The Concacaf Champions Cup does use the away goals rule despite other bodies like UEFA and CONMEBOL abolishing the rule in recent history.

The Vancouver Whitecaps opened their season with a 2-1 loss to Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa in a Concacaf Champions Cup matchup on Thursday.

Frigid weather didn't keep Lionel Messi from scoring in Inter Miami's first game of 2025, a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday at Kansas City, Kan., in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup opening-round series.

CONCACAF announced that they have disciplined referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava for requesting an autograph from Lionel Messi after Inter Miami CF's CONCACAF Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City Wednesday at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City.

The coach of Inter Miami praised Lionel Messi for his impressive goal against Kansas City and also made a subtle complaint about Concacaf for the harsh weather conditions the players had to endure. Inter Miami kicked off their 2025 Concacaf Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night.

Since joining Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, Lionel Messi has completely changed the landscape of Major League Soccer. His goal in 2025 will be to guide the Herons to a league title.

Lionel Messi scored from the right side of the box in the 56th minute to lift Inter Miami past Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on a bitterly cold Wednesday night in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup's first round.