D.C. United finally learned their seed and quarterfinal opponent for next year's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday night, as the Black-and-Red will face off against Queretaro FC of Mexico next February and March.
United ended up as the second seed, as their 10 points was the same as Club America and Real Salt Lake, with their goal differential placing them directly between the two former CCL finalists. In addition, all four match ups in the quarterfinals will feature a MLS side facing off against a Liga MX opponent. America will face the Seattle Sounders, while RSL will go up against Tigres UANL. Lastly, LA Galaxy are pitted against Santos Laguna.
In the previous edition of the tournament, United was the top seed after collecting all 12 points in the group stage, only to fall in the quarterfinals this year, losing out to Costa Rican side LD Alajuelense. America are the defending champions after defeating the Montreal Impact in the final.
As the higher seed, United will first head to Mexico to take on Queretaro before hosting the second leg back in Washington, D.C. Queretaro don't have Ronaldinho any more, but there are two names with the team that USA and MLS fans will recognize. Jonathan Bornstein - who last appeared at RFK Stadium scoring a late header against Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying in 2009 - featured for Queretaro in their recent run in the Clasura playoffs, where Los Gallos Blancos eventually fell to Santos in the final. Camilo, the Brazilian striker who won the 2013 MLS Golden Boot while with the Vancouver Whitecaps, forced his way to Queretaro months after that 22 goal season. He ended up finishing tied atop the Liga MX scoring table in the 2014 Apertura tournament as well.
What do you think of United's opponent in the quarterfinals? Excited to see all four pairings turn into MLS vs. Liga MX?