history.
    • The Black & Gold would also be only the third MLS side to beat a LIGA MX opponent in the Semifinals (LAFC vs. Club America in 2020; Toronto FC vs. Club America) on their path to the Final.
    • The tournament champion will be decided during one match (not a two-leg series) that will be played in late May or early June, with the host site determined by the team with the most points from Round of 16 through the Semifinals.

• Leg 2 – 10:15 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 1 at Estadio BBVA
• The Club initially qualified based on 2023 Supporters’ Shield standings (No. 3) and earned a bye into the Round of 16 after winning MLS Cup in December.

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