[11][12] The two stadiums hosting the final were also candidates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup bid shared between Canada, Mexico, and the United States,[11] although only Estadio Akron was eventually selected.

[14] Beginning with the 2018 edition of the tournament, the group stage was re-formed as the CONCACAF League and limited to Central American and Caribbean teams.

[21] The berth was originally going to be determined via a play-off match in August 2017 between the winners of the two tournaments had another team won either edition, due to the restructuring of the Champions League.

[22] Toronto had appeared in four prior Champions Leagues, finishing as high as the semi-finals in 2011–12, losing to eventual runners-up Santos Laguna.

[26] Toronto played the first leg away in Commerce City, Colorado on February 20, winning 2–0 during the coldest ever match involving MLS teams, measured at 3 °F (−16 °C) at kickoff and −16 °F (−27 °C) with wind chill.

[28] Toronto played Mexican champions Tigres UANL in the quarter-finals and won the home leg 2–1 with a late goal from Jonathan Osorio.

[33] To prepare for the away leg at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Toronto moved a league fixture and spent several days acclimating to the altitude in Pachuca.

[34][35] In the away leg, Toronto took an early lead in the 12th minute, but América equalized on a last-minute penalty, bringing the aggregate score to 4–2.

The team stayed in Puerto Plata, approximately 45 miles (72 km) from the stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros, due to a tobacco growers' conference that filled available hotel space.

Both legs of the final were broadcast in English on TSN2 in Canada and in Spanish on Univision Deportes in the United States, where it was also aired on sister station UniMás.

[49] The first leg was hosted in Toronto at BMO Field on 17 April, where the kickoff temperature was 1 °C (34 °F) and snow flurries fell through the match.

[50] Toronto's Jonathan Osorio scored the equalizing goal in the 19th minute, finishing an attack started by Mark Delgado deep in the midfield.

Toronto took control of possession and shooting chances through to halftime, but failed to score after two saves by Chivas's backup goalkeeper Miguel Jiménez.

[52] Chivas regained partial control of the match in the second half, alternating attacks with Toronto as both teams sought to take the lead.

Toronto responded with two goals in the 25th and 44th minutes by Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, bringing the series level on aggregate.

[59][61][62] Man of the Match: Rodolfo Cota (Guadalajara)[1] Assistant referees:[5] Gerson López (Guatemala) Christian Ramírez (Honduras) Fourth official:[5] Kimbell Ward (Saint Kitts and Nevis) Match rules[45] Guadalajara's win was the thirteenth consecutive Champions League or Champions' Cup title won by a Mexican team.