February 22, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release
The goal in 2023 was to get to this point, now it’s here. FC Cincinnati open play in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Thursday night with an away match in Kingston, Jamaica. The Orange and Blue will take on Cavalier FC of the Jamaican Premier League, leaving the friendly confines of North America for the first time in club history to compete in the region’s biggest club competition.
It is only by the virtue of unique scheduling that the Concacaf opener also stands as the opening match of the 2024 competitive season.
FC Cincinnati gained entrance to the Concacaf Champions Cup, formerly known as the Champions League, by winning the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield. In all, the tournament will see 27 teams from 10 nations compete for continental glory. FCC is one of 10 MLS sides to punch their ticket to the tournament.
“It’s been a long preseason, but we’re ready to compete and I like the fact that we get to start the year off with an unfamiliar opponent in a tough atmosphere,” head coach Pat Noonan said Wednesday at Independence Park. “I think our guys are prepared.”
FCC have never played outside of Canada or the United States for a match, marking another first in club history that adds to the many new milestones from 2023.
Round One, like all rounds in the Concacaf Champions Cup up until the final, will be played on aggregate scoring over two matches, meaning Thursday’s match will not be the deciding game to move on to the Round of 16. Instead, the scores of this match will combine with the return fixture next week at TQL Stadium. The combined total will determine who advances to face CF Monterrey of Liga MX in the next round, with ties first being broken through away goals then extra time and penalty kicks.
FC CINCINNATI vs. Cavalier FC (Jamaican Premier League) – Thursday, February 22, 2023 – 9 p.m. ET – National Stadium at Independence Park
Be sure to follow @FCCincinnati on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live updates from the game.
International competition
FC Cincinnati have never played outside of the United States or Canada, and have only played seven matches since moving to MLS against non-MLS opponents. In those seven matches, The Orange and Blue own a 6-1-0 record, including two wins over the only non-U.S. based team they’ve seen, Chivas Guadalajara.
When playing outside the United States, FCC have a winning record, playing the three Canadian clubs to an all-time record of…
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