Atlanta United officially begins its 2021 season next week by opening play in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (SCCL) in Costa Rica against LD Alajuelense. Atlanta is one of only two clubs in this year’s field to play in the premier international competition for the third consecutive season. But for those new to the Five Stripes or Major League Soccer, what exactly is SCCL and how does it differ from the team’s regular season? Everything you need to know about the international tournament below.
The Competition
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, better known as Concacaf, is one of FIFA’s six continental confederations, servicing 41 Member Associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana in the south.