The winner qualified as the CONCACAF representative for the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup.

[1] Monterrey won their third consecutive title after defeating Santos Laguna in an all-Mexican final, and equaled Cruz Azul's feat of winning three consecutive CONCACAF club titles (1969–71), when the competition was known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

However, if it is still determined that the club cannot provide the adequate facilities then it runs the risk of being replaced.

A total of nine clubs from the North American Football Union participate in the Champions League.

In Mexico, the winners of the Mexican Primera División Apertura and Clausura tournaments earn berths in Pot A of the tournament's group stage, while the Apertura and Clausura runners-up earn berths in Pot B.

For the United States, three of its four spots are allocated through the Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season and playoffs, while the fourth spot is allocated to whoever wins the domestic cup competition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Twelve clubs from the Central American Football Union qualify to the Champions League.

[3] On January 12, 2012, CONCACAF announced that the 2012–13 tournament would be played under a different format than previous editions, where the preliminary round is eliminated and all qualified teams enter the group stage.

The allocation of teams into pots are based on their national association and qualifying berth.