Union to face Deportivo Saprissa in 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup

The Philadelphia Union will meet a familiar foe in Round One of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Jim Curtin’s squad have been paired against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa, CONCACAF revealed during the tournament’s live draw. It will mark the second all-time meeting between the two clubs and the first since the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16.

Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica will host the first leg on February 20 (9 p.m. ET) before Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania hosts the second leg on Feb. 27 (8:15 p.m. ET).

The Union eliminated Saprissa 5-0 on aggregate in that head-to-head showdown, winning 1-0 in Costa Rica before enjoying a 4-0 second leg rout at Subaru Park. Former Union players Kacper Przybylko (twice), Jamiro Monteiro (twice), and Anthony Fontana all scored in the two-legged showdown

The series is famously remembered for the end-of-match altercation in the first leg after left back Kai Wagner was viciously tackled by Saprissa’s Ricardo Blanco in stoppage time. Blanco was one of final players to receive yellow cards after the scrum.

The newly revamped Champions Cup will feature home-and-away matches for Round One, Round of 16, Quarterfinal and Semifinal action. Round One will take place between February 6-29 while the Round of 16 will occur from March 5-14.

The quarterfinals are slated for April 2-11 while the semifinals will take place between April 23-May 2. June 2 has been chosen as the single-leg date for the tournament final. 

2024 will mark the Union’s third all-time involvement in a CONCACAF competition. They reached the semifinals in 2021 and 2023, losing to Club América and LAFC respectively.